AP Calculus AB

Excellent preparation for the AP test and STEM college classes

Instruction focused on understanding concepts, not memorizing processes

Frequent opportunity to solve problems orally and discuss ideas

Course Description: 

This class is designed to help homeschooling families succeed in their study of calculus by providing quality instruction and objective evaluation. The class will cover the material studied in the first semester of the calculus sequence at a four-year college as well as prepare the students for the AP Calculus AB Test. Students will learn to use a sophisticated calculator that is required when taking the AP Test. This course will focus on having students fully understand the material so they can apply calculus to many different situations, and not simply memorize formulas and steps. Students will be expected to spend roughly two hours on homework daily, utilizing the online answer key to grade their work. Class will meet two days per week for one hour and thirty minutes each session for instruction. Since this is a homeschooling tutorial, parents will have the certain responsibilities as stated here.

Understand that this is an advanced placement class and not designed for the struggling or lazy math student.  Students will be expected to complete homework assignments before the subsequent class, participate in class with a working microphone, and proactively seek help when not understanding the material.

At the end of the course, students may attempt to earn college credit by taking the AP Calculus AB test. Each college has its own policy concerning AP credit, but many colleges grant credit for a course if the student scores a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP test. All AP tests for a given subject must be administered on the same day across the country by an approved facility, and the one for Calculus is given in mid-May (for this year’s date and time, see https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/exam-dates-and-fees). Liberty Tutorials students are required to arrange to take the test at such a facility near them, much in the same way that they would arrange to take a PSAT test at a local public or private school, and pay any fees associated with the test.

This course is a College Board audited AP Calculus AB course. Thus, students will receive an official transcript from College Board if they take the AP test.  They also may label this as an AP course on their high school transcripts regardless of whether or not they take the AP test. The College Board will send their AP test scores to colleges, and it is on the basis of the score alone that a college will decide whether or not to award college credit.

Prerequisites: 

Students need to have completed Pre-Calculus through Liberty Tutorials with an A or B average or receive approval from the instructor.
It is recommended that students be at least 16 years old, entering 12^th grade.
Parents of younger students should contact the instructor before registering for the class.

Materials:

• Textbook:  Calculus:  Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic, AP Edition, Sixth Edition by Demana, Waits, Kennedy, Bressoud, and Boardman (Pearson, 2020).  ISBN:  9781418300203.  New and used editions are available through Amazon.
• AP Test Prep Book: TBA
• TI-Nspire CX CAS Graphing Calculator available through Amazon or TI-Nspire CX II CAS Color Graphing Calculator available through Amazon.  Make sure you purchase the CAS version.
• Headset with Microphone
• Pencil & Eraser (No Pens)
• Notebook:  Spiral Bound or Loose-Leaf*
• Graph Paper*

*Students may want to use a Graph Ruled Spiral Notebook for all of their work so they can draw graphs beside their calculations.

Class Survey Option:

Previous Liberty Tutorials AP Calculus AB students may attend classes in subsequent years for free.  Students who want to keep the course content fresh during a gap year or those who did not earn a high enough score on the AP test to receive college credit may want to take advantage of this option.  Students who choose to survey the class may attend all classes and have access to class recordings, but will not take tests or quizzes, nor will they receive semester reports.

Cost and Registration:

Click here to view details and register.

“Mrs. Flynn’s calculus AB course effectively taught me the fundamentals of calculus and prepared me for higher math courses, work in college, and the AP exam. Specifically, her explanations of limits, derivatives, and integrals have served me well through Calculus 2, Calculus 3, and Differential Equations. One of the features of the class that most appeals to me is the online classroom environment it is taught through, which allows students to ask questions as material is being taught and enables students to be called upon to work through problems during class. This was invaluable to me, as it motivated me to better prepare for classes and gave me a chance to own my work. In addition, Mrs. Flynn’s clear teaching style made sense of difficult concepts, while the expectations she articulated early in the year allowed classes to follow a smooth rhythm that maximized the time available. I also appreciated the feedback on work and encouragement she provided, as it increased my confidence in subject material and made it easier to work through difficult concepts.  Overall, I greatly grew through the course, becoming confident in Calculus I/AB material, prepared for the AP exam, and ultimately equipped for moving on to higher math courses.”

Student from Maryland, Engineering Graduate at Grove City College