Shamokin Area Middle & High School
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Kelchner, Maria
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Please click below for AP Calculus AB information.
AP Calculus Curriculum Sequence
To be SUCCESSFUL in AP Calculus AB
1. Attendance! Attendance! Attendance! Attend every class!
2. Attend review sessions when available. Treat assignments as Practice Exams.
3. Do your homework every night, and Show All Work! Write down the original problem; then begin solving it. Do not hand in just the answers. If you use a calculator, show how you set up the problem.
4. Do your own work. Be HONEST. Please don't copy answers from the back of the book (or from a friend) and hand them in as your own - that is plagiarism. Do check your work when you can.
5. You must be a "risk-taker." You must try each problem that is assigned. Do NOT leave problems blank on homework.
6. Remain Positive! Go You Don't let this class or any class (or life) get you down. Be enthusiastic. "Calculus should make you happy." I have high expectations for you, even on the first day! I believe that students will rise to the level of expectation that the teacher has for them!
AP Calculus Study tips
1. Know the types of questions and the weight of each type of question on the test or exam.
2. Be sure that your notes and homework assignments are complete.
3. Do not cram for tests. Cramming will often cause panic. You will not remember much of the information in the long term. 4. Study in "chunks." If you learn material over a number of weeks instead of over a few hours, you will retain the information for a longer period of time.
5. Over-learn material for the first test. Be sure you continue to study the material past the point at which you think you know the material well.
6. Form a study group with other members of the class or others who are enrolled in A.P. Calculus. It is helpful to discuss concepts with others ("To Teach is To Learn.").
7. Verbalizing will help make an idea more concrete. Read your notes aloud, but paraphrase as you read. If you can put the concepts in your own words, it is more likely that you understand the material you are studying.
8. Use Mnemonic Devices to help remember some basic definitions or steps in a procedure. Chief SOHCAHTOA can help you recall the definitions for the basic trig functions and FOIL can help you remember how to multiply two binomials together.
9. When you get homework papers returned, rework the problems that you missed.
10. When you get back your tests, rework the problems that you missed.
Learning AP Calculus
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Calculus! To help you be successful, please read over the following suggestions.
*Calculus requires that you make a substantial investment of TIME. You need to spend thirty minutes to one hour each night studying calculus. Build this into your life.
*One of the best ways to learn anything is to teach it to someone else. Form a calculus study group. Amaze your friends and family with explanations of how to determine limits or how to compute derivatives.
*Math is not a spectator sport. You will need to actively participate - you will need to exercise your brain. Some of the problems will require some serious thinking. Take time with them, talk about them, take breaks if you are getting frustrated (but a certain amount of frustration is good), and ask questions if you are stuck, enjoy the process: you are learning!
*Many problems that require calculus cannot be solves with the simple application of a formula. Understanding the process for solving a particular type of problem is emphasized over memorizing formulas. In most cases, if you understand the concepts, memorizing a formula becomes unnecessary because you construct the process as you solve the problem.
*Mathematics is sequential. Most everything that you have learned in algebra, geometry, and trigonometry will be used in calculus. And as we progress through calculus, what we learn in chapter 3 will be used later in chapters 5 and 6. Do not cram for tests!
*Remember, the process is more important than the result. The fastest way to get into trouble in calculus is not to do the homework. You must practice what we have discussed in class. Similar problems will probably show up on tests and quizzes and exams, where you will be expected to work them quickly and accurately.
*Tests and Exams can be the bane of your existence or they can be showcases of your mastery of the material. When studying for them, work every homework problem assigned in the sections, paying special attention to your methods. Review and work through examples in your notes, again with emphasis on the process being used.
Below are some useful links for the AP Calculus Exam:
College Board AP Calculus AB Exam information
AP Calculus AB Score Calculator
Click on the links below for the Calculus textbook!
