What are some things that go on in Ms. Hagan's math classroom?

Estimation Jar - Just about each week we estimate how many items are in the "Estimation Jar." When the jar is empty on my desk, the first person to ask me to fill it can bring it home and fill it to the top. We record the actual number of items as well as the mean, median, mode and range of the classes data on a chart in the room. Use this chart to better make your estimate for the next one! Print a blank recording sheet.

Board of the Rings - Hanging on one of the classroom boards are rings of cards for each student. Each card in the ring is an overview and review card for a different chapter. Before each test, students are asked to include key vocabulary they need to practice along with examples and summaries of the lessons in the chapter. The ring becomes a wonderful review and test studying tool.

100 club - Hanging above the door is a "100 club" poster. Written on this poster are the names of students who earn the maximum (100%) on a formal test or quiz! Names are added throughout the year and appear every time a 100 is earned!

Newsletters - Newsletters come out at progress report and report card times. They are filled with fun math and logic puzzles along with information that might be useful for kids or parents about math in general. Link to Newsletters page.

Supplies - Each student should have the following item in class every day: graph paper notebook, pencil, correcting pen, glue stick or tape, brain ready to learn.

Portfolios and POWs: In the classroom we keep tests/quizzes, projects, fun assignments and activities, POWs and anything else math related (not including regular homework) in a hanging file. About three times a year the file is cleaned out and work is chosen to bring home and share with your family. Go to problem solving page.

Homework Setup - Each night your homework from the book should be done in pencil. The assignment (page and problems) and date should be on the top. Each questions should be attempted with all work done in your notebook. No scrap paper is used because I want to see all of your math thinking right in your notebook. It should be neat - but contain the math that you did to solve the problem. Keep the math work and the answers together.

Mathemagic - On the back board there is a "mathemagic" problem for kids to solve. These are fun "tricks" that just use math. Can you figure them out? And how they are working mathematically? Write up a solution and earn a funky pencil!

Learning Levels - Push yourself to the next level when in class and at home. The harder your work during class the better you will learn and the less you need to work outside of class trying to catch up. Link to the learning levels.

Correct and Reflect - after a homework assignment you are asked to correct and reflect. This is done independently. When reflecting think about the kinds of mistakes you made sp that you will not make them again. When reviewing for a test you may want to look back at your reflections to help you study. We also correct and reflect after a test to be sure that you understand the concepts that you may have gotten wrong the first time.

Hanging Work on the Back Wall - I select work to hang on the back wall that is exemplar and the kind of work that I want others to model their work against. Often it is POWs or mini projects that I hang up. I can not hang everyone's work every time so I select a handful. Be sure to check out the wall every once in a while to see how you may have improved your work to get it on the wall the next time.

Extra Help with Ms. Hagan - I am available in the morning, some study halls, during lunch, and after school Friday 2:30-3:00.

Tests/Quizzes/Exercises - At the end of each chapter we will have a formal test or quiz. This will be announced ahead of time and you will know that it is coming. Exercises are given about once a week and are not announced. Sometimes there are challenge tests or quizzes given if you think that you are ready to push yourself to do harder work. This is always an option for students.

Skill Drills - To make sure that you have not lost any of the skills we have developed this year, skill drills will be given during the week when there is no new POW.