Why I am thankful (for word problems)

As a teacher, I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has said "when are we going to use this in real life?"... I would be enjoying my days on a warm beach with a frosty drink rather than doing lesson plans now by the warm fire in my living room...

However, I have decided that to combat teenage apathy in the classroom I have a file folder full of real life situations where students can see algebra in action (and volume, and probability, and just basic money skills!).  I have noticed, though, that modern day kids have LITTLE KNOWLEDGE of how things work.  Unless it comes with a remote control or a battery.  (Even then they don't know HOW it works, just that they can get those emoticons and text-speak well before I can, lol).


So I made notes of the little things that I have to do in planning a trip, cooking a family meal (like Thanksgiving Dinner), shopping,  driving distances, and more.  I found that many of these are linear relationships that would tie in very easily into our classroom, in either pre-assessment, emergency substitute plans or vacation packet form.


So in my eternal quest to satisfy administration, simplify paperwork, and organize my chaos, I compiled a series of 'RULE OF FOUR' problems which tie in situations into algebraic representations.   It is also a part of my teacher evaluation goal on equations and functions.


The RULE OF FOUR refers to the Table Representation, an Equation Representation, a Graph Representation, and Words to describe the story.  Each of the methods of representation can make a connection to every other one. 


I try to highlight these when we begin our study of functions, and always try to create the other 3 when given one of the representations.  It is also helpful for my current eighth graders to model good strategies for their future endeavors into Algebra and beyond.  It always warms my heart when they return to tell me "we're doing that stuff we did in your class... it's SO EASY NOW".  (Glad that their brain has caught up to where the government officials believe it should be... but that's for another post).

I have a few up already, mostly Fall topics or consumer-based (phone plans, health club plans).  I had a laundry list of Problems of the Week and other State Testing Prep packets that will need an overhaul to fit this format.

Unfortunately, with a new curriculum this year, I am trying to find places for much of the packets and worksheets that I have created over the years.  Some of them have now been 'retired' from the classroom, but have found new life in the shared community of TeachersPayTeachers.  This weekend, however, one of the packets found new life.


This weekend, while my students were attending football games, family dinners, and traveling to balloon parades, they were (hopefully) completing their homework, the Rule of Four: Thanksgiving Applications.  I especially like the one where they have to figure out when to put the turkey in the oven based on cooking times per pound.  What I hope is that if the students 'don't get it', they ask someone from their family, and perhaps it will foster come discussion.  Of course, sometimes adults shy away from math ("I don't like math" "I hate math" and the BIG LIE: "I don't use math"), so it really makes me happy when the kids can show someone else how to do

I would like to add to my TpT store - setting small goals for myself, especially with self-made materials that I can't use in my own classroom anymore.  It's great to share them with other teachers...especially since I've gathered so many great ideas myself for sites like this and Pinterest.  Besides, at the same time, I could pay for a tank of gas or two.  It's be a win-win for everyone!


Here is the link to my store: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Stefanis-Hope

and the Rule of Four: Thanksgiving Applications