Consumer Math: Mathematics Of...

Description

For those who want a workbook format and some very specific career or real life math instruction - this series offers a variety of topics. Each book is 160 pages and reproducible for classroom and/or family use, and helps with an understanding of math as it relates to everyday life. There are three divisions in each book. The first section is a review of basic math which offers review and practice with whole numbers, fractions/decimals/percents, mean/median/mode, basic operations on a calculator, computing mentally, and estimating. Some of the material from this first section is repeated in all of the books, so there might be a bit of overlap from book to book - review is good! The second and third sections are specific to the topic of the book - the Mathematics of Work includes sections on part time/summer work and full time employment. Each section within the book begins with a pre-skills test, which is 2 pages in length to determine skills that might need more attention, problem-solving strategies, review, and test. Sections are divided into lessons that vary in length, and all include necessary information and examples to work through the exercises - fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and 'think about it' questions, Also included in the book are group projects, practice forms, charts, glossary, and the answer key. There is an occasional extension activity found in some lessons that might include money tips, mental math, estimation skills, and calculator activities.

The topics in this series really qualify as 'real life' math, and no child should leave home without exposure to them. If you're doing a more formal consumer math course, some of these topics may not be included; you could supplement with one or more of the books from this series. Two or three books from this series would probably make a nice one-semester study. Another option might be to work through the series at a slower pace, but begin in junior high doing one book per year so you can complete all of the books and not miss any of the important skills. ~ Donna

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.