{"id":1189,"date":"2021-04-12T15:03:17","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T15:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/?page_id=1189"},"modified":"2023-10-02T12:48:22","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T12:48:22","slug":"blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (April 2026)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-april-2026\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (April 2026)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em><\/em><em>Welcome to the latest installment of our series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each WTBotT features a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAn important principle in math teaching and learning is the idea that every concept can be approached in three ways: concrete, representational, and abstract.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-april-2026\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (February 2026)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-february-2026\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (February 2026)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em><\/em><em>Welcome to the latest installment of our series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each WTBotT features a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nLet\u2019s really lean into visuals this time.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-february-2026\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/09\/93_teachers-learning-an-LMS.jpg\" alt=\"Transitioning to CALM and BeCALM for Online Adult Math Education\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/transitioning-to-calm-and-becalm-for-online-adult-math-education\/\">Transitioning to CALM and BeCALM for Online Adult Math Education<\/a><p>by Jean Oviatt-Rothman\n\n\n\nI transitioned to adult education from the K-12 level several years ago. When I first started teaching adults online, we used a homegrown math curriculum based mainly on traditional K-12 materials. It was familiar territory for me, but I had a nagging feeling. If traditional math curriculum material had not worked for so many of my students when they were in school as children, why would we expect it to work for them now?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/transitioning-to-calm-and-becalm-for-online-adult-math-education\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (December 2025)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-december-2025\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (December 2025)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em><\/em><em>Welcome to the latest installment of our series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each WTBotT features a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nI have argued throughout this series that many standardized test math questions can be approached visually and conceptually and that students who may not have studied the specific content the question is targeting may still have a solution path if they are disposed to make sense and think flexibly.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-december-2025\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/09\/93_teachers-learning-an-LMS.jpg\" alt=\"Getting Started Using Digital Tools, Part 2: Student Tools\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/getting-started-using-digital-tools-part-2-student-tools\/\">Getting Started Using Digital Tools, Part 2: Student Tools<\/a><p>by Jean Oviatt-Rothman\n\n\n\n<em>This is Part 2 of a two-part blog series on digital literacy. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/getting-started-using-digital-tools-part-1-teacher-tools\/\">Read Part 1 here.<\/a><\/em>\n\n\n\nDigital math teaching tools are an exciting addition to your instructional toolkit.&nbsp;Whether you are teaching remotely and must rely almost exclusively on digital tools, or teaching in person and wanting to incorporate more digital skills for your students, getting started can be the biggest hurdle. There are so many tools available. It can be easy to fall into the \u201cOoh,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/getting-started-using-digital-tools-part-2-student-tools\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/09\/93_teachers-learning-an-LMS.jpg\" alt=\"Getting Started Using Digital Tools, Part 1: Teacher Tools\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/getting-started-using-digital-tools-part-1-teacher-tools\/\">Getting Started Using Digital Tools, Part 1: Teacher Tools<\/a><p>by Jean Oviatt-Rothman\n\n\n\n<em>This is Part 1 of a two-part blog series on digital literacy. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/?p=4318\">Read Part 2 here.<\/a><\/em>\n\n\n\nDigital tools are essential when teaching remotely and helpful when teaching in person. However, the vast range and number of digital tools available can make getting started feel daunting.\n\n\n\nStart by planning your goals and reasons for using digital tools. My goals in selecting tools as a fully-remote math instructor were visual communication,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/getting-started-using-digital-tools-part-1-teacher-tools\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (September 2025)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-september-2025\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (September 2025)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em><\/em><em>Welcome to the latest installment of our series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each WTBotT features a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nHere\u2019s a question inspired by a situation I encountered this summer.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-september-2025\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/05\/WTBotT_50.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (June 2025)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-june-2025\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (June 2025)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the 50th edition of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nWorking with percents is a topic that I\u2019ve always found students to be eager to learn about.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-june-2025\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (May 2025)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-may-2025\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (May 2025)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nDid you know that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/empower\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>EMPower<\/em>\u2122 series<\/a> includes a set of test practice questions with each lesson?