• AP Calculus AB

    Course Policies for 2023/24

     

    Teacher:          Paul Perniciaro          E-mail:   paul.perniciaro@slps.org  

     

    Office:             Room 215                  Office Hours: 9:00-10:15  M-T-Th-F(in upstairs teacher workroom)   

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    Course Overview:

    -This course is designed to attain a level of mastery in four major calculus topics: limits, derivatives, indefinite integrals, and definite integrals. The AP curriculum requires a conceptual mastery of these topics as well as procedural fluency in working AP-test style problems. 

    -Essentially, to attain the necessary depth of understanding, you must learn not only the ‘how’ of working problems but also the ‘why’ the methods work.  Emphasis is placed on having a thorough understanding of functions and the ability to switch between graphical, numerical, analytical, and verbal representations of functions.

    -Each student will have access to a graphing calculator in class.  Outside of class I would suggest a couple options:

    -Download a free emulator on your computer/laptop through this link:  wabbitemu.  Here is a video link if help is needed installing wabbitemu install video.

    -For iOS (apple phones and tablets) there is a actual TI-84 emulator found in the AppStore.

    -For Andriod devices, there is a free emulator through the Google Play store called wabbitemu which I believe is free.

    -Owning a personal graphing calculator is preferable and will be useful throughout and beyond high school as well.  If buying I would steer towards a TI-84 or TInspire, as those are the models most used in college.  Please research for the best fit, and I have resources and some working knowledge of a few models.

    -We will be using Demana Waits Calculus AP Edition 6 as our supplemental textbook, provided by the district.

    -Much of the course material and homework sets will be placed on our Teams site, as well as under my name of the Faculty tab on the Metro Website.

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    Grading  Procedures:

    Grades are cumulative over an entire semester.  The final percentage seen in ParentPortal is a running account of all grades entered.  The final semester grade is based on the following weighted system.                                         

    Homework                  10%                            

    Quizzes                       40%                            

                                                                Unit Exams                 40%                                                                                 

                                                                Semester Exams         10%                             

    ParentPortal is set to round grades up from the hundredths decimal place.  For example an 89.50% to 100.00% will be an A.  An 89.49% is a B.  Please do not ask me to “bump” grades up at the end of a semester (unless you have been completing the extra credit).  I will not do it.

    Percentage

    Letter Grade

    89.50-100.00%

    A

    79.50-89.49%

    B

    69.5-79.49%

    C

    Below 69.49%

    F

     

    1.  Homework (10%)   Corresponding to our class notes and the supplemental text, you will be given a listing of problems that I feel are important to your understanding of the material.  The homework will come in two varieties:  Worksheet and AP Classroom Assignments. 

    -The Worksheet assignments are due the class following the day assigned.

    -The Worksheet assignments are mandatory and will carry a 10-point grade based on a combination of accuracy/completion. 

    -The AP Classroom assignments are due the day of the unit test.

    -The AP Classroom assignments are mandatory and will carry a 10-point grade based on a combination of accuracy/completion

    -Late homework WILL be accepted at 10% deduction per day beyond deductions for accuracy/completion.

    -All late homework work must be turned in for each unit by the test day to receive any credit.

     

    2.  Section Quizzes (40%)  Almost every day and after every section, you will take a short quiz that covers the material presented the day (or two) before.  Most quizzes will be worth 10 points and will contain three multiple choice problems and one free response problem.  Multiple choice problems will always be worth 2 points each.  Free response problems will always be worth 4 points each.  Some quizzes may feature 5 multiple choice problems worth 2 points each.

    -You will be allotted 20-25 minutes for each quiz.  Some quizzes will allow the use of a calculator but most will not.

    -If you are absent on the day of a quiz or any day where material was presented that appears on a quiz, you will have to make arrangements to make that quiz up during your study hall/lunch. 

    -You will have an equal number of days to make up the quiz that you were absent. It is strongly suggested you don’t make-up a quiz during class time.

    -If you elect to make up a quiz during class, you are responsible for the material presented that day.

    -Failure to make up a quiz in the time allotted will result in a zero.

     

    3.  Unit Exams (40%)  At the conclusion of each unit we will have an exam.  Each exam will be worth 36 points and later scaled to 100 points.  The exams will be a combination of multiple choice and multi-part free response questions.   Each of these two sections will be further divided into a “with calculator” and a “without calculator” section. 

    Section 1:  5  Multiple Choice – (With calculator)  Each problem is worth 1 point each.        5 points total.

    Section 2:  1 Free Response – (With calculator)  The problem is worth 9 points.                    9 points total.

    Section 3:  10 Multiple Choice – (Without calculator) Each problem is worth 1 point each. 10 points total.

    Section 4:  1 Free Response – (Without calculator) The problem is worth 9 points.                9 points total.

    -The  Multiple Choice points you receive will be multiplied by 1.2 to balance the two portions of the exam equally.

    -There is no penalty for guessing on the Multiple Choice sections.

     

    The formulae used to calculate your percentage for a unit will be similar to this (depending on multiplier):    

    For composite scores 6 and above:

                                                                     Composite score (out of 36) x 1.38 + 50 =  Percentage out of 100

                                                                     For composite scores 5 and below:

                                                                     5 = 45%,   4 = 40%,   3 = 30%,    2 = 20%,   1 = 10%,     0 = 0%

                                                          

    -If you are unable to take a Unit Exam due to absence, the make-up policy is the same as with quizzes. 

