TJ Calculus BC - Junior Year - Finding it difficult

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All schools in FCPS teach AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC. BC is the harder of the two courses. A student who takes Algebra 1 in 7th grade would be in a position to take AP Calculus as a Junior. They can choose between AB or BC, dependent on their math ability and how confident they are in their math skills. I would guess that Pre-Calc Teachers will provide guidance to students when selecting which Calculus to take. Some kids will take Calculus AB as a Junior and then Calculus BC as a Senior but I think that is normally discouraged since BC contains the material from AB with extensions.

There is a good amount of talk that all of the math classes at TJ are more difficult then the traditional classes at base schools. I can fully see that with many of the classes since they are taught as semester long classes so students are moving through the material more quickly. I am not sure how TJ handles the AP Calculus class, it is possible that there are a lot of extensions to the class so it moves through more material then a regular AP class.

In my experience, they overteach everything at TJ, then the kids get 5s on every AP exams practically doing them with their eyes closed. Same with multivariable - in my kid's time, the George Mason final for dual enrolment credit was so much easier than the TJ tests during the year.

That's teaching, not overteaching.

Teaching the bare minimum to 5 (not perfect) the AP test would be underteaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior in Calc BC at TJ. It has been brutal. Kid can’t get his hands on enough TJ test type practice problems. Said the last test was entirely hard problems (beyond what’s required for AP) and he couldn’t finish in time. Kid was recommended for this class with all As in TJ Math 4 and 5. But barely holding a B in BC at this point. Not sure he’ll have one after the final. I wish he hadn’t taken the teacher recommendedation. Oh well.

Get the AOPS Calculus book or Spivak's book.

Or be delighted that the kid is getting a B in TJ BC and headed for a 5 on the AP test, and he learned before expensive college that he should appreciate a challenge and that he won't coast to an A in everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really just sounds like they need more practice. They get the concepts, but aren't completely confident. I'd suggest a study group and doing more problems.

If you do study groups, will the honor code gods descend?

Study groups are normal and strongly recommended.

[Anonymous]

Not true. Plenty of kids do that and do well in math at TJ. That is a COMPLETELY different issue from the BC question posed here. Plenty of kids who started in math 1 take BC and do no better or worse than anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior in Calc BC at TJ. It has been brutal. Kid can’t get his hands on enough TJ test type practice problems. Said the last test was entirely hard problems (beyond what’s required for AP) and he couldn’t finish in time. Kid was recommended for this class with all As in TJ Math 4 and 5. But barely holding a B in BC at this point. Not sure he’ll have one after the final. I wish he hadn’t taken the teacher recommendedation. Oh well.

Get the AOPS Calculus book or Spivak's book.

Or be delighted that the kid is getting a B in TJ BC and headed for a 5 on the AP test, and he learned before expensive college that he should appreciate a challenge and that he won't coast to an A in everything.

This is PP. I agree this is the silver lining. Thank you for the book recommendations! Maybe a bit late with the exam in 2 weeks. But better late than never.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no point entering TJ with basic 8th algebra 1. It's been a nightmare, remedial hasnt made a difference. If student is somewhat doing well at middle school, stay at base school for good sleep and piece of mind.

What remedial help is available at TJ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior in Calc BC at TJ. It has been brutal. Kid can’t get his hands on enough TJ test type practice problems. Said the last test was entirely hard problems (beyond what’s required for AP) and he couldn’t finish in time. Kid was recommended for this class with all As in TJ Math 4 and 5. But barely holding a B in BC at this point. Not sure he’ll have one after the final. I wish he hadn’t taken the teacher recommendedation. Oh well.

Get the AOPS Calculus book or Spivak's book.

Or be delighted that the kid is getting a B in TJ BC and headed for a 5 on the AP test, and he learned before expensive college that he should appreciate a challenge and that he won't coast to an A in everything.

This is PP. I agree this is the silver lining. Thank you for the book recommendations! Maybe a bit late with the exam in 2 weeks. But better late than never.

DP. +2 that having to learn how to do work at TJ is better than having to learn while in college or after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no point entering TJ with basic 8th algebra 1. It's been a nightmare, remedial hasnt made a difference. If student is somewhat doing well at middle school, stay at base school for good sleep and piece of mind.

What remedial help is available at TJ?

Remedial help at TJ is not as structured as base school, and that's a major drawback. Students are given access to ALEKS, and there is 8th period help, but its not a class. There is the tutor.com which is a fantastic resource provided by FCPS.