Name______

Period______

LA MIRADA HIGH SCHOOL

SYLLABUS

FOR MRS. KIDWELL’S AP BC CALCULUS CLASS

GRADING POLICY: The following will make up the student’s grade.

Homework, quizzes, notes, study team test, and other projects30%

Individual Test 70%

The points will be accumulated for the above and the following scale will be applied.

90% - 100%A

80% - 89%B

70% - 79%C

60% - 69%D

0% - 59%F

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students will cover the topics of BC Calculus, as well as reviewing AB Calculus and reviewing for the BC Advanced Placement Exam.

gives an overview as well as potential jobs where this course applies.

EXTRA CREDIT: Extra Credit is directly related to course content, whether it is a problem or a project. The value of extra credit cannot exceed 5% of the students’ grade.

THE AP EXAM; It is expected that all students take the Advanced Placement Test for BC Calculus. Anyone who chooses not to will still have to take a mock exam. For those who earn a 3, 4, or 5, will receive extra percentage points for their second semester grade. It will be at the teacher’s discretion and on the condition that 90% of the assignments were completed. If the requirements are met, students earning a 5, will receive a boost of 10%, a 4 will receive 8% and a 3 will receive 6%.

HOMEWORK: Homework is assigned every day except test days. A homework log is provided every unit to every student and is kept by that student. Students will always know what assignments are missing and the grade they have earned on each assignment. Students will be correcting their own homework online and recording their scores. Late homework from a particular unit will be accepted only until the day before the individual test of that unit. Students will be able to ask questions. Missing points from mistakes can be redone and full credit can be earned. In order to earn these points, students must redo the problems in ink and come and check the answers. Zeros from packet can be redone, but can only earn 75% max. Late work is due on the day of the individual test. All homework and tests must be in pencil to earn credit. Students will be required to sign the homework log, verifying that the problems completed and the scores match. If the scores have a discrepancy, then any or all of the following penalties can occur: HW score penalty, referral to the discipline office, an N or U in citizenship.

TESTS: There will be an individual test after each chapter. Tests will always be announced in advance. All tests must be in pencil.

LECTURE NOTES: Each student is expected to take lecture notes each day they are given. This includes examples and vocabulary. We will have daily warm ups that need to be kept to turn in.

MAKE-UP POLICY: Work may only be made up when the student’s absence is verified. For homework one day is allowed for each day of absence. Individual tests must be made up within one week, and must be done before, after school or arranged with the teacher.

MATERIALS: Students are required to bring all needed materials to class every day. All students will need the following: math text, pencil, paper (both lined and graph), a spiral bound notebook or graph paper book for homework and notes, (graph paper can be inserted in if you have a lined paper notebook) and a TI 83 Plus or TI 84 Plus (silver edition is fine) graphing calculator.

KIDWELL’S POLICY ON CHEATING: If a student is caught cheating on a test or quiz, the student will receive a zero for his/her test and will be required to obtain a parent’s signature on that test. He or she will also be sent to the discipline office. The student will also receive a U in citizenship for the semester.

DISCIPLINE: Your actions must not disrupt the educational process. The most common disruptions are talking at inappropriate times and being disrespectful, which includes put-downs of other people in class and profanity. Do not do this and keep in mind the idea of treating others how you would like to be treated.

Consequences: verbal warning, changed seat, private conference, parent contact, detention, and referral to counselor/assistant principal. (Consequences may be assigned in any order)

I will do my best to respond within 24 hours:

MRS. KIDWELL’S EMAIL ADDRESS: or you email me from a link on my page on

I will keep handouts and other information at:

There are links within the textbook for extra help and their links on the website under “links”.

YOUR MOST IMPORTANT GOAL IS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DO!!

Some tips to help you study for understanding:

  1. KEEP UP. Come to class everyday and do your homework every night.
  1. BE ORGANIZED. Keep your notes handouts and homework in a binder in an order that will allow you to reference them if you need to do so.
  1. DO LOTS AND LOTS OF PROBLEMS. When you are studying for a test, invent some of your own problems and practice given problems. Be sure you can solve them.
  1. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR MISTAKES. Mistakes are learning tools. If you get the wrong answer, do not just copy someone else’s answer, go back and find out WHY you made the mistake. Finding out what you do not know is the fastest way to get to real understanding.
  1. COME TO CLASS PREPARED TO WORK EVERY DAY. Make the most of your class time by bringing your textbook, notebook and other materials every day.
  1. ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS. I am here to help you. I do not always know what you do and do not understand. You need to communicate questions to me or someone else who can help you understand the work. DON’T LET UNITS GO BY THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

Please have your parents fill out the survey at under “ABOUT US” and STAFF DIRECTORY, Kidwell, which is the homepage.

REMIND is used to assist you and is a way to text your teacher. The directions are on the BC Calculus page (see right side of the homepage to link to the BC Calculus page). Parents and students are welcome to join.