Jay Waggoner
37 Followers
Lima, Ohio, United States
About the store
Jay Waggoner, a native of Fremont, Ohio, received a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from Ohio Northern University and a Master of Arts in Math Education from Bowling Green State University. Jay spent his entire 39 year career teaching for Shawnee Local Schools, near Lima, Ohio. Though he started at the junior high level, he soon moved to the high school level where, at one time or another, he taught every math course ever offered at Shawnee, including AP Calculus, which he taught for the last thirty years of his career. Now retired from teaching, he picks up spending money for vacations by selling used books on eBay and abebooks . . . and writing puzzle books. With the used books, he hopes to sell them for more than he paid for them. With the puzzle books, he hopes to either help many learn or relearn math, and eventually wishes to make math a mainstream recreational activity. That goal will have been attained when John (or Joan) Q. Public sees the license plate - MW1331, and thinks: "My Word, eleven cubed."
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Baseball Opening Day, History by Numbers, Mental Math Batting Practice
This puzzle, along with most of the other puzzles that I write, is a mental exercise in integrating, reviewing, and blending. I want to integrate more than one subject in a learning activity, cross-curricular learning as it were. All of life’s experiences are integrated activities. I want to review previous material a student (puzzle doer) has been exposed to. We get better at tasks in life by repetition. I want to blend a learning experience with as many other learning situations as I
5th - 12th
Arithmetic, For All Subjects, Mental Math
AP Calculus,36 Puzzle Package,3 Beginning of Year, 30 for Year,3 End of Year
The Three Pre Calculus and Three Post Calculus Puzzles This is a six puzzle set of pre- and post- calculus course puzzles that are different from the “mathacrostics” puzzles. Three of the puzzles might best be given before the study of Calculus begins, 3 would best be given after the study of Calculus is completed. The six puzzles are: First, a Pre Calculus Mathematician Search wherein the puzzle-doer will search in a "word search" type puzzle for many of the mathematicians, ancient and later, w
11th - 12th, Higher Education
Calculus, Math Test Prep, Mental Math
No Calc Calc Mathacrostics - an AB AP No Calculator Puzzle Book
These individual puzzles (at present thirty puzzles), and the Calculus Mathacrostic Puzzle book they will make up are intended: to be a “last second” no-calculator Advanced Placement preparation review of a, perhaps, forgotten topic in first quarter Calculus; to be a more pleasant additional assignment (with mostly nice and semi-nice answers) on topics that the teacher feels a class needs more work on; to be given to an individual student who the teacher has noticed needs more work in a certain
10th - 12th, Higher Education
Calculus, Math Test Prep, Mental Math
3 Puzzle Pi Day Package,Pie Day,Math Word search,Math Pi History,Crossword
This three puzzle offering is in "celebration" of March 14, Pi Day. All three puzzles can be done by seventh graders through seniors, though the younger students might be best working in groups on the crossword. The math required for the Math Pi History is just adding and subtracting whole numbers . . . though since I'd LIKE them to be done MENTALLY even seniors can get something out of it. I HAVE given instructions as to how to do them mentally. All three puzzles are foot off of the acceler
7th - 12th, Adult Education
Arithmetic, Mental Math, Vocabulary
8 Robert Louis Stevenson puzzles,Treasure Island,Kidnapped,Dr. Jekyll
This offering is a set of 8 puzzles centered about 3 of Robert Louis Stevenson's classics and Robert Louis Stevenson. ALL are intended to be "foot off the accelerator but still learn something" puzzles. There is one puzzle on Stevenson, the author, and blends a little mental math (Your students WILL be able to handle the math . . . it's adding numbers together mentally and an explanation IS given.) with learning some facts about Stevenson the man. The three classics involved are Treasure Island
7th - 12th, Adult Education
Grammar, Mental Math, Reading
Deducing Some St. Pat's Stats, A St. Patrick's Day Mental Math Event
Here's a St. Patrick's Day Puzzle that yields a bit of history and lore while enriching mental math abilities. To fill in the blanks, and find the answer to the anonymous quote, match the date below the blank with the letters and events below. If you do not recall the date of the events listed, I’ve given you the math wherewithal to calculate the date. Of course, it might help to learn/remember that a quick way to subtract mentally is by “over-subtracting.” Consider 736 – 198. Instead
6th - 12th, Adult Education
Basic Operations, Mental Math
Calculus,3 After Calculus Puzzle,Formula Matching,Mathematician Search,Crossword
This offering is the set of all three puzzles that might work nicely as exercises after that actual "hard-core" study of Calculus ends. Obviously, the goal of the three puzzles is to give a little review of the Calculus course just finished and a little more prep for the AP and/or Calculus final exam. The three puzzlesfind 14 major contributors that have helped make Calculus what it is today. Upon conclusion of the review/essay there's a fill in the blanks "secret message" that gives a sobering
