School starts soon. Some places have already started. Here are some links to posts that will give you some help and ideas for getting off to a good start.
Getting Started Some suggestions.
The First Week A short series of exercises that will introduce your students to the concepts they will be learning about all year: Limits, Derivatives, and Integrals. This is a contribution from Paul A. Foerster. Thank you, Paul.
Pacing for AP Calculus. Suggestions on planning the year in AP Calculus.
On Grading and On Scaling. Yes, you should scale your tests. Here’s why.
DESMOS
The online graphing utility Desmos has fast become a go-to site for AP Calculus. It is easy to learn and, in many ways, easier to use than graphing calculators. (Not to mention, cheaper.) Since Desmos is available during the exam there is no reason not to use it all year. It is available for computers, and as an app for smart phones and tablets.
Click here for an expanded note on how to use Desmos for the four things students are required to do with technology on the AP Calculus Exam. The note also shows and compares how to do the same things on a TI-84, so if you are familiar with the TI-84 the change will be easy enough. (August 20, 2025: The link is to a newer version than was published two days ago. It includes computing derivatives and definite integrals.)
This was developed by Crista Hamilton, who teaches AP Calculus at the Maggie Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies in Richmond, Virginia. She has kindly allowed me to share it with you. Thank you, Crista.
Whether Desmos or graphing calculators, you can and should use technology for more than the four things required for the exam. Students should use technology not just to verify their results but also as a tool to investigate, explore, and experiment. Encourage your students to use Desmos and/or their graphing calculator whenever they are doing math.
Teaching Calculus 