Ready to start calculus?

My son finished Trig today.  He earned 88% on the final exam and his chapter tests were usually between 90 and 95.  He deserves an A.  I have to crunch the numbers, but he probably earned a 92.

Anyway, I talked to him about starting Calculus.  (Picture a 6'2", 230lb boy) He did a little dance and said "no-math-no".  (The dance resembled a pee-pee dance.)...

He doesn't want to do calculus. 

Heck, I don't want to deal with it either. 

Considering the fact that he has taken 4 maths total already, he really doesn't need to do another day of math until college, but as I suspected, College board recommened Calculus BC in highschool if you plan to major in Computer Graphics in college.  

So.... He must do it.

He feels like he needs an Algebra 2 refresher since he did trig last, and maybe Pre-calc.  Plus, he wants to spend the next month preparing for the PSAT which will be followed by the ACT.  (if he qualifies for national merit, he will take the SAT). 

We talked and talked, and we came to an agreement.  He will take a placement test to determine if he is ready for calculus.  He wants to SLAM the placement test to make sure there are no holes to interfere with learning the subject.  If the placement test shows extreme readiness, he will start Calculus after he takes his PSAT.  If he needs work, he will do some Algebra 2 review and then PreCalculus. 

Have I mentioned that this is a very calculated, very careful child?

PS... if anyone can show us that calc is not necessary, we are open to just doing a basic math worksheet a day  or dragging out pre-calculus into 2 years. (to keep math skills up until graduation)

(**Update: or maybe not... see my next post http://nfahm.blogspot.com/2010/09/ready-for-calculus-part-2.html)


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