    -Missing the exam due to an unexcused absence (cutting class) will result in a zero.

     

    4. Semester Exams (10%)  At the end of the first and second semesters, there will be a cumulative and comprehensive exam to test your knowledge and practice for the AP Exam.

     

    5. Unit Exam Retakes.  Anyone may retake one exam a school year. Retesting material and fixing mistakes is essential to learning.  The higher of the two scores will be the final mark. You will only receive these extra points if you follow these five steps:

    1. Correct all marked problems during review after receiving test back.
    2. Complete a retake set of problems from the textbook.
    3. Take advantage of tutoring sessions for guided practice and filling knowledge gaps.
    4. Set up an appointment for a retake within two weeks of receiving test back.
    5. Re-take the test for a better score.

    Note:  The final exams are not eligible for retake. 

     

    6. Extra Credit  For each unit that we cover, there will be problem sets from the textbook.  Accurate completion of these problems will earn up to 2% towards the final semester grade.  Extra credit problems must be turned in by at least the class period following the Unit Exams (ideally done before the exam though for extra practice and better exam scores).  The amount of problem sets completed will determine the total percentage added to the final semester grade. 

     

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    Classroom Rules and Important Information

    • Respect.   Respect all others at all times.  Pay attention when I am addressing the class and while another student is addressing the class.
    • Participation. Be on time, stay the whole period, be alert and attentive, ask questions and let me occasionally hear your voice.
    • Be Prepared.  You each will be given a Timeline/Assignment Guide outlining everything that we will do throughout the unit.  Follow it.  Don't get behind.  Listen to the lectures.  Take notes.
    • Be Here.  Limit your absences and tardies to an absolute minimum.  Getting behind in AP Calculus is not an enjoyable experience.  Ask for help, from myself, from classmates, from a tutor, just get help and keep working hard.
    • Attendance/Tardiness I will take attendance as soon as class period starts.  If you are late please come with a valid note.  Chronic tardiness will be progressively handled in the following manner for each semester:

                            3 tardies-conversation with student

                            4 tardies-notification to parents

    5 tardies or more-reference to the office and loss of test retake privileges

    • Progress Reports.  You can easily check your grades online through Tyler SIS360 at any time.  I am pretty quick about entering homework and quiz grades.  Exam grades may take an extra day or two.  If you happen to need a printout of your grade report, let me know in person or by e-mail and I can have one prepared for you.  The best way to check your grade is logging on to Tyler SIS360.
    • Laptops/Cell Phones.  Cell phone usage is becoming a greater problem each year and I have seen it virtually destroy a students’ opportunity to learn.  Once the class period starts, your phones (and other like devices) are to be put out of arm’s reach.
    • Digital Footprint.  Digital networking will be a valuable tool and resource we will all share.  Please keep all posts, suggestions, comments, images, and advice given on our sites friendly, appropriate, and on-topic. --Violation of this policy will result in being uninvited to the group.
    • Absences and Make-Up Lectures.    If you are absent or know you will be absent in the future, I strongly encourage you to seek internet resources to familiarize yourself with the missed topic.  Youtube is a fantastic resource – all you need to do is enter the concept name in the search field.
    • Study Groups.  I cannot emphasize enough the benefit of getting together with a small group on a regular basis and working together on Calculus Homework.  You will find that if you are struggling with the concepts and truly use this opportunity wisely, that it can be very beneficial.
    • AP Exam.  On Monday, May 13th , 2024 at 8:00 you will all be taking the Advanced Placement Calculus AB Exam.  By performing well on this exam you will have the opportunity to test out of math completely at the college level or to take an advanced course earlier.  The district covers the cost as long as you take the test.  A score of 3 is passing and will be accepted for credit at many colleges. A score of 4 (which is approximately 60% of the problems answered correctly) will get you credit virtually at any college or university.

     

     

    Honesty and Academic Integrity:

    -Metro has extremely high regard for academic integrity and, as such, has zero tolerance for any and all forms of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to, all forms of cheating on any assessments, essays, or assignments (copying, taking pictures, group chats with answers, etc.), plagiarism, and any other unethical academic behavior.

    -Any student in violation will receive no credit (zero/F letter grade), a family meeting will be scheduled, and a notation of the violation will be in the student’s school record.

    -The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as Chat GPT, has the potential for misuse and often borders on plagiarism. At Metro, we utilize Turnitin to disrupt plagiarism and ensure the integrity of ALL student work. If it is deemed that a student has used any AI tool to complete an assignment, the student will receive no credit (zero/F letter grade), a family meeting will be scheduled, as well as a notation of the violation in the student’s school record.

    -Any academic dishonesty violation will affect recommendations written by the school for any student applying for post-secondary institutions, scholarships, and other educational programs.

    -Please note that it is cheating to seek out answers or unfair advantages before tests. It is also cheating to share any information about a test to someone who has not yet taken the exam.  Violation of these policies will result in immediate failure of the test and loss of retake privileges.

     

    Final Thoughts.  Throughout the year, you will go through a whole world of emotions with AP Calculus.  You will experience joy, frustration, anger, humiliation, etc.  The only thing that I ask of you all is that you focus on the LEARNING that’s taking place – not so much the grades.  Allow the grades to take care of themselves.  This class can be a fun and rewarding experience – even if you don’t consider yourself a natural STEM student.   You have a much larger goal in this class – and that is how prepared you can become from now until May 13th, 2023 – the day of the AP Calculus Exam.