Mrs.

Mary Cammisa
Phone: ​803-470-5821
Office Hours: 8:00-4:00 Monday-Friday

AP Calculus AB Syllabus
Course Description:
AP Calculus AB is a course designed and planned by the College Board, but implemented by the school. This course
has major emphasis on a variety of functions and their rates of changes. The derivative and area under the curve
will serve as the theme of the course. Instruction will be delivered through Pearson, Study Forge, weekly
LiveLessons, student collaborative assignments and individual and group study/help sessions. Students will study
functions with a high emphasis on limits, continuity, derivatives, related rates, optimization, integration, area
under the curve, and volume of solids of revolution. In addition, students study many topics through investigating
activities.

College Board Course URL Address:

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap-calculus-course-description.pdf

AP/College Level Course Rigor​:

It is important to understand that this is a college level course, there is a lot of critical thinking involved. The
questions from assessments are not going to come directly from your reading or Connexus lessons verbatim. You
need to analyze and apply material. There is also a level of general background knowledge that students are
expected to come to the course with. Assessments will require that you choose the best answer because there may
be many questions in which there are several answers that COULD apply. As an AP student, you will need to use
critical thinking strategies to demonstrate mastery of content learned in this course.

Textbook:
We will be using the Calculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic A. P., 4th edition, by Finney et al., 2012 textbook.
This textbook is available online throughout Connexus and a hard copy is shipped to each student. Please take
detailed notes on the chapter readings assigned in your lessons in addition to your notes from the Connexus
lessons.

Graphing Calculator:
I highly recommend the TI-NSpire calculator for the AP Exam because of some features that are more useful for
students that the TI-83, 84, or 89 may not have. I will be using the TI-NSpire in LiveLessons. I will be more than
happy to work with you individually with another calculator, but in LiveLesson we will specifically use the
TI-NSpire. It is not mandatory that you have the TI-Nspire, but IT IS MANDATORY that you have a graphing
calculator by the end of the first week of class.

Recommended Materials:
Along with the TI-NSpire, I highly recommend purchasing a 3-ring binder with dividers, or a spiral
notebook with dividers, to take notes and do personal assignments. I also recommend purchasing a
Rocket Wave Notebook to submit hand written work. This notebook can be purchased ​here​ on Amazon.
The Rocket Wave is not required for this class, but you may ONLY submit handwritten work through a
scanner, scanner app (such as camscanner) or this notebook. The Rocket Wave has a free app you
download to your phone and it scans in whatever you write on the page and saves it to a designated
location. It comes with erasable pens and gridded paper for writing and graphing, so it’s perfect for
math! This notebook is especially cool because once it is filled up you place it in the microwave to delete
its contents and then it can be used 1000+ times over. If you would like to see a document I scanned in
using the Rocket Wave, click ​here​. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy please feel
free to contact me and we can discuss.
Grading Procedures​:
Graded work will include, but is not limited to, Quick Checks, Quizzes, Tests, and Portfolios. Assessments will be
completed in Connexus and AP Classroom, The College Board platform.

Grading Scale: A 100 – 90

B 89 – 80
C 79 – 70
D 69 – 60
F 59 and below

Unit Tests (40%):

● There are 4 unit tests plus a semester exam in AP Calculus AB A.
● There are 3 unit tests plus a semester exam and 1 practice exam in AP Calculus AB B.
● All tests will be completed in Connexus. Tests have a combination of multiple-choice and FRQ (Free
Response Questions) that are randomized for each test. ​Once you open a unit test, you must
complete and submit the assessment.
● Tests will not be reset under any circumstances ​and test grades will not be dropped. Students have
many opportunities to improve their test grades. ​Please see Grade Improvement Policy below.
● Semester Exam exemption: At the end of each semester you may exempt the semester exam if you
meet the minimum grade requirement and do not have an Honor Code violation. Also, students who
take the AP Exam will be exempted from the AP Calculus AB B semester exam.

Quizzes (22%):
● Quizzes are made up of multiple choice, short answer and work pad questions and will be completed in
Connexus.
● Quizzes will not be reset under any circumstances ​and quiz grades will not be dropped.

