AP CALCULUS AB 
                 Instructor:  Robert Messner                                                   
                 Room: C011            Voicemail: (512)533-5854 
                 Email:  messnerr@ltisdschools.org            <------ best way to contact me! 
                 Website:  Schoology   
                 COURSE DESCRIPTION: We will study everything in the AP Calculus AB topic outline 
                                              ®
                 as it appears in the AP  Calculus Course Description (available at 
                 https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-calculus-ab/course-details). 
                  
                 COURSE GOAL: The primary goal of this class is to prepare students to succeed on 
                 the AP test taken in May. The course is designed so that students who receive an “A” in 
                 class will be expected to receive a “5” on the AP test… 4 “B”... 3 “C”... 2 “D”... 1 “F” 
                 TEXTBOOK: Larson, Ron, Robert P. Hostetler, and Bruce H. Edwards. Calculus with 
                 Analytical Geometry, Eighth Edition, Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 
                 2006. 
                  
                 Class Rules                                         
                 1. Be Nice                Students must be respectful to each other as well as to myself. 
                 Being nice is of primary importance in creating a positive learning environment in the 
                 classroom. All students should feel comfortable at all times learning Calculus. 
                 2. Be Engaged             Focus your efforts while you are in class learning calculus and 
                 nothing else. Do not do work from any other class during your time in my classroom. Do 
                 not engage in side conversations that do not have to do with the material being taught. 
                 Do NOT use a cell phone during class. When asked to work on an assignment, do so. 
                 3. Be Prepared      Students must show up to class with the proper materials i.e. 
                 pencils, calculator, notebook with paper. Many handouts will be utilized for in class 
                 assignments and homework and it is extremely important to have a system which keeps 
                 those handouts organized. 
                 4.  Be Honest             The Honor Code is strictly enforced in my classroom. 
                  
                 Grading 
                 Nine-Week:                60%—Tests / Project Average 
                                           30%— Daily Quizzes 
                                           10%— Homeworks 
                 Semester:                 40%—1st 9-Week Grade 
                                                    nd
                                                40%—2  9-Week Grade 
                                                20%—Midterm or Final Exam 
                  
                 Daily Grades 
                         The daily average is made up of quizzes 30% and homework 10%.   
                             Students will be quizzed DAILY. This is to ensure they are keeping up with the 
                              material at the appropriate level of difficulty. Quizzes will be graded on accuracy. 
                             Homework will be given every class period with the exception of review days and 
                              test days. 
                             Homeworks will be graded on completion. Check plus 100%. Check 80%. Check 
                              minus 50%. Check minus minus 30%. All answers to homework will be given so 
                              that students may check their work as they are completing the assignment 
                             Late work -  Students can turn in homework late up until the test or retest date 
                              for half credit.  
                             For classwork and homework, the requirements are to write down the problem 
                              and show all work (no work, no credit, no exceptions). 
                             All assignments can be found on my website.   
                     
                    The student is expected to complete his/her own work at all times. Please refer to 
                    the student Honor Code in the Student Handbook. 
                     
                     
                    Tests / Projects 
                             Unit tests will be the primary source of test grades. These tests will be at the 
                              level of difficulty of the questions students will see on the AP exam taken in May. 
                             Students will be given the following test during the given 9 week marking period. 
                                   o    1st 9 weeks - 3 unit tests 
                                   o    2nd 9 weeks - 3 unit tests 
                                   o    3rd 9 weeks - 3 unit tests 
                                   o    4th 9 weeks - 1 unit test, 2 practice AP tests, 1 end of year project 
                             Retests are now allowed in AP classes. Students can retake a test to earn half 
                              points back up to a 90 so long as the student retakes the test within 7 days of 
                              when the grade is posted. 
                             Tests will not be given back in this class as all questions from the test come from 
                              secure practice tests from the College Board.  
                    Curving policy 
                             Tests / Quizzes - Tests and quizzes will be straight line curved so that the 
                              average quiz / test grade will be approximately an 80%. Typically the raw 
                              average of test grades are in the mid to high 70’s. Quiz grades will vary. 
                             Midterm / Practice AP Tests / Final - Will be graded on an AP scale curve where 
                              65%+ is considered a “5” or an A. 50-64% a “4” or B. 40-49% a “3” or C. 30-39% 
                              a “2” or D. 0-29% a “1” or F 
                             Maximum grade is 100%  
                    Cell Phone Policy 
                    **Cell phones ARE NOT ALLOWED in my classroom. They should be stowed away and 
                    silenced before entering the classroom. If a student is found using their cell phone 
                    during class time it will be taken from them and turned into the Assistant Principal's 
                    Office. Students are not allowed to listen to music or have headphones on at any time 
                    during class.** 
                     
                    Absences/Makeup Work 
                             STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING UP TO DATE ON MATERIAL 
                              EACH AND EVERY CLASS. If a student is absent he or she is required to 
                              watch the video of the lecture from the class missed and take the daily quiz 
                              the following day. Students may use an extra day to complete the homework 
                              assignment however they must take the quiz/test when the rest of the class does. 
                              NO EXCEPTIONS. 
                             Students who miss a class period will not be required to make up the quiz 
                              missed. Students will be assigned a blank grade for any quizzed missed which 
                              will not hurt their grade only make their other quizzes worth more on a 
                              percentage basis. 
                             When absent only on the day of a test, the student is expected to take the make-
                              up test on the day he/she returns to school.  
                     
                    Supplies    
                    Students are expected to bring these materials to class every day: 
                    Notebook, Loose-leaf paper (preferably computer printer paper), Graph paper, Pencils 
                    with erasers, Pen (for grading only), 
                              Graphing Calculator (TI-84+ is what we will use in class and show our 
                    examples from. Students are allowed to use a TI-89 as well) 
                    Students are strongly encouraged to purchase their own graphing calculator. A limited 
                    number of calculators (TI-84+) are available for checkout through the LTHS library for 
                    those students who are unable to purchase their own.  
                     
                    Tutoring  
                    Tutoring with the teacher is available: 
                             from 7:45 – 8:50 AM most days and from 4:05 – 4:30. There will be certain days 
                              that I have practice after school for lacrosse. To make sure I will be available, 
                              please let me know when you will be coming for tutorials or to make-up work. 
                    Frequently Asked Questions 
                    I missed last class when can I take the quiz I missed? 
                    You are excused from the quiz you missed last class. However, you are taking the quiz today on the 
                    material from the class you missed.  
                     
                    I missed last class so that means I don’t have to take the quiz today right? 
                    Incorrect. Since you missed last class you were required to watch the lesson online and you are expected 
                    to be prepared to take the quiz today. 
                     
                    I promise I watched the videos but I don’t understand it do I really have to take the quiz? 
                    The videos are live recordings from actual classrooms, if you or any of the students from that class 
                    struggled picking up the material then you should come in before school for tutorials before you take the 
                    quiz.  
                     
       Discipline 
       If a problem arises, you will be given one warning, you will be moved to another seat. If 
       the class continues to be disrupted you will be removed from class and sent to the AP’s 
       office.