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-may-2025\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (April 2025)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-april-2025\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (April 2025)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nThis month\u2019s task comes from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.collectedny.org\/frameworkposts\/hse-practice-test-questions-based-on-the-taxi-cab-problem\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HSE Practice Test Questions based on the Taxi Cab Problem<\/a>,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-april-2025\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/03\/ANC_logo_web.png\" alt=\"Some Ratio Thingy\u2014A Cautionary Tale\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/some-ratio-thingy-a-cautionary-tale\/\">Some Ratio Thingy\u2014A Cautionary Tale<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n<em>The story you are about to read is true(ish). The names have been changed to protect those whose formal math education misled them to believe that memorized procedures are more valuable than their own reasoning.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\nPicture the scene \u2026 a middle school math classroom somewhere in America circa 1987:\n\n\n\nRichard sits at his desk. At the board, the teacher demonstrates how to set up a proportion by setting two ratios equal to each other.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/some-ratio-thingy-a-cautionary-tale\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (March 2025)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-march-2025\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (March 2025)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nReading and making sense of charts and graphs is important on the math section of high school equivalency and other standardized tests,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-march-2025\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/03\/ANC_logo_web.png\" alt=\"Building Classroom Community in an Online Environment\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/building-classroom-community-in-an-online-environment\/\">Building Classroom Community in an Online Environment<\/a><p>by Jean Oviatt-Rothman\n\n\n\nBuilding a strong and supportive classroom community is essential for students to feel a sense of belonging and safety. This sense of belonging and safety allows students to thrive, take academic risks, share their ideas and strategies, or propose different ways of seeing and solving problems. \n\n\n\nBuilding a classroom community among online learners can feel daunting when teaching remotely. I teach in a fully online adult education program, serving students all over the state who come together with me for two 90-minute STEM classes per week.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/building-classroom-community-in-an-online-environment\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (February 2025)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-february-2025\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (February 2025)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nIt\u2019s chilly here in Massachusetts as I\u2019m writing this,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-february-2025\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/03\/ANC_logo_web.png\" alt=\"No Pressure (A Thought Experiment)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/no-pressure-a-thought-experiment\/\">No Pressure (A Thought Experiment)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\nOne of my favorite mathematical college memories is of a math test. (Yes, you read that right. I have a cherished memory of a math test.) We had a week-long test my professor called a \u201cpyramid exam.\u201d On Monday, we worked on our own on the test for the whole class period. It was <em>hard!<\/em> My professor let us know that it was much too hard and too much work for us to complete in one class period,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/no-pressure-a-thought-experiment\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (January 2025)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-january-2025\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (January 2025)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nHere\u2019s a classic to start the new year.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-january-2025\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"An Interview with Dr. Brooke Istas\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/an-interview-with-dr-brooke-istas\/\">An Interview with Dr. Brooke Istas<\/a><p>by Connie Rivera\n\n\n\n<em>Dr. Brooke Istas is an instructor of Mathematics for Cowley College since Fall 2014. Prior to accepting the position, she acted as the Instructional Coordinator and a Mathematics Instructor for the Cowley College Adult Education and College Preparation Program. She is also the online moderator for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE), Literacy Information and Communication System\u2019s (LINCS) Community of Practice for both Math and Numeracy and Correctional and Reentry Education communities.<\/em>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/an-interview-with-dr-brooke-istas\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (December 2024)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-december-2024\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (December 2024)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nTeachers preparing students for an HSE test may choose to spend their geometry time on learning to identify and apply the formulas on the formula page.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-december-2024\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (November 2024)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-november-2024\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (November 2024)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nOne question that comes up often when I am talking with teachers is deciding how much time to devote to learning how to do fractions on the calculator and how much time to devote to learning fraction reasoning.