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Teaching Money Applications to Make Mathematics Meaningful, Grades 7-12
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Teaching Money Applications to Make Mathematics Meaningful, Grades 7-12

Foreword by Charlotte Danielson


May 2007 | 168 pages | Corwin

"GREAT content, GREAT activities, GREAT explanations!"
—Joyce Deer, Math Teacher, North Pike High School, Summit, MS

"A valuable addition to the literature on the practical use of mathematics in the real world. This book will contribute to the improvement of monetary connections within secondary mathematics as well as financial literacy in our country."
—Edward C. Nolan, Mathematics Department Chair, Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD

Use real-life money issues to raise students' mathematical and financial literacy!

Research has solidly established the importance of teaching mathematics in contexts that capture student interest and involvement. Weaving real-world financial issues into secondary mathematics instruction, this highly practical book offers teachers engaging ways to infuse personal money management into NCTM standards–based math lessons.

Using authentic material from daily life, the authors illustrate instructional strategies that connect required mathematical concepts with basic money matters, giving students a solid understanding of financial realities essential to successful everyday living. This resource meets the expanding demands for equity and accountability and:

  • Relates math to credit cards, paying taxes, stocks & bonds, mortgages, buying a car, and much more
  • Expands teachers' knowledge of basic financial concepts
  • Provides suggestions for projects to extend the concepts learned
  • Includes a math locator, glossary of money terms, comprehensive index, and summary of formulas

This valuable guide gives teachers, math coaches, and curriculum specialists the resources they need to make math come alive in the classroom and to develop financially savvy students.


 
Foreword by Charlotte Danielson
 
Introduction
 
Math Locator
 
About the Authors
 
1. Cars, Cars, and More Cars: Paying for Your Wheels
NCTM Standards Applied in This Chapter

 
Background: Basics of Buying Cars

 
Teaching Example 1.1. Car Costs

 
Teaching Example 1.2. MPG Plus

 
Teaching Example 1.3. Buy or Lease

 
 
2. Savings: Reality Check and the Difference Between Needs and Wants
NCTM Standards Applied in This Chapter

 
Background: Basics of Savings

 
Teaching Example 2.1. Budgets and Savings

 
Teaching Example 2.2. Future Value: A Geometric Sequence

 
Teaching Example 2.3. Annuities: A Geometric Series

 
 
3. Credit Cards and Debt Management: Using Credit Seems Unreal
NCTM Standards Applied in This Chapter

 
Background: Basics of Credit and Debit Cards

 
Teaching Example 3.1. Calculating Minimum Monthly Payments

 
Teaching Example 3.2. Credit Card Payoff: A Spreadsheet

 
 
4. Investments: The Basics and More
NCTM Standards Applied in This Chapter

 
Background: Basics of Investments

 
Teaching Example 4.1. Stock Prices and Percents

 
Teaching Example 4.2: Analyzing Graphs of Stock Prices

 
Teaching Example 4.3. Statistics of Stock I: Measures of Center, Standard Deviation, Normal Distribution

 
Teaching Example 4.4. Statistics of Stock II: Weighted Average, Correlation, Line of Best Fit

 
 
5. Buying a House Versus Renting: How Much Will It Cost?
NCTM Standards Applied in This Chapter

 
Background: Basics of Buying a House and Renting an Apartment

 
Teaching Example 5.1. Budgeting for a Down Payment

 
Teaching Example 5.2. Determining Mortgage Payments: Tables, Formulas, Spreadsheets

 
Teaching Example 5.3. Principal and Interest Functions

 
 
6. Taxes: How They Work
NCTM Standards Applied in This Chapter

 
Background: Basics of Income Taxes--Federal and State

 
Teaching Example 6.1. Income Tax and FICA

 
Teaching Example 6.2. Capital Gains and Losses

 
Teaching Example 6.3. How Uncle Sam Uses Tax Dollars

 
 
7. Economics: Supply and Demand, Inflation, and the GDP
NCTM Standards Applied in This Chapter

 
Background: Economics, Supply and Demand, Inflation, and the GDP

 
Teaching Example 7.1. Supply and Demand Functions

 
Teaching Example 7.2.: Inflation and the GDP

 
 
8. In Business for Yourself: Business Plan and Break-Even Analysis
NCTM Standards Applied in This Chapter

 
Background: In Business for Yourself--A Business Plan and Break-Even Analysis

 
Teaching Example 8.1. Starting a Business: Pro Forma Income Statement

 
Teaching Example 8.2. Revenue, Costs, and Break-Even Points

 
 
Selected List of Formulas
 
Excel Spreadsheet Hints
 
Money Glossary
 
Index

"GREAT content, GREAT activities, GREAT explanations!"

Joyce Deer, Math Teacher
North Pike High School, Summit, MS

"A valuable addition to the literature on the practical use of mathematics in the real world. This book will contribute to the improvement of monetary connections within secondary mathematics as well as financial literacy in our country."

Edward C. Nolan, Mathematics Department Chairperson
Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD

"I can see students getting excited with these math problems, knowing that it is useful material."

Lyneille Meza, Math Teacher
Strickland Middle School, Denton, TX

"Helps drive home the message that mathematics is a subject that finds its way into all kinds of professions."

MAA Reviews, October 2007
Mathematical Association of America

"This resource effectively links research to practice, resulting in a contextual approach to math instruction using money as a unifying theme. The authors clearly illustrate that linking outcomes to engaging real-world applications can develop financially savvy students."

Curriculum Connections, Spring 2008
School Library Journal
Key features
  • Linked to NCTM standards
  • Equips teachers with financial knowledge to weave into teaching
  • Connects secondary math to important aspects of real life for students
  • Discusses high-interest math-related topics such as buying  a car
  • Introduces students to personal money management
  • Relates everyday math tasks, like reading graphs, to real life purposes
  • Created by a master teacher and math consultant to College Board

For instructors

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