I would be lying if I said I wasn’t TERRIFIED going into the school year, knowing I would be taking AP Calculus with Dr. Kevin Thompson. My friends told me how difficult his classes were and how it was literally impossible to pass, let alone succeed in his classes.
Now that the first semester is over and the second has begun, I can confidently say that the rumors are exaggerated. Getting to know Dr. Thompson has taught me about his passion for teaching, his extensive knowledge of the topics in his classes, and his genuine care for student success. “To some regard, calculus is hard,” Dr. Thompson acknowledged. “There is truth that it isn’t easy. The other thing is that I do have high expectations, and it comes out of a place of I know how hard the AP exam is and how hard college classes will be.”
I’ve had instances of confusion and struggle in his class, but Dr. Thompson worked extra hard to ensure I understood the material. His classes are challenging, but they’re also manageable if you approach them the right way.
If Dr. Thompson is on your schedule this semester, here are some tips for success from students who’ve been there:
- Master the Syllabus. KNOW Dr. Thompson’s syllabus like the back of your hand. Understanding his expectations before he starts his unit will set you up for success throughout the semester. “I always think about it as setting them up to be successful in what they want to do,” Dr. Thompson explained. “If you’re in finite and you’re trying to get a credit and be done, I want you to be successful. If you’re in calculus, I know how much more math you need to be an engineer and be able to walk into your class and know some. Even with college algebra, placement test for college should be easy and have them know it to be successful. I try to think ahead for students.”
- Take Exceptional Notes. Learn a note-taking technique that works for you and quite literally copy down EVERYTHING he writes during class and then some. Almost the entire class consists of taking notes on the topics he teaches, so if you don’t pay attention and lazily write notes you don’t understand fully, you will not be able to understand what he is teaching when you look back for reference. Your notes are your lifeline.
- Stay Engaged in Class. It is CRUCIAL that you DO NOT LOSE FOCUS DURING CLASS! If you zone out, you will fall behind. As high schoolers juggling multiple classes, late-night practices, and social lives, it can be difficult to pay attention to something for nearly an hour, but it’s essential. When asked what kind of students succeed in his class, Dr. Thompson said, “I think the thought is that you have to be a genius to be successful, which I don’t think is true. I think you have to have a desire to engage. If you’re not going to engage, nothing will come from this.”
- Practice DOES NOT make perfect; practice DOES make permanent. “Do all homework and extra assignments to help prepare for tests,” senior Emma Westbook said. The more you practice, the more permanent or solid the concepts become in your brain and the fewer mistakes you will make. Dr. Thompson assigns many math labs, however, I credit the majority of my success in his class to completing them. Studying for math means getting extra practice, so if you’re clicking the “view an example” and copying the answers down, you’re not actually learning the material.
- All You Have to Do is Ask. Junior Malcom Miner in AP calculus emphasized “ask for help when you need it.” This is true for all classes, but especially in math, where one confusing topic can derail your entire understanding. Dr. Thompson reinforced this point, “”I have other ways to talk about an idea. I won’t just repeat myself. I will describe something different or encourage something different. Sometimes students feel like they have to sludge through it on their own, and I could probably say something quickly. Students that are willing to do that and say ‘I don’t know,’ I like to think those students have a positive experience.”
When asked what advice he’d give to prospective students, Dr. Thompson said, “If you like to be challenged and think and explore math that isn’t just ‘here’s a procedure,’ I think you would find it very exciting and open a door and think of math in a different way. Don’t be scared. Sometimes students are like, ‘I don’t want to because it’s too much.’ Don’t be scared. I have a good track record when it comes to success.”
Success in his class requires work and focus, but it’s absolutely achievable. I highly recommend taking a class of his because of his passion and knowledge for math and his ability to change your feelings towards math.
Yes, the work is difficult. It will frustrate you, drain you, and test you at times. But as a human, you will not grow if you do not challenge yourself. Even though it is challenging, his classes will prepare you for college and beyond and change you as a person for the better.