11th - 12th, Higher Education
Calculus, Mental Math, Other (Math)
Calculus, 3 Before study begins puzzles,History,Mathematicians Search,Crossword
This offering is the set of all three puzzles that might work nicely as exercises before that actual "hard-core" study of Calculus begins. Obviously, the goal of the three puzzles is to give a little background about what is needed for Calculus and how Calculus actually came about. The three puzzles are:First, a Calculus History Essay wherein the puzzle-doer will have to work with some of the exponents that will come up throughout the year when differentiating and, particularly so, when integrat
11th - 12th, Higher Education
Calculus, Mental Math, Other (Math)
2015 March Madness 6 Puzzle Madness,Word Searches + Powers of 2 & 3 "Math Essay"
This is a collection of six puzzles involving NCAA basketball. Five of them are Word Searches (a word search for each of the four region's 2015 teams involved and one for the Champions over the last thirty years) as well as a math puzzle that employs powers of two and three to give a sort of history of the tournament. By the time a student has finished the "math essay" he/she will know their powers of 2 & 3 plus they will have practiced some basic binary operations . . . and decoded the messa
4th - 12th, Adult Education
Basic Operations, Mental Math, Reading
NCAA Basketball by the Numbers, A March Madness 3 pointer
This puzzle, along with most of the other puzzles that I write, is a mental exercise in integrating, reviewing, and blending. I want to integrate more than one subject in a learning activity, cross-curricular learning as it were. All of life’s experiences are integrated activities. I want to review previous material a student (puzzle doer) has been exposed to. We get better at tasks in life by repetition. I want to blend a learning experience with as many other learning situations as I can.
7th - 12th, Adult Education
Basic Operations, Mental Math
4 Puzzle,Edgar Allan Poe,Fall House Usher,Noun Search,Vocabulary Puzzle,X-word
This offering is a four puzzle package of puzzles involving Edgar Allan Poe and his short story The Masque of the Red Death. Included are an "arithmetic essay" on general knowledge about Poe in which addition and subtraction and smaller exponents are used to come up with the appropriate dates and numbers. (The arithmetic is NOT hard, just good to learn/know. The INTENT is for the problems to be done mentally . . . instructions are given. Students from 7th grade to 12th grade will be able to do t
8th - 12th, Adult Education
Literature, Mental Math, Vocabulary
Mothers by the Numbers, A Mothers' Day Math Essay
Here is a timely, informative, and helpful extra credit opportunity for the enterprising student who wants to know more! This puzzle, along with most of the other puzzles that I write, is a mental exercise in integrating, reviewing, and blending. I want to integrate more than one subject in a learning activity, cross-curricular learning as it were. All of life’s experiences are integrated activities. I want to review previous material a student (puzzle doer) has been exposed to. We get b
7th - 12th, Adult Education
Algebra, Basic Operations, Mental Math
3 Puzzle Kidnapped Package,Robert Louis Stevenson,Word Search,Crossword
This offering is a three puzzle package of puzzles involving Robert Louis Stevenson and one of his books, Kidnapped. Included are a "math essay" on general knowledge about Stevenson in which addition is used to come up with the appropriate dates and numbers. (The addition is NOT hard, just good to learn/know.) There is a word search on finding the 19 major characters in Kidnapped that will make a nice introduction to reading the book. And there's a crossword puzzle that would provide a nice look
7th - 12th, Adult Education
Mental Math, Reading, Vocabulary
3 Puzzle Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde Package,Robert L. Stevenson,Word Search,Crossword
This offering is a three puzzle package of puzzles involving Robert Louis Stevenson and one of his books, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Included are a "math essay" on general knowledge about Stevenson in which addition is used to come up with the appropriate dates and numbers. (The addition is NOT hard, just good to learn/know.) There is a word search on finding the 8 major characters in Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that will make a nice introduction to reading the book. An
7th - 12th, Adult Education
Mental Math, Reading, Vocabulary
3 Puzzle Presidents Day Package,President Search,Crossword,History of the Day
This offering is a three puzzle package involving Presidents' Day. Included are an arithmetic-based essay where the student does elementary arithmetic and squaring numbers ending in five (I show a mental math method of squaring the numbers) to supply the numbers for my prose . . . hopefully mentally. There is a presidents search where the student will find the 18 presidents who have held office sine 1909 , then uncover a hidden message using the un-crossed-out letters. And there's a crossword p
8th - 12th, Adult Education
Mental Math, U.S. History