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-november-2024\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"Teaching Algebraic Notation\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/teaching-algebraic-notation\/\">Teaching Algebraic Notation<\/a><p>Helping students develop meaningful fluency in algebraic notation can help them apply their reasoning skills and can decrease \u201calgebra anxiety,\u201d as the symbols and grammar start to become meaningful and familiar. Melissa Braaten has created a three-part resource that reviews the meaning of notation in algebra, discusses some common student misunderstandings, and offers teaching strategies for promoting lasting student comprehension.\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2024\/10\/Teaching-Algebraic-Notation-v4_ss_20241011.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Download the <em>Teaching Algebraic Notation<\/em> PDF Resource<\/a>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPart 1 discusses how to help students transition from arithmetic notation for multiplication and division to multiplication and division notation more commonly used in algebra.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/teaching-algebraic-notation\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (October 2024)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-october-2024\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (October 2024)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nThis month\u2019s question involves decimals.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-october-2024\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"FREE Back to School Math Resources\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/free-back-to-school-math-resources\/\">FREE Back to School Math Resources<\/a><p>We know all about the overwhelm that can happen as teachers and students return to class after a long break. There&#8217;s so much to plan and organize, not to mention getting to know plenty of new students with various educational backgrounds and needs.\n\n\n\nLet us help you with that! Over the years, our team has developed a treasure trove of free materials and resources that anyone can download, including ones with ready-to-teach lessons and tips for implementing regular math routines.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/free-back-to-school-math-resources\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (September 2024)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-september-2024\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (September 2024)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nI recently saw a video on YouTube that purported to \u201cteach\u201d students how to find the equation of a line in slope-intercept form given two points by using a TI-30XS (the calculator provided for the GED).  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-september-2024\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"Games for Beginning Math Learners\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/games-for-beginning-math-learners\/\">Games for Beginning Math Learners<\/a><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/man-and-woman-sitting-at-table-8111365\/\">Photo by Pavel Danilyuk<\/a>\n\n\n\nby Melissa Braaten\n\n\n\nWhy Games?\n\n\n\nAlmost every culture in the world has used mathematical and spatial reasoning for recreation. In other words, humans use math for fun, and all adult learners deserve to have access to recreational math for this reason, in addition to other educational benefits.&nbsp;Dice, card, and board games often employ important reasoning skills and encourage the use of strategy and self-reflection, or metacognition, to decide whether the strategy one is using could be improved.&nbsp;  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/games-for-beginning-math-learners\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (June 2024)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-june-2024\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (June 2024)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nThis month we\u2019re back in the realm of fractions\u2014the topic that seems to trouble possibly more teachers and students than any other.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-june-2024\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"Ishihara-Yoshimura journey: A Story Celebrating Asian-Pacific Americans\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/ishihara-yoshimura-journey-a-story-celebrating-asian-pacific-americans\/\">Ishihara-Yoshimura journey: A Story Celebrating Asian-Pacific Americans<\/a><p>by Nancy Ishihara\n\n\n\nAsian-Pacific American Heritage Month (sometimes known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month) is an annual celebration of Americans with Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry.<a href=\"#_ftn1\" id=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> The month of May was chosen to coincide with the first Japanese immigrant, Manjiro, arriving in Massachusetts on a whaling ship captained by John Whitfield in May of 1843, <a href=\"#_ftn2\" id=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a> as well as the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May of 1869,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/ishihara-yoshimura-journey-a-story-celebrating-asian-pacific-americans\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (May 2024)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-may2024\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (May 2024)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. \n\n\n\nOne common experience for adult numeracy teachers,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-may2024\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"Wrong Answers Only\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wrong-answers-only\/\">Wrong Answers Only<\/a><p>by Zuzka Blasi\n\n\n\nMy favorite acronym in the math classroom is Mistakes Allow Thinking to Happen. I want my students to make mistakes and see the value in those mistakes. One way I encourage this attitude is Wrong Answers Only, a powerful and simple discussion activity that elicits generalizations and pushes students to think in a different way about math problems. By encouraging students to supply and explain incorrect answers, you can push them to change their problem solving stance from a focus on rote calculation to a consideration of the problem space.