Pre-Calculus to Calculus
AT THE CENTER OF EVERY BLACK HOLE IS A
LITTLE MAN WITH A FLASHLIGHT
SEARCHING FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER
TRANSITIONS
Transitioning from Pre-calculus to Calculus
is similar to learning to play
ROCK PAPER SCISSORS LIZARD SPOCK
after only having played
ROCK PAPER SCISSORS.
TBBT RPSLS
What we do in AP Calculus
 Calculations without the aid of a calculator
 “Justify your answer”
 Multiple Choice Questions
Can your students do long division?
TBBT Long Division
What we don’t do in Pre-Calculus
 Calculations without a calculator.
 Justify responses.
 Multiple Choice Assessment
How does this make them feel? TBBT Zack
HOW do we change this in Pre-Calc?
Calculators
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1) Give quizzes that are no calculators.
2)Have a day of the week that is always “no calculator day”.
3) Give 2-part tests; one part as no calculator.
Require Justification on one quiz question.
Give homework assignments at the end of chapters
that are multiple choice formatted.
(Easy to grade)
Don’t Let Them Forget!
When giving assessment, don’t test by chapter.
Give tests every 4-5 weeks on ALL material
covered.
Ask questions from previous tests and
important topics.
Our Favorite: Write the equation of the line
passing through these two points…
REGISTRATION TALK
Many students don’t read the course description or
make a commitment to the choice they make during
registration.
We require a signed document from their current
pre-calculus teacher before they are allowed to sign
up for an AP course.
We give the following presentation in class:
Course Description:
Course Description:
END OF YEAR – SUMMER
Last week of school: Pre-Calculus Review game
from Stu Schwartz – America Has Talent
Summer: Pre-Calculus Review Assignment
from Anne Barber or Karen Scarseth Webpages
summer packet
summer answers
Students are given a comprehensive NO CALCULATOR
Two Day Test on the Summer Assignment in the first
week of school.
Useful links for Pre-Calculus review
Calculus readiness test: California Test
Pre-Calculus Crash Course Review: pre-calc review
Fun Calculus Videos to use in class
Bohemian Rhapsody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqwC41RDPyg
History Class: Seinfeld
Perfect Number: TBBT 73