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Do you like mysteries? Do you like math, or need some support for pre-algrebra skills, such as those learned in 7th and 8th grade?  Join me as we learn pre-algebra skills and complete math mysteries. Join Collin, Owen, and Lilac, who run the school newspaper, as they search for stories to write and solve mysteries they find. This class will reinforce pre-algebra concepts, give students more practice, and encourage learners, all while focusing on solving a mystery.  Students who are math whizzes and students who need review are all welcome! Class sizes are limited to 5 students. Class ranges from 35-40 minutes.

Each class will begin with a question of the week and math related joke of the week, then we will read the case that we are working on. Cases may involve eliminating suspects or finding missing animals or people. Then I will present and model the math skill of the week. Students will work together to complete a few examples of the skill. Students are then given time to work independently or as a group to complete the math problems, which will spell out the clue for the day. Class ends with everyone sharing the clue and eliminating the suspect or marking on a map the next location for the missing animal. Most classes have 16 math practice problems to complete during independent work time. Most mysteries last 4 weeks, but students can join the class at any time. Students who join mid-mystery will be given clues that have already been discovered. At the end of the mystery, students are given a certificate for solving the case! 

Schedule of math skills and mysteries:
 
Negative numbers - The Basketball Blunder  
Week of Oct 14 - Order of Operations with parenthesis, nested parenthesis, and exponents
Week of Oct 21 - Add and Subtract negative and positive numbers
Week of Oct 28 - Multiply and divide negative and positive numbers
Week of Nov 4 - Combining adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing positive and negative numbers

Algebra 1 - Missing Mascot
Week of Nov 11 - Writing an equation
Week of Nov 18 - Combining like terms - 1 variable
Week of Nov 25 - Exponents notation and combining exponents with simple algebraic values 
Week of Dec 2 - Evaluate algebraic terms with 2 values (x and y) 

Algebra 2 - Bake Sale Bickering
Week of Dec 9 - Exponent properties
Week of Dec 16 - Combine like terms
Week of Dec 23 - Distributive property of multiplication with 1 variable
Week of Dec 30 - Distributive property of multiplication with 2-3 variables 



Students will be taught using a document camera, so they will be able to see the math page, teaching notes, and examples during class time. 

Please note: some classes may have extra printables, such as the suspect list or map. Classes often are 30-40 minutes long, depending on the amount of time students need to finish their work.

This class is an inclusive class and welcomes learners of all abilities, and is inclusive to students with learning disabilities, autism, anxiety, or any other learning differences. It is a small group (maximum of 5 students) to allow learners of all abilities.  During independent work time, students are able to choose to complete problems together/as a group or to complete them independently.