If things look a bit different around here, it's because I just updated my blog's theme. Everything should all be in the same place, but if you have any trouble finding anything, I'd love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or send me an email to shana@scaffoldedmath.com.
Stick Figure Functions
Inside this download is a functions stick figure cutout and a functions worksheet. The worksheet is a 12-functions guide for students to use to pose their stick figure. Students can then sketch each function on their worksheet.
Functions students can build:
y = x
y = -x
y = x^2
y = -x^2
y = x^3
y = -x^3
y = sqrt(x)
y = -sqrt(x)
y = |x|
y = -|x|
y = b^x
y = -b^x
Materials needed:
- scissors to cut out the stick figure
- a sharp pencil or thumb tack to poke holes
- 3 metal brads
Included inside:
- stick figure cutout
- functions worksheet
Instead of having each student make their own stick figure, you can use one as a whole-class reference of each function, or have students pose the stick figure into different functions as you review them throughout the year!
Summer Math Summit 2023
I'm honored to be part of this year's Summer Math Summit-- a free math PD event running from June 23 through June 25, 2023.
The Summer Math Summit is a free virtual conference for 5th grade through high school, focusing on practical strategies for the math classroom.
My session this year isn't the most exciting, but it's definitely practical. It's a step-by-step how to complete a 1040 federal tax return as a dependent. Yes, even dependents can get tax returns if they held a job during the year. Filing a federal tax return is not necessary if a person earned less than $12,950 in 2022. However, income earned less than $12,950 is not taxable, therefore any tax withheld is due back to the taxpayer-- even dependents.
You can download the 1040 cheat sheet from the video here.
In addition to the free sessions, there is an option to purchase a VIP ticket that comes with extra perks. You can learn more about this year's Summer Math Summit here:
Printable Math Escape Rooms
"Can the digital math escape rooms be printed?"
No, they're only in Google Forms. YES!
Over the next few months, I'll be updating each digital math escape room to also include a printable version in its file. If you want a day without computers, a student has a print-only accommodation, or if you'd just like access to both printable and digital, you'll now have that choice in the same file.
The questions will be the same between the digital math escape rooms and their printable updates. The formatting of the printable math escape rooms will be similar to their Google Forms versions, with a couple small changes.
First, all color will be removed so that they can be easily printed at school.
Each will also have an answer sheet with directions and spaces for each puzzle's 4-letter code.
I also wanted to keep some self-checking component like the digital versions have, so each printable puzzle will have a NEXT STEP box.
Here's a closeup of how a digital math escape room puzzle compares to its new printable version:
 |
| puzzle 1 - area, perimeter, volume digital math escape room |
Above is puzzle #1 of an area, perimeter and volume digital math escape room. The digital version is completely contained in one self-checking Google Form.
Here is the same puzzle's printable version:
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| puzzle #1 - area, perimeter, volume printable PDF version |
Both versions are in the same file. Re-downloads are free to get the updated file.
Students can start on any of the 5 puzzles, they don't all have to start on puzzle #1. This will make it easy for you to have students work together in groups. Students are directed to answer all 4 questions in their first puzzle, record their 4-letter answer code onto their answer sheet, then check the puzzle's NEXT STEP box to see which puzzle to visit next. This part of the escape room works a bit like a scavenger hunt.
The covers of the updated math escape rooms will have a small yellow circle a green "print and digital" tag to show they have been updated. The covers will also say "escape room" instead of "digital escape".
CURRENT COUNT UPDATED: 29
TO GO: 61
All bundles on both TPT and my website will be updated with the new versions. If you own any of these escape rooms or the bundles they are in, you can re-download them for free from either site to get the updates.
Scaffolded consumer math curriculum for building financial literacy
How do I file a tax return? What is a credit score? How much of my paycheck will be withheld for taxes? How much rent can I afford? What is an APR? I got a TON of questions just like these when teaching high school consumer math. Many of the questions were about things I assumed my students would already know. But how would they know? My students were seniors and worried about life after high school. Understandable!
Finding consumer math curriculum materials can be a challenge. When I taught the course there was no curriculum, and I spent so much time piecing it together. After years milling over the idea of building a printable, comprehensive consumer math curriculum to make teaching the course easy, I am SO EXCITED to say that I now have one available on my website. The curriculum will answer all of your students' personal finance questions, and more.
This new consumer math curriculum is an approachable guide to building financial literacy. It includes warm-ups, a student book, accompanying student notebook sheets for building an interactive notebook, a teacher's book, projector notes to shine on the board, editable quizzes and all answer keys.
Here is a short video overview of the student book and student notebook sheets:
Units:
- Wants vs. needs
- Checks and registers
- Wages and salary
- Bank accounts
- Budgets
- Electronic banking and credit cards
- Credit score
- Discounts and coupons
- Sales tax and tip
- Percent change
- Unit price
- Income taxes*
- Car loans
- Mortgages
- Student loans
- Investing
*The income taxes unit will be updated every year. Re-downloads are free.
