Math Literacy Lab

A summary and introduction for “Making the Grade” 2009

Joanne Dimenno & Linda Kittell

Why Math Literacy Lab?• Remedial skills reviewed as needed• Enforces academic math skills:

Grade 9- Equation Solving and Graphing Grade 10- Figures and Formulas

• Teaches life skills (money, time-cards, percents and ratios, measurement and conversion)

• Reviews trade concepts• Problem Solving Strategies• Helps to prepare for CAPT

SNAGS CARDS

• The equivalent of our textbook• Color-coded index-card flip book• First White Section (newest edition) -

Table of Contents, broken down by section• Blue Section - Language-Arts Strategies• Why?

“SNAGS” is an acronym and mnemonic that stands for…

Strategies

• Keywords and common symbols• Mnemonics for:

Evaluating expressions Solving equations Solving a word problem

• Strategies for reading and understanding math texts and long word problems

• Problem-solving strategies• Graphic organizers

Number Sense

• Rules for negative numbers• Rules for fractions• Absolute value• Percents and Proportions• Statistics (including tables and graphs)• Probability and Counting Methods

Algebra• Order of Operations• Combining Like Terms• Operations with

Polynomials• Exponents and Scientific

Notation• Solving Equations• Graphing on the number

line and coordinate plane• Forms of a line

• Graphing linear equations• Finding Slope• Midpoint Formula• Distance Formula• Multiplying Binomials• Factoring Trinomials• Quadratic Formula• Solving absolute value and

inequalities

Geometry• Perimeter and Circumference• Using pi (π)• Area of shapes• Surface area of solids• Volume• Pythagorean Theorem• Plane Geometry• Linear relationships and Angle pairs• Types of triangles• Rules for quadrilaterals

Skills or “Shop”• Systems of Measurement• Recipe Conversions• Lumber dimensions• Metric prefixes• Measuring time• The Power Wheel (Ohm’s Law)• Number Systems• Sprayable Mixes (Collision Repair Application)• Calculating Interest

• All sections have blank pages for personalized notes.

In Summary

• Lab instructors meet with both academic and trade instructors to collaborate and plan.

• Trade instructors come into the Math Literacy Lab weekly to participate and learn building-wide strategies.

• Lab instructors re-enforce academic concepts and curriculum, and

• Academic instructors reinforce lab concepts by utilizing universal strategies.

• All universal (building-wide) strategies (taught in both labs and in academics) are found in the SNAGS cards.

• SNAGS cards also contain useful formulas, rules, “tricks,” and tips for mathematical concepts found in various math, science, and trade classes.

• Students receive points in multiple classes for remembering to “snag” and bring their cards.

• Thank you. Any questions?