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wrong-answers-only\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (April 2024)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-april-2024\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (April 2024)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month&#8217;s question:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-april-2024\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"One Right Answer? One Right Way?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/one-right-answer-one-right-way\/\">One Right Answer? One Right Way?<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nDoes every math question have a single right answer? Many people would say yes. In fact, that\u2019s one thing that I\u2019ve heard people say that they love about math. There\u2019s no ambiguity. It\u2019s not a matter of opinion. The answer to 2 + 2 is 4 and that\u2019s the end of the story. It\u2019s clean and clear.\n\n\n\n\nIn my work, my colleagues and I promote a different view of math\u2014that it is a flexible,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/one-right-answer-one-right-way\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (March 2024)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-march-2024\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (March 2024)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-february-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Last month<\/a> we looked at finding the mean of data given in a frequency table.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-march-2024\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2023\/02\/calculator-with-the-text-math-is-fun-on-the-display-edited.jpeg\" alt=\"Somos Mujeres en Matema\u0301ticas \/ We Are Women in Math\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/somos-mujeres-en-matematicas-we-are-women-in-math\/\">Somos Mujeres en Matema\u0301ticas \/ We Are Women in Math<\/a><p>by Mercedez Casciato &amp; Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n<em>To translate parts of this blog into your native language, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/translate.google.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Translate<\/a>.<\/em>\n\n\n\n<em>Para traducir partes de este blog a su idioma nativo, visite <a href=\"https:\/\/translate.google.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Translate<\/a>.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\nAs colleagues in the SABES Math and Numeracy Center, we (Mercedez Casciato and Sarah Lonberg-Lew) worked together to compile resources for Women\u2019s History Month. In the course of our conversations, we reflected on our own experiences as women in mathematics.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/somos-mujeres-en-matematicas-we-are-women-in-math\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (February 2024)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-february-2024\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (February 2024)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. This month,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-february-2024\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"What Is Your Homework Strategy?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/what-is-your-homework-strategy\/\">What Is Your Homework Strategy?<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\n\n\n\nFor years, I struggled giving homework: what to give students, how much, how to grade or value it.&nbsp; I found I was spending a lot of time creating or searching for assignments that felt meaningful, only to have a very small portion of my students complete it outside of class.&nbsp; In addition, I had a lot of students with different learning challenges, who struggled with many aspects of homework: how to understand the directions,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/what-is-your-homework-strategy\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (January 2024)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-january-2024\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (January 2024)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s question:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-january-2024\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (December 2023)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-december-2023\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (December 2023)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s question:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-december-2023\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2023\/11\/83_Blog_blue-blocks.jpg\" alt=\"Finite Geometry or, How I Learned about a Math Topic I\u2019d Never Heard of Before\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/finite-geometry-or-how-i-learned-about-a-math-topic-id-never-heard-of-before\/\">Finite Geometry or, How I Learned about a Math Topic I\u2019d Never Heard of Before<\/a><p>by Mark Trushkowsky\n\n\n\n\n<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/meeting-minerva-a-journey-of-discovery-in-mathematical-identity\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/meeting-minerva-a-journey-of-discovery-in-mathematical-identity\/\" target=\"_blank\">Last month I wrote a blog about Dr. Minerva Cordero<\/a> and the sense of connection and belonging I felt when I learned about a mathematician who shares an aspect of my identity. I wanted to share another aspect of my journey and write about Dr. Cordero\u2019s work in mathematics.&nbsp;\n\n\n\nMy wife used to work in exhibit design, designing informational spaces like museums or aquariums. They used a framework called &#8220;the 5 Ss&#8221;  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/finite-geometry-or-how-i-learned-about-a-math-topic-id-never-heard-of-before\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (November 2023)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-november-2023\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (November 2023)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s question:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-november-2023\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-13-at-12.57.54-PM.png\" alt=\"Meeting Minerva: A Journey of Discovery in Mathematical Identity\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/meeting-minerva-a-journey-of-discovery-in-mathematical-identity\/\">Meeting Minerva: A Journey of Discovery in Mathematical Identity<\/a><p>by Mark Trushkowsky\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Mathematician Project\n\n\n\nI first learned about Dr. Minerva Cordero during a SABES workshop led by Pam Meader called <em><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/721498967\/ddb68c4bc8?share=copy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Celebrating the Diversity of Mathematical Minds<\/a><\/em>.