AP Calculus AB - (2014 - 2015)
Teacher: Anil Desai
Email: adesai1@houstonisd.org
School website: http://schools.houstonisd.org/DeBakey
School phone number: 713-741-2410
Conference Time: 7:55 pm – 9:50 am (A Days)
Room Number: 219
This is a college level course and students can get college credit for 1 semester of Calculus if they get a score of 3,
4, or 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) test given by the College Board in May 2014. I work very hard to prepare
my students for the AP test and I expect each student to work hard and take that test. Students will have to work
very regularly in order to perform well in this course. Copy of a tentative schedule for lessons, homework
assignments, quizzes, and tests is attached for your reference. Copy of the detailed syllabus prescribed by the
College Board will be posted on Gradespeed and on my webpage.
GRADING POLICY:
TESTS & PROJECTS
QUIZZES
HOMEWORK
50%
40%
10%
TESTS: (At least 2 per cycle). End of Cycle Tests will be comprehensive.
PROJECTS: May be assigned once per cycle.
QUIZZES: Approximately 3 - 4 per cycle.
HOMEWORK: Assignments are due everyday at the beginning of the class. Homework is graded on effort and
percent of work completed, not necessarily on correct answers. Work must be shown for each problem. All
homework assignments, quizzes and tests must be kept in a separate binder and the binder must be with the
student for each class.
Students must show work for all multiple choice assessments. Credit may not be given if answers are
marked without showing correct work.
Students should use the cycle lesson/assessment plan distributed at the beginning of each grading cycle to plan their course
studies. Homework assignments should be worked in advance of the due date and practice for scheduled assessments should
be part of the daily routine.
MAKE-UP POLICY:

If a student is present for a class lesson, the homework assignment for that lesson is due at the next class period. If a
student is absent at the next class period after a lesson is given, the homework assignment will be due the day he/she
returns to class.

If the student is absent from class the day a lesson is given, the student should attend the next available morning or after
school tutorial to receive help. The homework assignment for the missed lesson will be due no more than 2 class days
after returning from an absence.

Students who are absent on the day an assessment is given, must be prepared to makeup the assessment on the day they
return to school.

Students returning from an absence on the day an assessment is given must be prepared to take the assessment as
scheduled.
I may give extensions for students with extended illnesses or emergencies on an individual basis. Extensions will be given in
writing and a new due date will be specified. Extensions will not be given for lack of organization or planning on the part of
the student.
Absences: If you must be absent, notify me as soon as possible to receive your work ahead of time. If the
absence was not anticipated, it is your responsibility to find out about missed assignments. If you are absent on the
day of a major test or quiz, you must schedule a make-up activity on your first day back to class. Parents are
requested to ensure that their child has talked to me about the arrangement of make up for the test or quiz or
contact me immediately through email or telephone.
Progress Report: Approximately every three weeks, each student will receive a grade, either a progress report
or a report card, to be signed by the parents and returned the next day.
Calculator: TI 83/84 Plus will be used in class. I would like each student to buy a calculator (TI 84 Silver Edition)
as it will be required for homework and for their college courses too. If a student is having any difficulty in this
matter it should be brought to my notice. I will try to issue a calculator to such students. They will be responsible to
give it back to me in good working condition at the end of the semester/school year. Students are responsible to
bring the calculator for each class. This would help in saving time for distributing of calculators to students for each
class and that time can be used for instructional purpose.
Returning graded assignments: Exams and quizzes will be graded and returned to students within two class
periods from the time of administration. Parents are requested to monitor the progress of their child through
these graded assignments and through Gradespeed and contact me immediately if there are questions or
concerns.
Tutoring: Students will have opportunities to attend before or after school tutorials. Details will be announced in
class during the first week of school.
Please refer to the school time tracker for all other school policies especially about the use of cell phone and
electronic devices in school premises. Students will not have any electronic device (Cell Phone, ipad etc)
with them while taking any assessment in class.
Field Lessons: All students interested in going on a Field Lesson for any other subject must take my permission in
writing. They will be responsible for making up the missing instructional material on their own and schedule make
up assessments (within 2-3 days after the field lesson) in consultation with me.
This is how Math department implements the Grading Policy:

If an assignment is not turned in on the due date, that assignment may be turned in to the teacher by the
beginning of the next class meeting; the grade received will be no higher than a 70%. If the assignment is
not turned in on the next meeting day, the grade remains a zero.

If a student receives a failing grade on the first test of the cycle, he/she may request an opportunity to retake that test. That request must be made in writing to the teacher during the class on the day that the
student receives the graded assignment. The retake test will not be the same test as the original test but it
will cover the same material as that of the original test.

The retake grade will be an average of the two scores, the original and the retake, unless the average is
higher than a 70. If the average is higher than a 70, the grade defaults to a 70. The highest grade a
student can receive on the final assignment or test is a 70%.

The retake test or class assignment must be completed within one week of receiving the grade original
grade. Students are responsible to schedule the date and time of the retake test in consultation with me on
the day of receiving the grade for test 1. Retake test will scheduled before school (starting at 7 am) or after
school from 3:30 to 4:30 pm only on Mon-Thursday. Parents are requested to make sure that their child
has scheduled a retake test as per above guideline otherwise contact me through email or on telephone to
ensure that the retake is scheduled.

No retake will be given for the end of cycle test (Typically this is the 2 nd test.) Students will not be allowed to
take the graded test 2 back to home. However, the test 2 will be reviewed in class and students will have
opportunities to come to the class during lunch or after school by scheduling an appointment with me and
review/go over their difficulties in test 2.

No retakes will be given for any quizzes.
Please acknowledge receipt of this letter by signing below.
Student Signature
Parent Signature
________________________
__________________________________
Email address: ______________________
Telephone: ________________________