AP Calculus

Last year I started a new tradition (can you call it that after only one year) of having all of my AP Calculus students take a "final exam". It is an open note, open book, essay exam. Weird for a math class, right? Technically, any seniors with an A average (which is generally all the seniors in my math class) are exempt from second semester finals. So I don't make them do anything too terribly heavy for their exam. I'd have a riot on my hands. This "exam" is basically just a survey of their year. I force them to think over how far they've come, their future in mathematics, their understanding of God, and I also allow them to contribute their two cents to my planning of next year's class.

Following are the questions along with some excerpts from the students themselves.

1. Write about why you chose to take AP Calculus, what you have learned in this class, how it will benefit you in the future, and if/why you would recommend this class to underclassmen. 

- One thing I learned in Calculus is that math is not my thing.
- I would definitely recommend this class. Above all, it's fun.
- Even though the words like "derivation," "integration," "optimization," and other scary terms scared me in the beginning, as time went by, I realized that they were just math terms and that they weren't as scary as I made them sound.
- Why I chose this class is because I lost at rock, paper, scissors.
- The most important thing I have learned is that my work ethic matters.
- This class has been a great learning experience. I used to look at things the way they are, but AP Cal trained my eyes and mind to look at things from different perspectives. It made me more creative. It was challenging, but I feel a great sense of accomplishment.
- This class taught me that I am not incapable of doing something. What I mean is that if I put my mind on something and work hard, I can actually surprise myself. I'm glad I'm going to college with this mindset.
- AP Calculus has taught me to love math again.  I've always enjoyed math since I was young. However, going through Geometry and Algebra classes, I just couldn't like math anymore because either they were too easy or boring. Entering the world of calculus, I faced numerous puzzling questions, which for some I wouldn't even know where to start solving.
- I always thought about physics or other sciences as my major. But after finishing AP Calculus, I want to learn more about calculus. Even if I don't major in calculus, my passion for calculus probably won't fade.

2. Explain the three most interesting things you learned in AP Calculus and why they interested you.

- I thought finding the area under the curve using integration was interesting. It's so interesting because it's possible!
- Above all, learning how to play Euchre was the most interesting part of AP Calculus.
- L'Hopital's Rule taught me that there is always a way to solve an undefined limit, just like there is a way out for every challenge that seems impossible to overcome.
- I enjoyed finding anti-derivatives because they are quite easy to find the answers to, and for some reason, they just satisfied me.
- It's hard to choose only three things because almost everything in AP Calculus class was awesome. Questions were hard, and I like hard things. They made me spend lots of time to think about solutions and make errors, which are things I enjoy to do when solving math questions.
- Derivatives were one of the most interesting things I learned because it was the first time I thought I was really applying math to the real world.

3. Explain how (or if) you believe math and God are related.

- God gave humans brains that can process more complicated thought than animals, and we set out to learn the mysteries that God has placed in the world. We use math to do this.
- Calculus just hints at God's level of knowledge and transcendence so well through its incredible complexity
- Math allows us to see God's creation in more detail and helps us understand how He designed and made things work.
- Math has helped me become a patient Christian problem solver, which applies in every area of my life.
- No matter how much you want math to change, we cannot alter the fundamentals of math. Likewise, God does not change. We might discover new things about him as we live, but it does not change who God is.
- I want to focus on the concept of finite and infinite numbers. Man is created in the image of God and is called by God to do His work. Man is like a "finite" version of the "infinite" God. We humans have a limited life span and limited power on earth, while God is infinitely powerful.

4. What is something [the teacher] should know for next year's AP Calculus class?

- Many seniors who are applying to American colleges are mentally stressed. Maybe a short prayer at the beginning of every class would be helpful.
- Your teaching method is very helpful, and I really understand the material.
- You should NOT change your teaching style for next year.

5. This is free space for you to write anything else. Comments, suggestions, critiques, and all forms of encouragement are accepted.

- It was fun! I will be jealous of next year's AP Cal class.
- I hope you teach my brother when he is a senior too!
- I don't think anyone else could have taught this class better than you did. I loved your passion.
- We should play more card games!
- You are strict and loving at the same time, which is super GREAT. You model a life of organization, diligence, and service. You are happy to teach us, even though we made you upset many times. I hope I can be cool like you when I become a teacher.

Maybe a Bit Much...

So I need to share with you the BEST THING I'VE SEEN ALL DAY.

It's an Indonesian advertisement for Halal ("clean" in the Muslim faith) eggs. Here is the ad:

(Photo taken from Facebook)

Here's what it says in English:

Are we sure the eggs we're eating are clean?

We need to ensure that we are not eating eggs produced by FORNICATING chickens.

For that reason, we present to you

HALAL EGGS.

We take great care in guarding the socialization of our chickens so that they do not become involved in promiscuous sex. We guarantee that each rooster only fertilizes four hens in accordance with Shariah Law.

A healthy life begins with

HALAL EGGS.

Master Teacher

Due to sickness and death (which so far has been the theme of the year), our school has had limited human resources. As such, many of us have been attempting to cover classes for other teachers while also teaching our own classes.

In an unprecedented move (for me) I managed to somehow substitute teach the 7th grade math class one day last week while ALSO teaching my 10th grade math class. There were so many teenagers packed into one room I thought I was going to die of heat stroke. But we survived.

That feat wasn't enough for me though. No, I have set my sights higher. Much, much higher. Because, I mean, teaching two math classes at the same time - one of which was my own regularly scheduled class that I had prepped for - was not enough of a challenge. So on Friday of this week, I will be substitute teaching two classes for two other teachers in two different subject areas. During second period, you will find me simultaneously teaching 8th grade math AND 10th grade English.

Next time, I think I'll opt out of math altogether. Even though I don't teach 8th grade math, it's still a field I am far too familiar with. But let's see how Friday goes first...

May. Oh, May.

We're getting to that time of year. That magical time of year where I turn into an emotional mess. That time of year where I say goodbye to at least 25% of the people that I have poured my heart into. That time of year where I just want to hide in my apartment and never love anybody else ever again. That time of year that becomes the season of mourning that Ecclesiastes told me would happen.

Yesterday was a tear-y day. Contemplating upcoming goodbyes, some of which are going to be really, really hard. I almost skipped Bible study because I wanted to crawl into bed at 6 PM and forget that other humans existed. But I ended up deciding to go anyways because when I'm feeling down, what could be better than spending some time in the Word?

A friend from my Indonesian church hosts Bible study in her home, and a few other families from my church attend - most of whom have small children. When I pulled in the gate, two of the little ones were waiting for me on the front porch, and as soon as they saw me, they started clapping their hands, jumping up and down, and cheering my name. As soon as I got off my bike, they ran over and flung themselves at my legs and bear hugged my knees. Once I made it past the welcoming committee on the porch and got in the front door, the one year old looked up from her toys on the floor and SHRIEKED my name and gave me a HUGE smile! It was the first time she's called me by name (after MONTHS of coaching - I mean, I've been trying to get her to say it since the day she was born. It was a huge letdown when she learned to say "mama" first)!

Those things make me smile. And remind me that I'm loved. And that even though I have to say goodbye to a lot of the people I care about in the coming month, there are even more people I care about who will still be here.

On those same lines, my best friend in America wrote me this afternoon to let me know that her toddler woke up in the middle of the night last night, and when asked why, her little girl told her that she was trying to video call me on the tablet, and she was very concerned when I didn't pick up. (Note - I had no missed calls from the child, so I have no clue who she was actually calling in the middle of the night.) That made my heart feel all warm and fuzzy too.