* During that workshop, Pam and her co-facilitator Deb Snyder talked about <a href=\"https:\/\/arbitrarilyclose.com\/mathematician-project\/\">The Mathematician Project<\/a>. The Mathematician Project is a practice that began in a Minneapolis, when then-middle school math teacher Annie Perkins decided to take 15-20 minutes a week (10-15 for research and 5 minutes of class time) to share a photograph and brief biography of a mathematician that shared aspects of identity with her students.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/meeting-minerva-a-journey-of-discovery-in-mathematical-identity\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (October 2023)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-october-2023\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (October 2023)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s question:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-october-2023\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-13-at-12.57.54-PM.png\" alt=\"Math and Hispanic Heritage Month\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/math-and-hispanic-heritage-month\/\">Math and Hispanic Heritage Month<\/a><p>by Pam Meader\n\n\n\nSeptember marks the start of school, the end of summer vacations, and the coming of fall. It also marks the celebration of <a href=\"http:\/\/mass.pbslearningmedia.org\/resource\/4e982b0c-8c5f-4ebf-8add-ca692a1cc099\/hispanic-heritage-month-all-about-the-holidays\/?student=true&amp;focus=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Hispanic Heritage month<\/a> which is September 15 through October 15. While&nbsp;our math team truly believes that people\u2019s accomplishments should be celebrated all year long, it is still worthwhile and wonderful to focus on our communities that often are overlooked.\n\n\n\nIn preparing a resource sheet for teachers to utilize during this month,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/math-and-hispanic-heritage-month\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (September 2023)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-september-2023\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (September 2023)<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s question:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-september-2023\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2023\/08\/You-will-do-those-word-problems-and-you-will-like-it.jpg\" alt=\"You Want Me to Teach WHAT?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/you-want-me-to-teach-what\/\">You Want Me to Teach WHAT?<\/a><p><em>Hang in there!<\/em>\n\n\n\n\nby Linda Ramirez\n\n\n\nWhy math?\n\n\n\n\u201cYou want me to teach what? Math? But I am an English language teacher. How dare you!\u201d\n\n\n\nThese were the thoughts I had when I went into momentary shock after accepting an offer to teach adult international English language (EL) students in the Adult Education Department of a state community college in Massachusetts. Upon hire, I quickly learned that I would be expected to teach English language reading,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/you-want-me-to-teach-what\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2023\/06\/Screenshot-2023-06-07-at-2.48.52-PM.png\" alt=\"Confidence in the Math Classroom\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/confidence-in-the-math-classroom\/\">Confidence in the Math Classroom<\/a><p>by Jill O&#8217;Loughlin\n\n\n\nWhich feeling is worse?\n\n\n\n\n\nStanding at the front of a classroom that is a sea of blank stares when you have just asked a math question\n\n\n\n\n\nor\n\n\n\n\n\nSitting in a math class feeling completely lost, not only unable to find the answer to the problem, but not even knowing where to begin to make sense of the question\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Impact of the Imposter Syndrome\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nI think we can all agree the two choices above are both disappointing scenarios,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/confidence-in-the-math-classroom\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (June 2023)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-june-2023\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (June 2023)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s problem:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-june-2023\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2023\/05\/divide_and_conquer.png\" alt=\"Making Sense of Long Division\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/making-sense-of-long-division\/\">Making Sense of Long Division<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nI once had a student show me a mnemonic for the steps of long division: Dad, Mom, Sister, Brother, Cat for Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring down, Check. This would never have worked for me because I couldn\u2019t remember the order the family members were to be listed in and what kind of pet they had! (Not to mention the added cognitive load for any student whose family doesn\u2019t look like the one in the mnemonic.) To me,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/making-sense-of-long-division\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (May 2023)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-may-2023\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (May 2023)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s problem:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-may-2023\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2023\/02\/calculator-with-the-text-math-is-fun-on-the-display-edited.jpeg\" alt=\"A Chance to Change\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/a-chance-to-change\/\">A Chance to Change<\/a><p>by Lakshmi Nayak\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA friend with diabetes recently told me,&nbsp;\n\n\n\n\n\u201cIf you don&#8217;t have a health threat in your life, it&#8217;s difficult to make changes. If you are diagnosed with diabetes it&#8217;s easier to make changes because the threat, and the need, is right in front of you. But if you are pre-diabetic or have family members with diabetes, you have a chance to change your lifestyle before you get irreversible diabetes. Think of pre-diabetes (or having high risk factors) as a chance to change.