3 Puzzle Shakespeare & Macbeth Package, Introduction, Review, General Knowledge
This offering is a three puzzle package of puzzles involving Shakespeare and one of his plays, Macbeth. Included are a "math essay" on general knowledge about Shakespeare in which addition is used to come up with the appropriate dates and numbers. (The addition is NOT hard, just good to learn/know.) There is a word search on finding the 18 characters in Macbeth that will make a nice introduction to reading the play. And there's a crossword puzzle that would provide a nice look back at Macbet
9th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Literature, Mental Math, Reading
3 Puzzle Hamlet,Word Search Crossword,Vocabulary,Characters,Shakespeare
This offering is a three puzzle package of puzzles involving Shakespeare and one of his plays, Hamlet. Included are a "math essay" on general knowledge about Shakespeare in which addition is used to come up with the appropriate dates and numbers. (The addition is NOT hard, just good to learn/know.) There is a word search on finding the 18 major characters in Hamlet that will make a nice introduction to reading the play. And there's a crossword puzzle that would provide a nice look back at Hamlet
7th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Literature, Mental Math, Vocabulary
3 Puzzle King Lear,Word Search Crossword,Vocabulary,Characters,Shakespeare
This offering is a three puzzle package of puzzles involving Shakespeare and one of his plays, King Lear. Included are a "math essay" on general knowledge about Shakespeare in which addition is used to come up with the appropriate dates and numbers. (The addition is NOT hard, just good to learn/know.) There is a word search on finding the 14 major characters in King Lear that will make a nice introduction to reading the play. And there's a crossword puzzle that would provide a nice look back at
7th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Literature, Mental Math, Vocabulary
The Gritsy Details, Grits and Taking 20% of a Number to Tip
This puzzle, along with most of the other puzzles that I write, is an attempt to integrate, review, and blend. I want to integrate more than one subject in a learning activity, cross-curricular learning as it were. All of life’s experiences are integrated activities. I want to review previous material a student (puzzle doer) has been exposed to. We get better at tasks in life by repetition. I want to blend a learning experience with as many other learning situations as I can. Few life expe
7th - 12th, Adult Education
Applied Math, Basic Operations, Mental Math
PAC 12 Conference History, Math Essay,Exponents,Powers,Order of Operations
This puzzle is a blend of various lessons that can be done individually as homework or extra credit, or in pairs (if the students are younger.) The intent is to blend some math with learning a little something about the Pacific 12 Conference. (the PAC 12) The math which will be learned is focused around learning quick and mental ways to simplify numbers being raised to small powers, something that sixth graders to seniors in high school would benefit from). The blend is in learning a little abou
5th - 12th, Adult Education
Algebra, Basic Operations, Mental Math
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About the store
Experience
Jay Waggoner, a native of Fremont, Ohio, received a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from Ohio Northern University and a Master of Arts in Math Education from Bowling Green State University. Jay spent his entire 39 year career teaching for Shawnee Local Schools, near Lima, Ohio. Though he started at the junior high level, he soon moved to the high school level where, at one time or another, he taught every math course ever offered at Shawnee, including AP Calculus, which he taught for the last thirty years of his career. Now retired from teaching, he picks up spending money for vacations by selling used books on eBay and abebooks . . . and writing puzzle books. With the used books, he hopes to sell them for more than he paid for them. With the puzzle books, he hopes to either help many learn or relearn math, and eventually wishes to make math a mainstream recreational activity. That goal will have been attained when John (or Joan) Q. Public sees the license plate - MW1331, and thinks: "My Word, eleven cubed."
Teaching style
It varies with the class and the chemistry of the class BUT as I progressed in my career two things became increasingly important and evident: First, students (REGARDLESS of their age/class) need to get out of their seats with some degree of frequency and up to the black/white boards to do problems. Only by doing can one learn. Students love it. Second, ALL students need constant review. I try to make reviewing fun with puzzles.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Making Shawnee the Best It Can Be
Presenter at several Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics meetings.
Speaker and presenter at many meetings and sessions.
My own education history
Graduated from Fremont Ross High School.
Bachelor of Arts with a Math Major from Ohio Northern University.
Master of Arts with a Cognate in Mathematics from Bowling Green State University.
Additional biographical information
I see.
I read.
I think.
I do.
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