AP Precalculus – Chasen Smith

This session: AP Precalculus with Chasen Smith is offered

ONLINE during Week 1: June 15-18, 2026.

Meet your APSI Consultant for AP Precalculus

Chasen Smith (he/him/his) is a Principal Lecturer of Mathematics at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA, where he has taught for the past 14 years. He teaches mathematics core courses, including Calculus I, II, and III, as well as mathematics content courses for pre-service elementary and middle grades teachers. At Georgia Southern, he has served as the coordinator of the Eagle Undergraduate Mathematics Conference and the annual invitational Georgia Southern Mathematics Tournament, which hosts approximately 800 middle school and high school students each year.

Chasen served two three-year terms on the national Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Committee on Undergraduate Student Programming, where he co-organized the Undergraduate Student Poster Sessions at the Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM) and the Undergraduate Student Paper Sessions at MAA MathFest from 2016 to 2022. Chasen has been an AP Calculus Reader for the College Board since 2016, reading both the operational, international, and alternate exams.

Starting in 2022, he became a College Board-endorsed AP Workshop Consultant and has led 18 AP Summer Institutes for AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and AP Precalculus. Chasen is a member of the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (GCTM) and was recently awarded the GCTM John Neff Award, which is presented to a postsecondary educator who serves as an inspirer, mentor, and advocate of mathematics and mathematics education in Georgia. Chasen is also a member of the Georgia Association of AP Math Teachers (GAAPMT) and the Georgia Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (GAMTE).

APSI Course Description

This virtual four-day institute is for teachers preparing to teach AP Precalculus. We will explore the current Course and Exam Description (CED) to gain an in-depth understanding of the purpose and philosophy of the course as well as the topics assessed on the AP Precalculus Exam. A detailed analysis of the Essential Knowledge statements in the CED will provide a cohesive view of the tools provided in the course to analyze functions. A variety of effective activities to support student learning will help increase student access to content. We will discuss common student misconceptions, the AP Precalculus Exam structure and scoring, and best practices for earning points on the exam. Discussions will focus on enhancing teacher understanding and development of concepts as well as sharing ideas and activities.

APSI Agenda and Goals

The goals listed below will be incorporated throughout the institute. The emphasis, order, and inclusion of these goals and other topics will be driven by participant’s needs and discussions.

• Introductions and Goals for the Week

• Creating a Classroom Community and Culture of Success

• Diversity & Inclusion and Equity & Access Discussions

• AP Precalculus Course and Exam Description (CED) Deep-Dive

– Curricular Requirements Discussion

– Unpacking and Implementing the Mathematical Practices

– AP Exam Structure Discussion

– AP Exam Style Questions and Task Verbs

– A Deep-Dive with Practice Questions in the CED

– Analysis of CED Topic Notes and Learning Notes

– Instructional Strategies and Effective Activity Design

– Graphing Calculator and Desmos Discussion

• AP Classroom Resources and Implementation

• How Topics from Prerequisite Courses Manifest Differently

• Course Pacing and Plan Development

• Essential Unit 1 Topics: Polynomial and Rational Functions

– Discussion of Covariance and Rates of Change

– Incorporating Multiple Representations 

– Communicating and Using Mathematical Notation (including Limit Notation)

– Development and Planning of Unit 1

• Essential Unit 2 Topics: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

– Usefulness of Semi-Log Plots and their Application to Exponential Functions

– Modeling Analysis along with Interpretation of Regression, Residuals, and Error

• Essential Unit 3 Topics: Trigonometric and Polar Functions

• Essential Unit 4 Topics: Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices

• AP Exam Scoring from Past Exam Administrations

APSI Materials

Items you should have access to during the institute include:

• A computer or tablet with access to Desmos, AP Classroom, and Google Drive

• A favorite lesson, teaching strategy/practice, or activity to share

• A copy of your school’s 2026-2027 academic calendar

• A copy of the textbook you will be using next year (if you have access to one)

• A graphing calculator approved for use on the AP Precalculus Exam