Calculus AB

This course will familiarize participants with the AP Calculus Course and Exam Description (CED), The AP Exam, and the online AP Calculus resources that are available through AP Classroom which include the Personal Progress Checks (PPC), videos, and the test bank. There will be thorough coverage of the concepts and content of AP Calculus AB. By participating in this course, you will:

• Examine strategies for successfully teaching all the major topics using multiple representations—graphical, numerical, analytical, and verbal

• Examine resources and participate in activities and supplemental materials that promote student understanding

• Work and discuss AP Free Response and AP Multiple Choice questions giving attention to assessment and analysis of student work

• Begin to develop a course pacing guide by unit/topic to incorporate the full scope of your AP course into the school’s academic calendar

• Examine formative/summative assessment item types to identify/explain how pairings of content/skills are the focus of instruction and the target of these assessments

• Identify student strengths and weaknesses using data available through AP Classroom and the instructional planning report

• Share ideas, strategies, and best practices in groups or pairs

• Have a great, productive week

Specific attention will be paid to the following AP Resources: Unit Guides, topic questions, Personal Progress Checks, Question Bank, Instructional Planning Reports, and the AP Teacher Community. You will need a computer/laptop/tablet, and it would be great to have a graphing calculator. If you want to download the material, it would be great to have a flash drive.

Instructor: Dickie Thomasson

Dickie Thomasson graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello with a BSE in mathematics. He received his MSE in Secondary Education from the University of Arkansas and an administrator’s certificate from the University of Central Arkansas. Dickie has taught mathematics for 47 years in grades 6 through college in public schools in Arkansas. He is currently teaching at Founders Classical Academy-Rogers where he teaches Geometry, AP Precalculus, and AP Calculus AB. Mr. Thomasson has been active in the Arkansas Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Dickie was the recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2001. He is a College Board consultant and presents at one and two-day conferences as well as conducting summer institutes. Dickie has presented summer institutes at the University of Arkansas, the University of Tulsa, University of Texas El Paso, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, University of Colorado, TCU, Rice, University of Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Western Kentucky. For the past several years, he has presented virtual workshops for many participants. One of his favorite things to do each summer is being a reader for the AP Calculus Exam. This year he has the honor to participate in the first AP Precalculus Reading where he will serve as an ETL. Dickie presents workshop sessions at the local, state, and international levels. Dickie was a national trainer/coach for the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) where he trained students and teachers. During the 2018 school year, he was named a member of the College Board National Faculty for the newly revised Pre-AP program. Mr. Thomasson was selected as a consultant for the new AP Precalculus course in the first cohort. Mr. Thomasson received the 2023 Teacher of the Year award for Responsive Education Founders Classical Academies.