You might work in a state or country where there are Precalculus standards that you have to cover, you might work in a state where the standards only cover up to Algebra 2, or you might work in a private school where you have more autonomy about what to teach in Precalculus.
If you are one of the latter two cases, then you might be interested in the Precalculus pacing guide below.
Before we get to pacing, you should know that classes at my school meet for 65 minutes and we are on a 7-period rotating schedule. Sometimes a class meets 3 times a week, sometimes 4; it depends on the week.
You might also be interested in what I teach in Algebra 2 or what I teach in my non-AP Calculus class.
Pacing Guides
I am including a pacing guide for both on-level Precalculus and Honors Precalculus.
The links will take you to resources that I have available in my TeachersPayTeachers store. You can get all of my current and future Precalculus products here: bit.ly/precalculusbundle.
If you want a FREE Google Sheets version of these pacing guides, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
on-level Precalculus
Below is my pacing guide for on-level Precalculus. Scroll down to see the pacing guide for Honors Precalculus.
The textbook we use is Larson's Precalculus with Limits: A Graphing Approach, 7th edition.
| session | section | ON LEVEL PRECALCULUS |
| 1 | 1.1 to 1.3 | Lines, Functions, Graphs day 1 |
| 2 | 1.1 to 1.3 | Lines, Functions, Graphs day 2 |
| 3 | 1.4 | Shifting, Reflecting, Stretching |
| 4 | review | review ch1 functions |
| 5 | quiz | quiz ch1 functions |
| 6 | 1.5 | Combinations of Functions |
| 7 | 1.6 | Inverse Functions Worksheet or this Inverse Functions Circuit |
| 8 | 1.7 | Linear Models and Scatterplots |
| 9 | review | review ch1 functions |
| 10 | test | test ch1 functions |
| 11 | 2.1 | Quadratic Functions |
| 12 | 2.2 | Polynomial Functions of Higher Degree (leading coefficient test, intermediate value theorem) |
| 13 | 2.3 | Real Zeros of Polynomial Functions (Remainder and Factor Theorem, Rational Zero Test) |
| 14 | 2.4 | Complex Numbers |
| 15 | review | review ch2 quadratic and polynomial functions |
| 16 | quiz | quiz ch2 quadratic and polynomial functions |
| 17 | 2.5 | Fundamental Theorem of Algebra or Find All Zeros Circuit |
| 18 | 2.6 | Rational Functions and Asymptotes |
| 19 | 2.7 | Graphs of Rational Functions |
| 20 | review | review ch2 polynomial and rational functions |
| 21 | review | review ch2 polynomial and rational functions again |
| 22 | test | test ch2 polynomial and rational functions |
| 23 | 3.1 | Exponential Functions and Their Graphs |
| 24 | 3.2 | Logarithmic Functions and Their Graphs, extra practice |
| 25 | 3.3 | Properties of Logarithms or Properties of Logs Level 1 |
| 26 | review | review ch3 exponential and log functions |
| 27 | quiz | quiz ch3 exponential and log functions |
| 28 | 3.4 | Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations or Log Equations Level 1 |
| 29 | 3.5 | Exponential and Logarithmic Models |
| 30 | review | review ch3 exponential and log functions and equations |
| 31 | test | test ch3 exponential and log functions and equations |
| 32 | 8.1 | Sequences and Series |
| 33 | 8.2 | Arithmetic Sequences and Partial Sums |
| 34 | 8.3 | Geometric Sequences and Series |
| 35 | review | review ch8 sequences and series |
| 36 | quiz | quiz ch8 sequences and series |
| 37 | 8.5 | Counting Principles |
| 38 | 8.6 | Probability |
| 39 | 8.4 | Binomial Theorem |
| 40 | review | review ch8 sequences, series, probability |
| 41 | test | test ch8 sequences, series, probability |
| 42 | review | review for exam |
| 43 | review | review for exam |
| | |
| | |
| | SEMESTER 2 |
| 1 | 4.3 | Right Triangle Trig |
| 2 | 4.1 | Degree and Radian Measure (do not cover linear and angular speed) |
