"I used the Essentials book for the first time last year and I've been telling anyone who will listen that they need to get it. I have 19 years experience teaching AP Calculus and this book is the best resource I've found. We all know that there a certain kids that are going to get a five no matter what, but this book takes potential 3's and 4's and prepares them to get fives. Two years ago, before using Essentials, our school had less than 10% fives and last year that jumped up to over 60% fives. During the prep weeks before the exam the kids were confident and excited to find how well prepared they were for the practice tests."

Brian Donalson  |  Vail Mountain School  |  Vail, CO

 

“What I like best about the Calculus BC material compiled by Gary Taylor is the simplicity and organization of the materials. The concepts are well ordered and correlate completely with AP expectations. Problems are written to develop students into thinking of calculus functions as equations, data tables and graphs. As students complete the homework problems, they gradually prepare themselves for AP type problems."

Angella Carrier   |  Weber High School  | Farr West, UT

“I am using Calculus Extended for my BC class and Essentials of Calculus for AB classes. These are some of the things I really appreciate about the texts:

  1. Every single assignment has carefully selected review problems. I have seen no other textbook like this.

  2. The delivery of the material is rigorous, yet accessible and successful pedagogy is clearly the primary goal of the text.

  3. The razor focus on what is essential for the students to remember from precalculus is so helpful to me as the teacher and good for the students. 

  4. The choice of which problems have solutions seems intentional – not just consistently all odds or all evens.

  5. The texts tell students when they can and cannot use a calculator to solve a problem and give space in the lessons to show the students how to do certain things on the TI-84 calculator. 

  6. The texts make pacing decisions very easy.

  7. Students can highlight, underline, and annotate so that a student's text and notes become one and the same.”

Arthur Johnson  |  Caldwell High School  |  Caldwell, ID

 

"My pass rate on the AB exam jumped 25 percent and 10 of 11 passed our inaugural BC course."

Chris Wode  |  St John Paul the Great High School  |  Dumfries, VA

 

"Having taught AP Calculus AB for over 20 years, I was nervous about getting all of the (BC) content in, but I had a former colleague recommend Gary's Extended Calculus.  It looked like it might be the clear and concise form that I would need. After teaching through it last year, it was absolutely perfect.  Gary gets to the point, has problems revisited throughout the year, he updates items as the year goes on, and the extra materials (note sheets, tests, quizzes, etc.) are fantastic.   I created videos for each lesson and Gary's style is very similar to my own.  
We have now adopted the Essentials for our AB class.  Our present teacher loves working with it.  I highly recommend Gary's books!"

Tim Zitur  |  Singapore American School  |  AP Reader/Table Leader  |  AP Calculus Consultant

 

"Using these materials, I was able to increase the school's pass rate (BC and AB) from 68% to a 96%. A grand total of 58% of our students earned a 5 on the exams. Because of how well-tailored the curriculum is to the AP exam, our students did significantly better than the global mean on every single free response question and both multiple choice sections. Gary is also incredibly responsive to teacher questions about the curriculum. I gladly endorse the curriculum and would buy it again in a heartbeat!"

Daniel Leven  |  Mira Mesa High School  |  San Diego, CA

 

“By using these materials, the first year our program raised its pass rate from 35% to 80%. In the last six years our pass rate has ranged from 78% to 85%.  We typically receive more fives than any other score.  Since that time our program has expanded from around 30 students to 90 students.  As a school where anywhere from 35% to almost 50% of its students qualify for free and reduced lunch, we are thrilled with our results.  The program has a wonderful balance of rigor and review.  I can't say enough good about Gary Taylor’s and Mike Shaw's thoughtful approach to the AP Calculus curriculum.”

Susie Sommerkorn  |  Clearfield High School  |  Clearfield, UT

 

“The constant review throughout these materials is genius. Calculus concepts are reviewed cyclically so that nothing is forgotten.”

Tracey Meade  |  Davis High School  |  Kaysville, UT

  

“In just my second year teaching Calculus BC using 'Calculus Extended' and all its materials, I had a pass rate of 96% (at what is generally considered a 'low performing' school!). I find the 'Calculus Extended' materials invaluable because everything is so well laid out.  I can simply concentrate on the 'teaching' while not having to worry about the pacing, homework keys, test and quiz creation, review materials etc. Thank you, Gary!"

Robert Gallucci  |  Workman High School  |  City of Industry, CA

 

 

 “I was justifiably challenged and even intimidated the first two years I began using Gary Taylor's materials. But the students elevated their efforts and the AP test scores at Viewmont have increased. During the last three years, 73%, 83%, and 87% of the BC students have earned an AP score of 5. Each year students comment about how much they like the Calculus BC materials. They feel the examples prepare them for their homework assignments. The assignments have an appropriate amount of review material that help them stay current on previously learned concepts. Students refer back to their notes throughout the year and many comment they will be using the notes to continue their study of Calculus at the University level.”

Mark Burningham  |  Viewmont High School  |  Bountiful, UT

 

"…what I appreciate most about the AB materials is the balance between the content being rigorous but still accessible to my students." 

Tim Goerzen  |  Indio High School |  Indio, CA

 

"My first year teaching BC, and I had a 75% pass rate. My AB scores went from a 27% pass rate to a 70% pass rate - the highest in our school's history. I am looking forward to next year - I think our results will be even higher since I understand the program better."

Jon Christensen  |  Palma School  |  Salinas, CA

 

 “I’ve taught Calculus for three years now.  My first two years I used a book by a different publisher … at best I only had a 63% pass rate.  My first year of using The Essentials of Calculus … I had a 93% pass rate.  Gary has been … a huge support for me and my program.” 

Heather Johnson  |  Fremont High School  |  North Ogden, UT 

 

“Last year I used the Extended version and this year I used both the Essentials and the Extended and my students have amazed me with their depth of understanding and ability to solve difficult problems.  These were the lowest students I have ever had coming into a calculus class due to a struggling teacher last year, but with your curriculum they have not only risen to the challenge of AP Calculus but have surpassed my expectation.”

Kim Conell | La Cueva High School | Albuquerque, NM

"I love that my students take notes in their books, and everything they need is in front of them as they work through assignments.  Each problem set includes review concepts, practice with and without the use of a calculator, and the right amount of work to master the concepts. .. finally, I have found that the sequencing of concepts in Taylor's & Shaw's textbooks is the best for optimal understanding.  I highly recommend both of these textbooks!"

Kimberly Volk   |   Bountiful High School  |  Bountiful, UT  |  AP Reader/Table Leader