Recommendations for online AP Calc AB Class?

[Anonymous]

My son's school mandates AP Calc AB before AP Calc BC. Ok, fine. They just added MVC, which will be the highest level of math they offer (previously, was AP Calc BC.)

So, thinking of having him take Honors Precalc in 10 (took Honors Alg 2 in 9), then AP Calc AB in summer 2023, BC in 11, and MVC in 12.

My question is -- any recommendations for an AP Calc AB online class? He won't take the AP exam and it doesn't have to go on his transcript. He just has to show the high school that he took it.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Does he want to spend a high summer taking calculus?
Why is it so important that he take MVC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does he want to spend a high summer taking calculus?
Why is it so important that he take MVC?

NP. Some kids love math. I have one like this, and he’d absolutely spend the summer taking calc AB online if it meant he could take MVC in HS. Let’s assume OP knows their kid and is asking because the kid wants to do this.

[Anonymous]

John’s Hopkins CTY. It’s entirely self paced so he can do it over 10 weeks. You need certain test scores to be accepted.

[Anonymous]

You parents are horrible. Calculus in the summer? WHY??? Let your kid hang out by the pool and work at the ice cream shop in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son's school mandates AP Calc AB before AP Calc BC. Ok, fine. They just added MVC, which will be the highest level of math they offer (previously, was AP Calc BC.)

So, thinking of having him take Honors Precalc in 10 (took Honors Alg 2 in 9), then AP Calc AB in summer 2023, BC in 11, and MVC in 12.

My question is -- any recommendations for an AP Calc AB online class? He won't take the AP exam and it doesn't have to go on his transcript. He just has to show the high school that he took it.

Thanks.

Doesn't Calc BC cover AB + additional content?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son's school mandates AP Calc AB before AP Calc BC. Ok, fine. They just added MVC, which will be the highest level of math they offer (previously, was AP Calc BC.)

So, thinking of having him take Honors Precalc in 10 (took Honors Alg 2 in 9), then AP Calc AB in summer 2023, BC in 11, and MVC in 12.

My question is -- any recommendations for an AP Calc AB online class? He won't take the AP exam and it doesn't have to go on his transcript. He just has to show the high school that he took it.

Thanks.

Doesn't Calc BC cover AB + additional content?

Yes, it does. BC is a full year of college calculus taught in the same time. AB is a semester of college calc taught one rthe course of 1 school year (typically).

But many schools require or strongly encourage students to take AB first, then BC. Ours is one that does that. It works well and leads to a 99% scores of 4 or 5 on the AP Calc BC test for students in the past 10 years (approximately 40-50 kids each year). My kid naturally excels at math, and likely could have been pushed to "3 grades ahead" back in 6th grade and on track for MVC senior year and done well---only reason we didn't do it was because we had just moved cross country and though it best to not overload an 11yo who had just had literally everything in their life changed. However our HS doesn't have MVC, you'd have to go to the CC.
AB was easy, BC was a bit more challenging and fast paced, even with the first month being review (most who sequence this way, move quickly thru the AB material in the BC course as they know all students just took AB and it's review). Then the material was challenging for the first time in my kid's life. Got Bs in the course (first B's ever), but easily got a 5 on the AP exam.
I personally think it's best not to rush the kids trhu, as math builds upon itself and getting a good foundation is important for future STEM majors. Diff EQ and engineering courses will be much harder if you don't have a great foundation in calculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does he want to spend a high summer taking calculus?
Why is it so important that he take MVC?

NP. Some kids love math. I have one like this, and he’d absolutely spend the summer taking calc AB online if it meant he could take MVC in HS. Let’s assume OP knows their kid and is asking because the kid wants to do this.

I'm the poster you're replying to and I also have a kid who loves math and took Algebra in 6th grade. I still think it sucks for a high schooler to spend their summer taking calculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does he want to spend a high summer taking calculus?
Why is it so important that he take MVC?

NP. Some kids love math. I have one like this, and he’d absolutely spend the summer taking calc AB online if it meant he could take MVC in HS. Let’s assume OP knows their kid and is asking because the kid wants to do this.

I'm the poster you're replying to and I also have a kid who loves math and took Algebra in 6th grade. I still think it sucks for a high schooler to spend their summer taking calculus.

NP, Not every kid gets a chance to take Algebra in 6th even if they have the aptitude and the desire to do so. I wouldn't personally recommend my DC take calculus over the summer, but I can understand doing so if the kid has a desire to do it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. To be clear, my son *wants* MVC. He and I have been brainstorming ways to get him there. Believe me when I say that neither of us loves the idea of summer calculus, but that may be the only path.

Another thing I want to make clear is that if he doesn't do *extremely* well in Honors Precalc in 10, skipping AP Calc AB is a nonstarter.

He tested into JHU CTY a few years ago but has never taken any of their courses. I assume his scores are still valid -- I will check with them.

Thanks for the advice!

[Anonymous]

AP calculus teacher here.

Check with your school to confirm that BC is AB plus additional content and it is not *only* the BC content. Having AB as a prerequisite might be a tip-off that they are not teaching the AB content in BC but assume that content is mostly known and they will just rapidly review it at the beginning of the year.

Then look at Thinkwell and Derek Owens. Both are self paced options and a motivated student could probably get through them in 6 months doing multiple lessons a day. Id have the student start in spring to build in time before the course needs to be completed and BC starts. Obviously they wouldn’t be taking the AP Calculus AB exam because it’s only given in Spring.

You’ll want to buy a textbook for them. The College Board has a list of approved textbooks in the course outline. You can get one on Amazon. You’ll want a solution manual too if you yourself are not extremely comfortable with calculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP calculus teacher here.

Check with your school to confirm that BC is AB plus additional content and it is not *only* the BC content. Having AB as a prerequisite might be a tip-off that they are not teaching the AB content in BC but assume that content is mostly known and they will just rapidly review it at the beginning of the year.

Then look at Thinkwell and Derek Owens. Both are self paced options and a motivated student could probably get through them in 6 months doing multiple lessons a day. Id have the student start in spring to build in time before the course needs to be completed and BC starts. Obviously they wouldn’t be taking the AP Calculus AB exam because it’s only given in Spring.

You’ll want to buy a textbook for them. The College Board has a list of approved textbooks in the course outline. You can get one on Amazon. You’ll want a solution manual too if you yourself are not extremely comfortable with calculus.

Thanks so very much - this is so helpful. I appreciate the thoughtful response

[Anonymous]

K12 Private Academy has AP Calculus AB.
You can purchase the course here: https://www.k12courses.com/subject/mathematics/mth500b-advanced-placement-calculus-ab.html
Information about summer courses: https://www.k12.com/private-academy/academics/summer-school.html

Keep in mind, K12 Private Acdemy is the private school and not one of the free public charters. They offer live classes and teacher support.