Mathematics Grade 7 Textbook: Math in the Work World

Math is foundational in so many areas of study and life, and Christian Light Mathematics helps lay that solid foundation. Packed with practice and review, Christian Light employs an incremental spiral approach in a workbook format. Each lesson incorporates a new concept and is followed by review of previously learned concepts. Written from a Christian worldview, every lesson reinforces Biblical values. The math courses in this series from grades 1-9 are the Sunrise edition of the series. The Sunrise Edition divides Light Units into daily lessons; two quizzes provide opportunity for application of skills learned; and formatting is clear and more appealing. Each level is one year of math at grade level and those implementing the program will need one set of 10 Light Units per student and a Teacher Guide(s) or answer key. At grades 1 and 2 the teacher guides are required and teacher guides are strongly recommended for grades 3 and 4. Each Light Unit contains student exercises and a test. The first Light Unit in grades 2-8 is a review of the previous grade. The Teacher Guides for grades 1-8 include teacher tips and student pages with answers and solutions. If you don't think you need the Teacher Guide, but want the answers at a quick glance, answer keys are available.

To help ensure students learn their math facts, daily speed drills, oral exercises, and flash-cards are tools used for students in grades 1-4. Basic algebraic and geometric concepts are introduced early, along with money, problem solving, mental math, and number patterns to help students become proficient in these skills. A few supplemental materials are needed for the lower grades Grade 1 uses addition and subtraction flash cards (#72144); My Counting Book (#72357); Counting Chart (#72173); and optional My Calendar Book (#21786); and student clock (#15339 or #60101); Grade 2 uses addition and subtraction flash cards (#72144); Counting Chart (#72173); and optional multiplication/division flash cards (#72356); My Calendar Book (#21786); student clock (#15339 or #60101); and math reference chart (#68518); Grade 3 uses optional flash cards as in 1st and 2nd grades, and the math reference chart. Grades 4-7 and soon to be 8 (later in 2024) offer the option of using the Light Unit approach or text book approach same content but a choice of consumable or non-consumable.

If you choose the Light Units path, parents need only to purchase the Light Units and Teacher Guides or answer keys. If choosing the textbook path, then you will need the textbook (non-consumable), student pack (consumable), Teacher Guide and/or Full Solutions Answer Key. Textbooks are colorful with illustrations and pictures, and provide opportunity for students to do their work on a separate sheet of paper. The Student Pack includes quizzes, tests, and daily speed/mastery drills (math facts review) and measurement equivalents. Full Solutions Answer Key shows each problem of the textbook, quizzes, and tests with step-by-step solutions. Teacher Guides for the textbook are also in full color and include student pages with answers and a cd of printables posters, charts, and practice sheets.

The addition/subtraction flash cards accompanying this curriculum for grades 1-4 are numbered and tabbed to correspond to the teacher guides at those grade levels. Cards measure 3.5" x 7.5", addition/subtraction go from 0 to 18. Multiplication/division flash cards measure 3.5" x 5" and cover math facts from 0-12. The multiplication fact is on the front of the card with the opposite division fact on the reverse. These aren't numbered and tabbed like the addition/subtraction cards. Math Reference Charts are available for grades 2-6, 5-8, and 7/8. These are 8.5" x 11" laminated sheets for easy reference at a glance for those items that students need to remember but need a little help measurement tables, formulas, etc.

Grade 8 is considered pre-algebra and prepares students for any algebra 1 course. It introduces students to concepts needed at the higher levels of math such as Pythagorean theorem, irrational square roots, and basic trigonometry.

The sequence for high school is Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II, and Functions and Trigonometry. To use Algebra I you will need the 10 Light Units (students write on their own paper), solution key (solutions to the Light Units exercises), tests & quizzes, and the test & quiz answer key. These are all sold separately for the Algebra I level. Geometry, Algebra II, and Functions and Trigonometry, each use 10 Light Units and 5 answer keys. Finishing through Functions and Trigonometry will prepare students for college level math.

Consumer Math is an optional math course offered in this series. Equivalent to one high school credit, this course applies math to everyday situations. There are 10 Light Units and 5 answer keys needed to complete the course and they cover basic and everyday math fractions, decimals, percent, family finances, construction & building trades, service occupations, transportation, business services, and occupational diagrams. ~ Donna

Christian Light Publishing has developed a textbook option for Grade 7 math. This method includes the same content as the LightUnits but is in a textbook format. Other components include a teacher guide, a full solution answer key, and a worksheet packet with worksheets, speed/mastery drills, and quizzes/tests. The answer key is not required if you purchase the teacher guide. You will also not need to purchase the LightUnits if using this layout. This format might work better for a student needing extra teacher help or who likes a textbook structure.

  The colorful hardback textbook is divided into 10 themed units, with 16 lessons per unit. Each lesson has instruction with example problems. There are a few problems related to the new lesson followed by review problems taught in earlier lessons. The review problems include the page number where the concept was first introduced. Lessons end with Computation problems and Fact Focus exercises. Fact Focus problems include geometric formulas, measurement equivalents, fractions, decimals, percent equivalents, squares, and square roots. The student text is non-consumable, and students write out their answers on a separate sheet of paper. Textbook includes 160 lessons.

  The spiral-bound teacher’s guide includes a copy of the student pages with answers. There are also lesson plans for each lesson, additional resources in the appendixes, and a Resource CD with extra teaching material including posters and practice sheets. The beginning of each lesson gives a lesson overview and a list of any materials needed.

  The spiral-bound, full solution answer key works out the solutions and provides answers for each problem in the textbook, speed/mastery drills, quizzes and tests. This is a nice option if you do not need the teaching instruction in the teacher’s guide. Each problem in the textbook is shown in color, the solution is in gray, and the final answer is in black.

  Student materials include consumable worksheets, speed/mastery drills, and quizzes and tests that are all perforated for easy tear out. Worksheets correlate with some of the problems in the textbook. Speed/Mastery Drills include timed speed drills and non-timed mastery drills used for review. Each unit has two quizzes and one test. Quizzes are two pages in length and tests are each 3 pages. Quizzes and tests show how many points each problem is worth.

  This is a solid math option for Grade 7 and strives to make math relatable to everyday life. The spiral, incremental approach in this program allows students to master each small skill before moving to the next step. The continual review helps students retain what they have learned.