Honors Calculus
2011–2012 Course Guide
Mr. Todd Kresser
Lakeside US Mathematics
Class web site: http://teachers.lakesideschool.org/us/math/kresser/
E-mail: todd.kresser@lakesideschool.org
Phone: (206) 440−2962
Information and policies in this guide are subject to change; see the class web site for the latest version.
Honors Calculus
Honors Calculus gives students a rigorous
training in what is called integral calculus –
the natural continuation of the differential
calculus students began last year. Topics from
differential calculus will be reviewed to suit
the needs of the students. Applications to
physics, biology, and economics are analyzed
though long-term projects and case studies.
This course will completely prepare students
for success on the BC Calculus AP exam in
May, but will do so by working at significantly
greater depth and covering many additional
topics beyond the AP curriculum.
This course is fun and challenging. One of my
goals is to ensure that everyone feels
mathematically pushed (either by pace or by
complexity) at some point during this year.
Expectations
There is a single rule governing class conduct:
Be respectful to your classmates
and to your instructor.
A productive and respectful classroom
atmosphere is essential for learning. Individual
behavior can support or undermine the
learning environment for everyone. You are
an important part of your class and have a
stake in its success.
Course Materials
Our text is Single Variable Calculus: Early
Transcendentals, 6th ed. by James Stewart.
A graphing calculator is required for this
course. Since certain powerful calculators
have advanced symbolic features, I won’t
allow them on class tests. Here is a grid:
in class
on AP
allowed
TI-83/4/5/6
TI-83/4/5/6/9
not allowed
TI-89, TI-92
TI-92
Computer programs that we will use
frequently this year include Excel, Wolfram
Alpha (free web app), Winplot (PC) or
Grapher (Mac).
Assignments and Tests
Homework will be assigned daily in class. For
your convenience homework assignments will
also be posted on the course blog.
Occasionally there may be homework
completion checks in class. The frequency of
such checks varies, based on criteria that will
become self-evident.
Tests are given every 2-3 weeks after we
complete a substantial amount of material. I
will always announce major tests or
assignments at least a week in advance. There
may be some shorter tests and (possibly
unannounced) short quizzes.
Long-term Projects will be assigned
periodically, maybe once a month. These
problems generally offer a chance at some
creativity and are designed to encourage
collaborative work. They’ll be real time
commitment (psst…don’t wait until the last
minute) which I hope will help you hone your
time management skills.
Intensive Calculus, 2011-12 Course Guide, page 2
Grades
Final Exam and AP Review
Tests (about 2/3 of the grade)
You know what tests are like.
As part of a thorough review in preparation for
the AP Calculus exam in early May, the final
exam is administered early. Last year we took
the final over two days in the middle of April.
Projects and Problems (about 1/3)
Problem Sets will be due every few weeks.
Homework/Attendance (about 0/3)
You won’t succeed without these. They are
necessary – though probably not sufficient –
conditions for success in this class.
The final grade in this course is made up of
each term grade (40% each) and a cumulative
final exam (20%).
Absences and Makeup Tests
Whenever you are absent, you have the
responsibility to find out what you have
missed. I will provide reasonable support to
help you catch up. If you are absent the day of
a test you should make arrangements to make
it up as soon as possible. If at all possible you
should contact me ahead of time to make
arrangements. I check email frequently and
often that is the best way to inform me that
you will be absent.
Getting Help
I encourage you to seek my assistance with
your math learning outside of class time. This
support can benefit anyone, not just students
who are struggling. I am available during the
day, and can almost always be available before
or after school. It is part of becoming a mature
learner to have the discipline to seek help
when you need it.
In the rare event that I am not available to help
you exactly when you need it, the entire math
department is eager to help you succeed in
math. Feel free to ask any of the teachers who
are free if they can spare a few moments of
their time.
After the AP Exam, we will work on
interesting projects.
About Me
This is my seventh year teaching at Lakeside
and I served as Head of the Math Department
for the last four years. Before coming to
Lakeside, I lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts
and taught at Lexington High School in
historic Lexington, Massachusetts. Before that
I taught while studying at Indiana University
in beautiful Bloomington, Indiana. My wife
Katie is an Art History professor at Seattle
Pacific University and we have a cute baby
daughter named Ellis. Katie and I are both
proud, native Hoosiers (feel free to ask if you
don’t know what that means!) who enjoy
traveling, birding, and playing games.