| 3 | 4.2 | Trig Functions: The Unit Circle |
| 4 | 4.4 | Trig Functions of Any Angle |
| 5 | review | Unit circle quiz and review for ch 4 quiz |
| 6 | review | review ch4 trigonometric functions |
| 7 | quiz | quiz ch4 trigonometric functions |
| 8 | 4.5 | Graphing Sine and Cosine |
| 9 | practice | practice graphing sine and cosine |
| 10 | 4.6 | Graphing Secant and Cosecant |
| 11 | 4.6 | Graphing Tangent and Cotangent |
| 12 | practice | graphing practice |
| 13 | 4.7 | Inverse Trig Functions |
| 14 | review | review ch4 trig functions and graphs of trig functions |
| 15 | test | test ch4 trig functions and graphs of trig functions |
| 16 | 5.1 | Using Fundamental Identities |
| 17 | 5.2 | Verifying Identities |
| 18 | 5.3 | Solving Trig Equations |
| 19 | review | review ch5 verifying identities and solving trig equations |
| 20 | quiz | quiz ch5 verifying identities and solving trig equations |
| 21 | 5.4 | Sum and Difference Identities |
| 22 | 5.5 | Double Angle Identities (no half-angle) |
| 23 | review | review trig identities and equations |
| 24 | test | test trig identities and equations |
| 25 | 6.1 | Law of Sines |
| 26 | 6.1 | Law of Sines Ambiguous Case |
| 27 | 6.2 | Law of Cosines |
| 28 | review | review ch6 Laws of Sine and Cosine |
| 29 | quiz | quiz ch6 Laws of Sine and Cosine |
| 30 | 6.3 | Vectors in the Plane |
| 31 | 6.4 | Vectors and Dot Products |
| 32 | review | review ch6 Laws of Sine and Cosine and vectors |
| 33 | test | test ch6 Laws of Sine and Cosine and vectors |
| 34 | 9.1 | Circles |
| 35 | 9.1 | Parabolas |
| 36 | 9.2 | Ellipses |
| 37 | 9.3 | Hyperbolas (do not cover eccentricity) |
| 38 | review | review ch9 conic sections |
| 39 | test | test ch9 conic sections |
| 40 | Project | students work with a partner to make a review activity for a previous unit |
| 41 | Project | project |
| 42 | Project | project |
| 43 | review | review for exam |
| 44 | review | review for exam |
| | *if time, do a 5 day unit on Limits (3 days of instruction, 1 day of review, 1 day for a quiz)
|
Honors Precalculus
Below is my pacing guide for Honors Precalculus.
The textbook we use is Larson's Precalculus with Limits: A Graphing Approach, 7th edition.
The links will take you to resources that I have available in my TeachersPayTeachers store. You can buy all of my current and future Precalculus products here: bit.ly/precalculusbundle.
If you want a FREE Google Sheets version of these pacing guides, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
| session | section | Honors Precalculus version 2 |
| 1 | supplement | absolute value inequalities, quadratic inequalities, rational inequalities |
| 2 | 1.3 | Graphs of Functions (vertical line test, relative extrema, even, odd) |
| 3 | 1.4 | Shifting, Reflecting, Stretching |
| 4 | 1.4 | transformations practice |
| 5 | 1.6 | Inverse Functions Worksheet or this Inverse Functions Circuit |
| 6 | review | review ch1 functions |
| 7 | quiz | quiz ch1 functions |
| 8 | 2.2 | Polynomial Functions of Higher Degree (leading coefficient test, intermediate value theorem) |
| 9 | 2.2 | Polynomial Functions of Higher Degree continued |
| 10 | 2.3 | Real Zeros of Polynomial Functions (Remainder and Factor Theorem, Rational Zero Test) |
| 11 | 2.5 | Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, or Find All Zeros Circuit |
| 1 2 | review | review ch2 quadratic and polynomial functions |
| 13 | quiz | quiz ch2 quadratic and polynomial functions |
| 14 | 2.6 | Rational Functions and Asymptotes |
| 15 | 2.7 | Graphs of Rational Functions |
| 16 | practice | Graphs of Rational Functions practice |
| 17 | supplement | Variation (direct, inverse, joint) |
| 18 | review | review ch2 polynomial/rational functions, variation |
| 19 | test | test ch2 polynomial/rational functions, variation |
| 20 | 3.1 | Exponential Functions and Their Graphs |