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nIf you actually have diabetes,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/a-chance-to-change\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (April 2023)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-april-2023\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (April 2023)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s problem:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-april-2023\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2023\/02\/calculator-with-the-text-math-is-fun-on-the-display-edited.jpeg\" alt=\"Making Math Fun\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/making-math-fun\/\">Making Math Fun<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nPhoto by&nbsp;Marco Verch&nbsp;under&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Creative Commons 2.0<\/a>\n\n\n\nFor so many students, math is something they <em>have<\/em> to get through to reach their next steps. For many teachers, math is something they <em>have <\/em>to teach because students need to learn it, but it isn\u2019t fun and engaging like reading and writing, or relevant and interesting like social studies and science. So, to help us all survive the ordeal of teaching and learning math,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/making-math-fun\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (March 2023)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-march-2023\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (March 2023)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s problem:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-march-2023\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/12\/Questions_Hunger_learning.jpg\" alt=\"What if&#8230;?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/what-if\/\">What if&#8230;?<\/a><p>by Pam Meader\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRecently, my grandsons visited me and one of their requests when they visit is to watch a cartoon show called <em>Stinky and Dirty<\/em>. If you haven\u2019t listened to the show, each episode revolves around a problem that Stinky (the garbage truck) and Dirty (the bulldozer) must solve. I kept hearing, \u201cWhat if&#8230;\u201d throughout the 30 minute show as Dirty proposes a solution and they experiment to see if it works.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/what-if\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (February 2023)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-february-2023\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (February 2023)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. This month let\u2019s dive into the surprisingly rich topic of the area and perimeter of rectangles.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-february-2023\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/12\/You_can_do_it-1-e1671632645795.jpeg\" alt=\"You Do, You Do, You Do\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/you-do-you-do-you-do\/\">You Do, You Do, You Do<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen I was learning to be a teacher, I was taught the \u201cI do, we do, you do\u201d approach as a way of easing students into material and gradually releasing responsibility to the students. This was reinforced for me in different teaching jobs where professional development trainers extolled it as the best frame for teaching and learning. I\u2019ve got to say, though, that when I used it myself, I found it serviceable, but not thrilling (for me or for my students).  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/you-do-you-do-you-do\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (January 2023)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-january-2023\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (January 2023)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-jan-2022\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">One year ago<\/a>,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-january-2023\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/03\/ANC_logo_web.png\" alt=\"It&#8217;s About Time\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/its-about-time\/\">It&#8217;s About Time<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Does anybody really know what time it is?<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s a question posed by the band Chicago in 1969, and I have been pondering that question ever since.\n\n\n\nWhy am I bringing this up now? Two reasons. First, all of us have recently gone through one more choreographing of all our clocks, moving out of daylight savings time. If you&#8217;re like me, it feels artificial for the sun to set at 5:30 one evening and 4:30 the next.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/its-about-time\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (December 2022)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-december-2022\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (December 2022)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s problem:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-december-2022\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"Rounding is NOT a Procedural Skill\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/rounding-is-not-a-procedural-skill\/\">Rounding is NOT a Procedural Skill<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\n\n\n\nI remember being taught rounding as a simple, mechanical procedure.\n\n\n\nFind the place value to the left.If it is a 5 or higher, round up.\u00a0 Otherwise, round down.\n\n\n\nI also remember something about a balloon: hold the balloon in your hand.&nbsp;If you open 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 fingers, the balloon stays put.&nbsp;Once you open 5 fingers, it floats up.&nbsp; (Quite a nice visual mnemonic).\n\n\n\nUnfortunately, these steps and mnemonics did not prepare me to use rounding very effectively in the real world.&nbsp;Neither the procedure (nor the balloon) makes any reference to why 5 has this magical quality of going up,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/rounding-is-not-a-procedural-skill\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (November 2022)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-november-2022\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (November 2022)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s problem:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-november-2022\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/03\/ANC_logo_web.png\" alt=\"Seeking Patterns, Building Rules, &#038; Creating Formulas\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/seeking-patterns-building-rules-creating-formulas\/\">Seeking Patterns, Building Rules, &#038; Creating Formulas<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nI decided to run for Selectboard member in my little town, thinking I could do so without having to become a politician.