Portfolios (10%):
● There are 2 portfolio assignments first semester and 3 portfolio assignments second semester that
bring together several of the key concepts from the unit in which they are assigned.
● Some portfolios are modified and detailed instructions are located on the ​AP Calculus AB
Message Board​.
● It is recommended that you download the portfolio instructions at the beginning of the unit in which it
is assigned so you will know which key concepts are needed to complete the assessment. This will help
you stay on track with the portfolio assessments so you don’t get behind at the end of the unit.
● You may correct and resubmit portfolio assessments as many times as you would like ​until you
receive a grade you are satisfied with and feel you have a sufficient understanding of the content. For
this reason, it is possible for every student to have a portfolio average of 100%. Please see the Grade
Improvement Policy below for detailed instructions on how to increase your portfolio grade.
● Corrected portfolios must be submitted by the following dates:
○ Friday, January 10th (AP Calculus AB A)
○ Monday, June 1st (AP Calculus AB B)

Quick Checks (5%):

● Every lesson that does not have a test, quiz, or portfolio will have a Quick Check in Connexus.
● Quick check assessments should only be taken after you have completed all of the lesson activities and
have mastered the key concepts of the lesson.
● Results for Quick Check assessments should be used to determine what concepts you should review
before moving to the next lesson.
 ● Quick checks will not be reset under any circumstances​ and no quick checks will be dropped.
● Corrections for Quick Check assessments are not accepted.

Participation (5%):
● Your participation grade is earned by signing and submitting the ​AP Calculus AB Syllabus
Acknowledgement Form for Students and Learning Coaches​ by the 2nd week of the semester (or
within 2 weeks of the start date for late-enrolling students)
○ AP Calculus A - ​Due by Friday, August 30th, or 2 weeks after start date
○ AP Calculus B - ​Due by Friday, January 24th, or 2 weeks after start date
● Acknowledgement forms not received by the due date will be given a​ grade of zero.

Discussion (6%):
● Discussions in Connexus are dropped.
● At least twice per semester, students will be invited to a phone or Live Lesson conference with Mrs.
Cammisa to review progress and discuss strategies for successful course completion.
● Students who attend the conferences (scheduled at agreed upon time set by student and teacher) will
receive a 100%. Students who only attend one conference will receive a 50% and students who attend
no conferences will receive a 0%.

AP Practice (2%​)
● Students will complete at least one practice exam per semester to prepare for the AP Exam.
Practice exams will be created from the AP Classroom question bank.
● These practice exams will be timed to align with the AP Exam, a strategy to help students be
successful with time management.
● Practice Exams will be graded as completion grades only but I strongly encourage all students to do
their best and set up a time with me to review what they missed.

Final Exam (10%)

● Semester final exams will be assigned in AP Classroom and time management procedures will
follow unit exams.
● At the end of each semester you may exempt the semester exam. You may exempt the semester A
exam if you meet the minimum grade requirement and do not have an Honor Code violation. You
may exempt the semester B exam if you take the AP Calculus AB Exam on May 5, 2020.

AP Classroom Personal Progress Checks (0%)

● The College Board has created Personal Progress Checks in AP Classroom to allow students and
teachers the opportunity to track student mastery on AP Calculus Essential Understandings. This is
a great tool that allows students to see which concepts they have mastered and what they need to
focus their studies on.
● These assessments are summative and not graded per College Board policy, but are highly
recommended.
● Prior to taking or retaking an exam or quiz, Personal Progress Checks should be completed in AP
Classroom.
● Assigned Personal Progress checks for each unit can be found on the message board under “Unit
Resources.”

Grade Improvement Policy​:

The best way to bring your grade up is always to study hard, use the resources provided, ask me questions, and
take good notes. After you do all of that if you still would like to improve your grade you may retake your unit tests
and portfolios each semester.

● Test Grade Improvement:

Please contact me within 2 weeks of completing your test to start the Grade Improvement Process:
● Webmail me and let me know which test you would like to retake and a few days/times that you are
available for a phone or Live Lesson conference.
● Students should make sure all Personal Progress Checks, Quizzes and unit assignments for the
specified unit have been completed prior to requesting a retake of a unit exam.
● During our conference we can discuss any questions you had, review the questions you missed and
use the data from AP Classroom to identify which concepts you need to study.
● After our conference I will open the retake exam for you to take in AP Classroom. Keep in mind, the
questions are pulled from a question bank so although the material will be the same, the actual
questions will likely be different.
● You will be able to keep whichever exam score is higher, and I will also award a 10 point
adjustment to the retake exam for the work and discussion we had during our Grade Improvement
Conference. If necessary, you can repeat the entire grade improvement process again until you are
satisfied with your scores, earning up to 100%.
● Portfolio Grade Improvement
○ Portfolio corrections may be submitted through webmail up until the semester deadline.
○ If necessary, you can repeat the entire grade improvement process again until you are satisfied with
your scores, earning up to 100%.