| 21 | 3.2 | Logarithmic Functions and Their Graphs |
| 22 | practice | practice Exponential and Log Functions |
| 23 | 3.3 | Properties of Logarithms |
| 24 | review | review ch3 exponential and log functions |
| 25 | quiz | quiz ch3 exponential and log functions |
| 26 | 3.4 | Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations |
| 27 | 3.4 | Solving Exponential and Logarithmic Equations again |
| 28 | 3.5 | Exponential and Logarithmic Models |
| 29 | review | review ch3 exponential and log functions and equations |
| 30 | test | test ch3 exponential and log functions and equations |
| 31 | 8.1 | Sequences and Series |
| 32 | 8.2 | Arithmetic Sequences and Partial Sums |
| 33 | 8.3 | Geometric Sequences and Series |
| 34 | 8.4 | Binomial Theorem |
| 35 | review | review ch8 sequences, series, binomial theorem |
| 36 | quiz | quiz ch8 sequences, series, binomial theorem |
| 37 | 8.5 | Counting Principles |
| 38 | 8.6 | Probability |
| 39 | practice | practice probability |
| 40 | review | review ch8 sequences, series, binomial theorem, probability |
| 41 | test | test ch8 sequences, series, binomial, theorem, probability |
| 42 | 4.3 | Right Triangle Trig |
| 43 | 4.1 | Degree and Radian Measure: unit circle (paper plate activity) |
| 44 | 4.1 | Degree and Radian Measure: linear and angular speed |
| 45 | 4.2 | Trig Functions: The Unit Circle |
| 46 | 4.4 | Trig Functions of Any Angle |
| 47 | review | review ch4 trigonometric functions |
| 48 | quiz | quiz ch4 trigonometric functions |
| 49 | review | review for exam |
| 50 | review | review for exam |
| | |
| | |
| | Semester 2 |
| 1 | 4.5 | Graphing Sine and Cosine |
| 2 | practice | practice graphing sine and cosine |
| 3 | supplement | Modeling with sine/cosine graphs: Trig Graphs Project |
| 4 | 4.6 | Graphs of Other Trig Functions or Graphs of Tangent and Cotangent Circuit |
| 5 | 4.7 | Inverse Trig Functions |
| 6 | 4.8 | Applications and Models |
| 7 | review | review ch4 trig functions and graphs of trig functions |
| 8 | test | test ch4 trig functions and graphs of trig functions |
| 9 | 5.1 | Using Fundamental Identities |
| 10 | 5.2 | Verifying Identities |
| 11 | 5.3 | Solving Trig Equations |
| 12 | review | review ch5 verifying identities and solving trig equations |
| 13 | quiz | quiz ch5 verifying identities and solving trig equations |
| 14 | 5.4 | Sum and Difference Identities |
| 15 | 5.5 | Double Angle Identities (no half-angle) |
| 16 | review | review ch5 trig identities and equations |
| 17 | test | test ch5 trig identities and equations |
| 18 | 6.1 | Law of Sines |
| 19 | 6.2 | Law of Cosines |
| 20 | 6.3 | Vectors in the Plane |
| 21 | 6.3 | 6.3 again: Direction Angles |
| 22 | 6.4 | Vectors and Dot Products |
| 23 | review | review ch6 Laws of Sine and Cosine and vectors |
| 24 | test | test ch6 Laws of Sine and Cosine and vectors |
| 25 | 9.1 | Circles & Parabolas |
| 26 | 9.2 | Ellipses |
| 27 | 9.3 | Hyperbolas (includes eccentricity) |
| 28 | practice | practice Conics |
| 29 | review | review ch9 conic sections |
| 30 | quiz | quiz ch9 conic sections |
| 31 | 9.4 | Parametric Equations |
| 32 | 9.5 | Polar Coordinates (and Equations) |
| 33 | 9.6 | Polar Graphs |
| 34 | practice | practice Polar |
| 35 | review | review ch9 Conics and Polar |
| 36 | test | test ch9 Conics and Polar |
| 37 | 11.1 | Introduction to Limits |
| 38 | 11.2 | Techniques for Evaluating Limits |
| 39 | 11.4 | Limits at Infinity |
| 40 | 11.3 | The Tangent Line Problem |
| 41 | supplement | Lesson 5: Power Rule |
| 42 | supplement | Lesson 6: Product and Quotient Rules |
| 43 | review | review ch11 limits and derivatives |
| 44 | quiz | quiz ch 11 limits and derivatives |
| 45 | review | review for exam |
| 46 | review | review for exam |
Other topics that are often taught in Precalculus:
