The Official Newsletter of Literacy in Missouri

D E C EMB E R

Show-Meiteracy
2 012 I S S U E N O . 218

BASIC LITERACY MATH TIPS

This article was reprinted from the Hopelink website. You may visit their website at: http://www.eastsideliteracy.org/tutorsupport/Math/MathTips.htm

Tips for Teaching Math

Ask your student what skills in math she has and what she wants to learn. Relate math skills to daily life. Can your student: use a calculator? use a ruler? use estimation strategies? ask questions? balance a checkbook? read a thermometer? calculate a tip? read and interpret charts and graphs? Observe and analyze the kinds of computational errors your student makes and then teach the necessary skills. Teach your student strategies for solving word problems. Encourage your student to check his work with a calculator. Stress that HOW you do a problem is just as important as the correct answer. Use hands-on manipulates when teaching math concepts. For example, use a ruler to measure objects, or coins to count change. Encourage frequent practice so that your student can master these skills. So often our students didnt understand a concept in the classroom and were left behind when the class moved on to a new skill. This time ensure success by allowing your student time to really learn these skills.

The mission of the Show-Me Literacy Newsletter is to provide professional information -sharing, resources and news about adult education and literacy.

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Math Lesson Idea: Teaching Fractions

Description To practice using fractional parts of a whole, recognizing relative sizes and equivalent fractions. Materials Handout: Fraction Kit. Colored pencils or markers. Optional (for the Cover-up game below) - Fraction dice, available in our library. Suggestions To make the fraction cut-outs: Print the Fraction Kit and cut out the separate pieces. Color code each size fraction by giving it a border or circling its label. Alternatively you can make your own fraction cut-outs of colored construction paper. Fraction kits can be used to teach many concepts such as: Equivalent fractions -line up the cut-outs to see how many 1/12 's equal 1/4, for example. Addition and subtraction of fractions. Reducing fractions - express a given number with the smallest possible number of cut-outs. Try the Fraction Cover-Up game: You and your student each start with a 1 WHOLE" cut-out in front of you. Take turns rolling the die. Take the fraction you roll and place it on the whole. The first player to cover their whole exactly wins. Then reverse the procedure: Whatever you roll, you take off (or subtract) that fraction. You may have to exchange first. For example, if you roll 1/8 on your first roll, you must exchange 1/2 for 4/8 before you can subtract 1/8. The winner is the first player to uncover his or her WHOLE exactly. For more challenges, play to cover up two wholes, or 1 and1/2 wholes.

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Math Lesson Idea: Teaching Percentages

Description Teach your student how to calculate percentages using the Percent Tricks method. This method requires the ability to multiply and divide whole numbers. Good subtraction skills are helpful. Materials Number Power Vol. 2 Percent Tricks student handout small bag of multi-colored candies white board and dry erase marker Suggestions Begin with example 2 on the handout. Read and discuss example 2 on the Percent Tricks handout. Have your student count the total number of candies in the bag and then separate the candies by color. Using the method explained on the handout, show your student how to figure out what percent each color is of the total number of candies. Make sure your student understands how to put the numbers into the grid. Show how to use the calculator to attain or check the answer. Let your student practice some similar problems from the Number Power 2 book. Have the student check each answer with the calculator. Teach a real life connection for this skill. Explain how to use this method to calculate a test score. You could also teach how to make a pie chart to illustrate the results, using this useful online graphing tool (requires Shockwave). Follow a similar procedure to teach examples 1 and 3 on the handout. For real life applications, try this method using newspaper ads: Find ads for sales advertising percentages off a variety of items. Using the method just taught, show your student how to figure out the amount a particular item's price has been reduced, then calculate the sale price by subtracting that amount from the original price. Read and discuss example 3 on the handout. Show your student how to figure out the original price of an item when the percent and the amount off are known.

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Math Lesson Idea: Word Problems

Description Teach your student to reason with language and to use imagery to translate language into mathematical equations. Materials Paper & pencil. A selection of story problems. white board and dry erase marker Suggestions Follow these steps to solve story problems: Read the whole problem. Picture the situation; ask your student to draw or describe it. List the math facts that are known: On one side of a sheet of paper have your student list the math facts that are definite ("What I know"), relevant or otherwise. Now list what needs to be known: in another column, under "What I need to know, the student should list the question(s) that the problem asks. State the problem in sentence form: ask your student to state the problem in his own words, orally or in writing. Convert the sentence to an equation: The student should cross out the words as they are converted to numbers. This calls attention to which words turn into which operations. For example, the words more and joined turn into addition when converted to an equation. Now solve the equation, and verify that all items listed under the Need to know column are answered.

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Math Lesson Idea: Using a Checkbook Description Show your student how to correctly write a check, fill out a deposit slip, and use a check register. Introduce the concept of balancing a checkbook. Requires the ability to add and subtract decimals, sign ones name, write number words, and know the correct date. Materials Student handouts: Practice Checks, Check Register and Practice Deposit Slip. A cancelled check. The Man Who Stopped Time by Judith Green includes information on checking accounts. Suggestions Discuss the concept of writing checks. What is a check and why do people use them? What is a deposit slip, and what is it for? Why are checks numbered? Why is it important to keep track of the checks written? Why is it important to balance a checking account? Why do people use checks? etc. Using the Practice Checks Handout, demonstrate how to write a check. Show how to Write the correct date. Pay to the order of. Write the amount of check. Write the amount of check in words. Sign the check. Fill in the Memo if there is one. Note the check number. Using the Deposit Slip Handout, show to how to fill it out. Write the correct date. Write the amount of deposit. Using the Checkbook Register Handout, demonstrate how to fill out a checkbook register with the check number, date, description of transaction and balance. Provide a sample list of expenses for practice in writing checks, filling out the register and deposit slip. Give your student many opportunities to practice. This lesson could be followed by lessons on how to cash a check, make correct change, reconcile a bank statement, make a budget, etc.

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The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to Department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Civil Rights Compliance (Title VI/Title IX/504/ADA/Age Act), 5th Floor, 205 This publication was produced pursuant to a grant from the Director, Adult Education & Literacy, Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, under the authority of Title II of the Workforce Investment Act. The opinions herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education or the U.S. Office of Education. No official endorsement by these agencies is inferred or implied.