Extra Credit Policy:

There are ​no extra credit ​assignments ​given in AP Calculus AB. To improve your overall grade you may follow
the grade improvement policy above.

Ketchup and Get Help Fridays!:

There are ​no AP Calculus AB ​lessons on your planners on Fridays. We will use this day as a catch up day and a day
free to get extra help. I will have open office hours every Friday from 10:30-11:30 in my LiveLesson room. ​Please
use this time to get help where needed or to complete work in AP Classroom. If this time does not work for you,
please feel free to contact me to set up another time.

How to Be Successful in AP Calculus AB:

AP Calculus AB is a very difficult course at SCCA and the pacing is very fast. You should only take AP Calculus if
you are focused, have excellent time management skills and are willing to work hard each semester. This course
takes a commitment to putting forth substantial time each day, with former students reporting each lesson
requiring 2+ hours in addition to 1.5-2 hours a week of study and review time. Below you will find 5 tips for
success in A. P. Calculus. Please read them carefully and let me know if you have any questions about the
expectations or requirements for the course.

#1 READ MY WEBMAILS!
I will send webmails out to both students and parents once per week with important information. It is in your best
interest to read each webmail completely. They will contain Live Lesson sessions for the week, reminders about
lesson modifications, tips on how to improve your grade and more. The weekly newsletters are sent out in a blog
format so you always have quick access to prior posts. Please bookmark the newsletter page to have quick access
to all announcements.
#2 BOOKMARK THE AP CALCULUS AB MESSAGE BOARD! PAY ATTENTION TO LESSON MODIFICATIONS!
It is expected that students check the AP Calculus AB Message Board weekly. The Message Board is one of my most
important communication tools. Here you will find newsletters, unit resources, lesson modifications, "AP
Classroom Assignments," Live Lesson recordings, grade improvement resources and information about the AP
Exam.

#3 STAY ORGANIZED AND SET A WORK SCHEDULE

As mentioned previously, this course requires a substantial time and effort commitment. It is imperative that you
stay organized, keep detailed notes and organize and keep all study materials and notes all year. It is also
important to set a time each day to devote to AP Calculus AB.

#4 ATTEND LIVE LESSONS AND WATCH RECORDINGS

Live Lessons will be different this year. Instead of one weekly Live Lesson, we will schedule them based on student
data and student needs. This is so great because I will be able to personalize the course instruction just for YOU!
Please pay close attention to the weekly newsletters and webmails for invitations to Live Lessons.

# 5 COMMUNICATE WITH ME OFTEN!

Please feel free to call, text or webmail me anytime. If you are struggling with a lesson, please schedule an
individual Live Lesson (or phone conference) with me anytime. This is the best form of communication for more
detailed questions or problems you are having. You are also welcome to just call whenever you need help
(803-470-5821), but may reach my voicemail. I may be in LiveLesson, on another call or in a teacher meeting, and
will return your call as soon as I am free. If you reach my voicemail, please leave a DETAILED VOICEMAIL message
including your full name and class.

***See next page for acknowledgement form***

 AP Calculus AB Grading Policy Acknowledgement Form for
Students and Learning Coaches

I have read and acknowledge the AP Calculus AB Syllabus including, but not limited to:
● Course description
● AP College Level Course Rigor
● AP Calculus AB Message Board (bookmark this!)
● Some portfolios are modified
● Grading Structure and Assessment Requirements
● Grade Improvement Policy
● No Extra Credit Assignments
● Time and effort requirements of a successful AP Calculus AB Student

_____________________________________________ ___________________________________
Student Signature Date

_____________________________________________ ___________________________________
Learning Coach Signature Date

**This form must be signed and dated by BOTH student and learning coach and submitted by the
semester due date (See Grading Policies) in order to earn your semester participation grade**

**Please scan or take a photo of your signed Acknowledgement Form and send it to Mrs. Cammisa
via webmail by the due date**