| Here are just a few suggestions for steps you can | | | | go together. Then use a web search engine to locate |
| take to make more interesting for your student: | | | | math problems that apply. (Seriously, type in "Horses |
| 1. Make a list of your student's interests, likes, and | | | | and Distance/Rate/Time math problems" you'll be |
| aspirations. Do they want to be a doctor? A Fireman? | | | | surprised how well this works) |
| A librarian? A horse trainer? Do they like cards? | | | | 4. Use your Textbook and "edit" the example |
| Playing video games? Launching model rockets? It | | | | problems in your math book replacing the "4 badgers |
| doesn't matter what your student is in to, this is the | | | | went down hill at 3 miles per hour" with horses instead |
| point where we just take time to identify those things. | | | | of badgers and change the 3miles per hour to some |
| 2. Next, try to look at these things from a math | | | | number that horses would actually be running. The |
| perspective. Take the table of contents in your math | | | | math will not change-that's the great thing about it. The |
| book and see which topics you can find in your list of | | | | way the problem needs to be worked will remain the |
| fun activities and interests. For example, if your student | | | | same. |
| is really into horses, you can use the Distance/Rate | | | | 5. Worried about making up problems and not knowing |
| Time Equation to calculate how fast the horse must | | | | if you got the right answer? That's ok, focus on |
| have been running in the Kentucky Derby in order to | | | | learning the concept -again, use your book and make |
| complete the race in the time stated. | | | | sure your problem has the same basic format as your |
| 3. If you aren't especially excited about writing your | | | | example problems. Make sure your problem makes |
| own math problems like this, then just take time to | | | | sense, and you can usually tell if the answer is correct. |
| connect math concepts to your student's | | | | However, if you ever need help with any problems, |
| interests-even if you aren't sure how specifically they | | | | contact us! That's what we're here to do. |