Course Description: AP Calculus AB is considered “1st semester college calculus”, is taught according to AP Collegeboard and has the expectation that students will take the AP exam in May. Students should be enrolled in AP Calculus BC in the spring which would be “2nd semester college calculus”. Students scoring a “passing” AP exam score ARE prepared to move onto the next level of Calculus in college.
Learning Management System: The learning management system for this course is Canvas. Students should be automatically signed up for the course and AP Calculus AB should show up on their Dashboard. Students should sign-in to the WakeID Portal and access Canvas and other applications from there with their single sign-on. We will also be using AP Classroom often.
Electronics and Other Websites:
· Laptop/Desktop/Chromebook – While a smart phone will be helpful, a larger screen as well as navigation through non-mobile versions will be best.
· TI-83+ / TI-84+ Calculator – most students should have access to one of these as they were used previously in Math I and Math II. While there are other online graphing calculator options, it is important that students get used to the functions and how to use theses calculators as these are the ones allowed on standardized exams such as ACT, SAT, and AP Exams. Calculators will not be used every day but will be critical for some units and exercises.
· AP Classroom (Enroll in correct course: JOIN code for 1st period:
· DeltaMath – Use teacher code 653530 and join the appropriate course (AP Calc 1st Pd)
· We will use additional websites such as desmos.com and Khan Academy. Many of these sites have “sign-in with Google” capabilities that allow you to quickly register with your WCPSS email.
Other Supplies: While there will be work that is completed online, other supplies needed include:
· Blank or lined paper (can be loose leaf or in a spiral / composition book)
· Graph paper
· Pencils
· Colored Pencils
Class Expectations:
· Students should expect to get homework and/or classwork daily. While it may be possible that it is completed during instruction, often students will need to complete the assignment for the next day. Homework and classwork are assigned to give students the opportunity to practice and gain mastery of skills taught in the unit. Some of these assignments will be completed online while others will be submitted electronically such as a scan of their handwritten work or video of them explaining their work. If not being completed online in another application, the submission will occur on Canvas.
· Students should check Canvas DAILY for updated assignments.
· During the first two days of class, we will establish and post the norms for the class.
· Assessments will typically be timed. I expect students to show integrity throughout this course on all assignments – copying another person’s work and/or copying solutions from websites or applications is considered falsifying your work and cheating. If that is in question, students may be asked to complete an alternative assignment to demonstrate mastery.
Units Covered and Essential Outcomes:
AP Collegeboard Course Description and Units
Grading Information
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
D: 60-69
F: Below 60
Grading Scale:
Grading Categories and Weights for Quarter Grade Calculations
Tests – 55%
Quizzes – 30%
Classwork – 10%
Homework – 5%
Course Grade Calculation (assuming Final)
1st Quarter – 40%
2nd Quarter – 40%
Final exam – 20%
Make-up and Late Work Policies
Late work due to an excused absence will follow the WCPSS make up work policy: Assignments assigned prior to an absence will be due upon return; this includes tests scheduled for the day of the return.
If the make-up work has not been assigned in advance, for absences of 1 to 3 days, the student will have a minimum of 1 day for each absence to complete missed assignments. For absences exceeding 3 days, the student will have a minimum of 2 days for each absence to complete assignments. Students will receive full credit for all make-up work following an excused absence as long as the work is completed within the time limit according to teacher expectations. Special consideration will be given in the case of extended absences due to injury or chronic illness.
For late work in AP classes, students will earn a minimum of 60% of the grade they would have received if turned in on time. Teachers do not have to accept late work beyond one (1) week after the initial due date.
Retest Policy: Per school policy, students who make below an 80 on a Unit Test can take a retest for a maximum score of 80. In order to retest, students must request retest within one week of returned test using form provided, have completed and turned in ALL assignments for the unit (including the review assignment), and remediate before taking the retest with required assignment and/or time with me.
Tests missed due to absence should be made up as soon as possible and no later than 1 week of the original test date. After that time, students are not allowed to take the original test anymore and will receive a 0 for that test. Students will be allowed to then retest with a maximum score of 80%.
WCPSS Honor Code Policy
Honor Code Policy (4310) states: “Academic honesty is essential to excellence in education and is directly related to the Board's educational objectives for students to promote integrity and self-discipline in students. As all schoolwork is a measure of student performance, academic honesty facilitates an accurate measurement of student learning.
Each student, parent, family and staff member has a responsibility to promote a culture that respects and fosters integrity and honesty. Academic integrity and honesty requires that all stakeholders share responsibility in the fulfillment of this policy.
In fulfilling these responsibilities:
· students will collaborate with their peers to foster a culture of academic integrity; refrain from participating, either directly or indirectly, in any form of cheating or plagiarism; and adhere to the honor code;
· parents and family will actively support the honor code by encouraging their child(ren) to foster and uphold a culture of academic integrity;
· staff will establish and annually teach expectations regarding academic integrity and honesty; and promote the honor code.
Prohibited Behavior
1. Cheating: Cheating is an academic deception where a student intends in some way to receive or attempt to receive credit for work not originated by the student, to give or receive unauthorized assistance, or to give or receive an unfair advantage on any form of academic work. This includes going to websites and looking at resources during assessments beyond the assessment itself and copying solutions from websites and applications.
2. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is using passages, materials, words, ideas, and/or thoughts of someone or something else and representing them as one's own original work without properly crediting the source.
3. Falsification or Deceit: Intentional acts of falsification or serious deceitful misconduct that threaten the health, safety, or welfare of others, or that cause a substantial detrimental impact on school operations or other individuals are prohibited.