A mathematics teacher submitted the wrong project proposal about working with SmartTech in Linux instead of his intended curriculum project. His actual curriculum project aims to improve AP Calculus scores by developing weekly multiple choice pop quizzes called "MCQ Mondays" drawn from old AP exams. He will review the questions from each quiz with students the following Monday in a repeated cycle. The teacher has taught AP Calculus BC since 1993 with good results but finds students lack motivation to study outside of class in recent years. He hopes the frequent quizzes will improve this by providing constant drill of both precalculus and calculus skills needed for the AP exam.

1. Curriculum Development 2009
To: Jim Scannell, Assistant Superintendent
From: A. Jorge García, Mathematics Teacher
Re: Project Proposal
Date: 9/21/2009
The attached curriculum development project proposal was submitted
in error. Working with SmartTech in Linux is my personal goal, not my
curriculum project.
The curriculum project I meant to submit involves improving AP
Calculus scores. To that end, I will be developing weekly pop tests I call
“MCQ Mondays!” MCQ stands for Multiple Choice Questions based on old
AP exams. The students will have much more practice with AP styled
questions as I will give a pop test one Monday and then go over it with a fine
toothed comb the following Monday. This two week cycle will be repeated ad
nauseum.
I have been teaching AP Calculus BC since 1993 with good results. I
already have “FRQ Fridays” where we practice with Free Response
Questions, but I used MCQs mostly during AP Review in April. However, in
recent years, I find the students lack self motivation to study as they should
outside of class. I hope to cure this disease with the pop tests! Further, ever
since Commissioner Mills saw fit to make us do away with our honors track
mathematics curriculae and replaced it with only an accelerated one, these
students come to AP Calculus BC lacking in skills that they might otherwise
have had. With the constant drill of “MCQ Mondays” I hope to improve both
their PreCalculus and Calculus skills.
Sincerely,
A. Jorge García
Applied Math & CS
Baldwin SHS & Nassau CC
http://calcpage.tripod.com
calcpage@aol.com
CurriculumDevelopment.doc 1