There is one motto I like to bring up in calculus:

Take what you don’t know, and turn it into what you do know.

We also have a few extra mottos floating around:

Calculus above all.

Don’t be a hero.

(The last one refers to doing all the calculation in a problem at once, in one line of work. Too much room for horrible horrible error, they aren’t communicating their ideas, and a million other problems.)

On their midterm, I gave two easy bonus questions. I do this as a way to give a little “error correction” to my grading… With midterms, I have to grade a lot of long tests with a lot of questions, and I suspect that I probably make a small error on one or two of the tests. I figure giving a little bonus boost to everyone helps me feel better about any inadvertent errors.

This year the questions were:

A. Make up a new calculus motto and give examples of using it in this course.
B. Draw a picture of Mr. Shah. Make it snazzy.

I loved these bonuses. Reading them after grading the midterm (which kids did awesome on, b.t.dubs) was hilarious.

I am going to share the mottos with you:

• Calculus is not just math, it’s a way of life.
• Use yourself, then some others. After that, calculus won’t be a bother.
• Practice makes perfect!
• Take what your friends know, and turn it into what you know!
• “Crazy for Calculus!”
• Calculus: I find its commentary insightful and would like to subscribe to its newsletter.
• Calculus: I promise it’s not as hard as you think it is
• D.A.N.C.E. — Derive Awesome Nifty Calculus Equations
• Build the basement before you shingle the roof.
• Don’t forget the old skills from 1st semester or you won’t be able to register.
• Calculus is life, life is calculus.
• History repeats itself: Even if you won’t be tested on a skill, the concepts will come up later on.
• Don’t freak out.
• Break it down to its most basic form, to understand it.
• Go to your limits, reach for infinity, and always aim for the other side of the curve!
• Write it right and you’ll get it right.
• “Zero is okay when you’re at the top, but terrible when you are at the bottom.” [re: dividing by zero]
• (Almost) anything can be simplified in calculus.
• Calculus above all, and even above senioritis!

Loves me some mottos. Their descriptions of them using it were priceless and spot on. Wondering if I should be ordering some new buttons soon? #methinkso!