&nbsp;Wrong! But, I did learn some unexpected things in the process.\n\n\n\nAt first, I balked at knocking on doors \u2013 just as politicians are probably doing in your neighborhood this fall. I was informed that I should not only knock on doors but also keep tabs on the responses I received because that data would be used just before the election.&nbsp;(Luckily,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/seeking-patterns-building-rules-creating-formulas\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (October 2022)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-october-2022\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (October 2022)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Here is this month\u2019s problem:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can you approach this question in a way that makes sense to <em>you<\/em>?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-october-2022\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/08\/success_studentsaskquestions.jpg\" alt=\"Why is Math Taught Differently Now?: Starting the Conversation with Adult Students to Increase Buy-In\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/why-is-math-taught-differently-now-starting-the-conversation-with-adult-students-to-increase-buy-in\/\">Why is Math Taught Differently Now?: Starting the Conversation with Adult Students to Increase Buy-In<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\n\n\n\nOne of the most common questions I get from teachers who attend our trainings is how to get students to accept learning math a new way. \u201cMy students expect drills and workbooks,\u201d teachers explain. \u201cHow do I get them to be open to trying this new approach?\u201d\n\n\n\nThis is an excellent question. As adult educators, we know that our students have to be open and invested in their learning for it to be effective.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/why-is-math-taught-differently-now-starting-the-conversation-with-adult-students-to-increase-buy-in\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (September 2022)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-september-2022\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (September 2022)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAfter a summer hiatus, <em>Will This Be on the Test<\/em> is back! Welcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-september-2022\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/06\/cat-g2f7e5c166_1280.png\" alt=\"Cats and the Variables of Life\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/cats-and-the-variables-of-life\/\">Cats and the Variables of Life<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImage by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/3lloi_koteika-21641593\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=6497416\">3Lloi_KoteikA<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=6497416\">Pixabay<\/a>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nI was given a dare: write a blog about cats and math. Since I love a dare, here I am!\n\n\n\nI did some initial brainstorming about my own cat experiences and thought about how I used to have three cats, then wound up with five, and eventually went down to zero before picking up two shelter cats again. So, yes, we could do some counting of cats,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/cats-and-the-variables-of-life\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/05\/divide_and_conquer.png\" alt=\"Why Is Division Difficult?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/why-is-division-difficult\/\">Why Is Division Difficult?<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen it comes to the four basic operations, division is often the one that students find the most difficult. Many adult education students, especially at beginning levels of math, have gaps in their understanding of both when and how to divide. Why does this operation seem to cause more problems than the rest? A lack of fluency in basic multiplication facts can sometimes be a factor, but there is more about division that can cause difficulties.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/why-is-division-difficult\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (June 2022)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-june-2022\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (June 2022)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. In <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-apr-2022\/\" target=\"_blank\">April<\/a>,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-june-2022\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/05\/May2022_mnc_book_cover.png\" alt=\"BOOK REVIEW: Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/book-review-making-numbers-count-the-art-and-science-of-communicating-numbers\/\">BOOK REVIEW: Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers<\/a><p>Authors: Chip Heath and Karla Starr\n\n\n\n<em>Book review by Melissa Braaten<\/em>\n\n\n\nAccording to COABE\u2019s Educate and Elevate campaign, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/educateandelevate.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Data-Sheets-9_17_21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">the U.S. has about 75 million adults considered \u201clow-skilled\u201d in numeracy<\/a>. 75 million is a large number. But how large? How are we supposed to feel about this statistic? How can we wrap our minds around what it means for our own state, city, or program? We might consider that 75 million is almost twice the population of California.