Files included:
- Printable student book (174 pages)
- Printable teacher’s book (178 pages)
- Printable student notebook sheets (105 half sheets)
- Projector notes (these match the student notebook sheets)
- Editable quizzes for each unit (16 quizzes)
- Warm-ups for each unit
- All answer keys
Details:
The student book is a reference that includes vocabulary, examples and questions for students to answer. You can choose to print the entire student book at once, or each unit at a time for student packets or their binders. Both formats are included.
The student notebook sheets are half-sheets designed for an interactive notebook. The sheets provide space for students to answer the questions posed in the book, and also include additional analysis questions. Students paste these notebook sheets into a composition notebook, which then becomes their own personal finance reference.
The teacher’s book and student notebook sheets answer key include all answers to all questions presented in the student book and the extra analysis questions on the student notebook sheets.
The projector notes match the student notebook sheets so that you can complete notes along with your students on the board.
The quizzes are completely editable. Quiz answer keys are included for all quizzes and are also editable.
The warm-ups for every unit are formatted for student notebooks.
FAQs:
Who is this curriculum for?
I wrote this consumer math curriculum for high school students not taking precalculus or calculus and who may have mild to moderate disabilities in math and/or reading. These are the students I taught when teaching consumer math and who I feel will benefit most from this curriculum.
Can it work for younger students?
If your students have already been introduced to percents, this consumer math curriculum may work for them. However, I feel that high school students will be more invested in learning the material as it answers the questions they currently have about their personal finances.
What makes this curriculum different from what is already out there?
When I taught consumer math, I needed a textbook that covered all of the personal finance topics important for my students to learn, along with matching print-and-go notebook sheets. Having these would have saved me an incredible amount of prep time, so this is how I built the curriculum.
The curriculum will also be updated every year to reflect changes to the way we file income taxes. Re-downloads will always be free.
Is it for a semester or for the year?
This curriculum does not contain activities outside of the student notebook sheets, so can possibly be completed in a single semester. For teachers who would like to supplement with additional activities, a big bundle of consumer math activities available here.
How many licenses do I need?
The curriculum is licensed for 1 single teacher to use with his or her students year after year.
I homeschool. Will this work for me?
Yes, the curriculum will work in a homeschool setting. All of the information needed to complete the student notebook sheets is found in the student book. You may not need the projector notes because they are meant to project onto a screen in a classroom, but all other included materials will work.
Is it available on TPT?
No, the consumer math curriculum is only available on my website linked below.
Do you have a list of standards?
This curriculum covers the following National Standards for Personal Financial Education:
Earning Income: wages and salary, gross pay, exact net pay, approximating net pay, pay schedules, tips, earning interest, retirement savings, 401(K) employer matching, filing income taxes, tax deductions, wage theft
Spending: budgeting, keeping a register, comparing unit prices, sales tax, discounts, coupons
Saving: savings, checking, money market accounts, CDs, simple interest, compound interest, pre- and post-tax retirement accounts
Investing: risk vs. reward, stock market, bonds, retirement accounts, diversifying
Credit: credit card interest, credit card choices, credit score, credit report, minimum payments, APRs, down payments, car loans, mortgages, amortization schedules, student loan interest, student loan choices, deferment, forbearance, capitalizing interest
Do you have a printout that I can give to my admin for approval?
Yes, you can find a printout here for your administrator.
Will the curriculum be updated?
Yes, this curriculum will be updated every year to reflect changes to the way we file income taxes. When the curriculum is ready to be re-downloaded, you will receive an email. Re-downloads are free.
Do you accept school purchase orders?
Yes, you can find information about purchase orders on the PO page.
With everything you need in one place, this consumer math curriculum will make teaching the course easy for you and enjoyable for your students. Consumer math is such an important and fun course to teach, and I hope that your students thoroughly enjoy building their financial literacy with you! Please send me an email to shana@scaffoldedmath.com if you have any questions.
The consumer math curriculum is available for download here.
Teaching small group Algebra 2
Teaching small group algebra 2 was challenging and super rewarding. Now that I am out of the classroom, teaching algebra 2 is one of the things I miss most. So much growth happens in students between when they enter the course and leave it. There were always so many times when my students thought a topic would be way too hard and ended up mastering it not too much time later.
In this post I want to share some of the teaching ideas and materials that I used in my small group special education algebra 2 class. Every student had an IEP and most were in 11th grade. Some were seniors, but most seniors in small group math took consumer math. I'll also link towards the end some of the cheat sheets I made for our inclusion algebra 2 class that got a bit farther in the curriculum than we did in small group.
If you've taught 9th grade algebra, you will likely recognize some of the topics we cover in small group algebra 2. A lot of review was necessary to lay the groundwork for new topics:
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