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/book-review-making-numbers-count-the-art-and-science-of-communicating-numbers\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (May 2022)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-may-2022\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (May 2022)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a standardized test. Usually when we explore a test-like question in this column,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-may-2022\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/04\/ferris-wheel-gdeca9a7b8_1920.jpeg\" alt=\"Coming Full Circle\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/coming-full-circle\/\">Coming Full Circle<\/a><p>by Jean Merriam\n\n\n\nMy K-12 experiences as a math student were ideal:&nbsp;interesting and challenging enough to push me to progress, but not so overwhelming and frustrating as to derail me, like so many other math students. Calculators were not used back in my day (I know I\u2019m dating myself), so students like me had to learn strategies and look for patterns, links, and relationships in the math. Today this would be called a combination of rigor,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/coming-full-circle\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (Apr 2022)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-apr-2022\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (Apr 2022)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a high school equivalency test.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-apr-2022\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/03\/pexels-ron-lach-9783352-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Noticing &#038; Wondering in the World\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/noticing-wondering-in-the-world\/\">Noticing &#038; Wondering in the World<\/a><p>Photo by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/@ron-lach?utm_content=attributionCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=pexels\">Ron Lach<\/a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/a-man-in-whit-long-sleeve-shirt-9783352\/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=pexels\">Pexels<\/a>\n\n\n\nby Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nI have been playfully accused on many occasions of seeing math in everything. I\u2019m not sure it is always meant as a compliment, but I take it as one. I do see math everywhere, but the math that I see often doesn\u2019t look like the math found in textbooks, traditional curricula, or even sometimes non-traditional curricula. The reason I see math everywhere is that I have a very broad idea of what math is.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/noticing-wondering-in-the-world\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (Mar 2022)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-mar-2022\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (Mar 2022)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a high school equivalency test.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-mar-2022\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2022-02-14-at-12.52.13-PM.png\" alt=\"Making Art, Learning Math\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/making-art-learning-math\/\">Making Art, Learning Math<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew &amp; Mark Trushkowsky\n\n\n\nIn December of 2021, we (Sarah Lonberg-Lew and Mark Trushkowsky) embarked on a project to create a piece of art to submit to the Desmos Global Art Contest. Here is a still image of our submission:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.desmos.com\/calculator\/cwdpnzz5ss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here<\/a> to see it in all its animated glory. (And try clicking on some of the stationary objects for a little bonus.)\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.desmos.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Desmos<\/a> is an online platform for learning,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/making-art-learning-math\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (Feb 2022)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-feb-2022\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (Feb 2022)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a high school equivalency test.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-feb-2022\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2022\/01\/ANN_logo_2016_High_Res.png\" alt=\"Adult Math Instructors \u2013 Meet Your People!\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/adult-math-instructors-meet-your-people\/\">Adult Math Instructors \u2013 Meet Your People!<\/a><p>Are you experiencing the post-holiday season blahs, stuck in a math teaching rut? Or maybe you&#8217;ve made a new year&#8217;s resolution to try new strategies and activities with your adult students but need some ideas to get started?\n\n\n\nThe Adult Numeracy Network was created to support and inspire teachers just like you! \n\n\n\nWhat is the Adult Numeracy Network?\n\n\n\n<em>In their own words&#8230;<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Adult Numeracy Network is the professional organization for math educators who work in adult education in the United States and a partner affiliate with the National Council of Teacher of Mathematics (NCTM).&nbsp;We are a community dedicated to quality mathematics instruction at the adult level.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/adult-math-instructors-meet-your-people\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (Jan 2022)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-jan-2022\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (Jan 2022)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a high school equivalency test.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-jan-2022\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/03\/ANC_logo_web.png\" alt=\"Math Wishes for the New Year\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/1684-2\/\">Math Wishes for the New Year<\/a><p>For this month&#8217;s blog, we&#8217;re doing something different! As this year closes, our team at the Adult Numeracy Center would like to offer our math wishes for you and your students in the new year. Enjoy!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFind a new way of doing a math routine (like memorizing times tables) to challenge yourself and discover a new pathway to learning that routine. It could lead you to see math connections you never knew existed. For example, 7 x 8 is&nbsp;the same as 7(10 \u2013 2),  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/1684-2\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (Dec 2021)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-dec-2021\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (Dec 2021)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a high school equivalency test.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-dec-2021\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/11\/Quotefancy-1198198-3840x2160-1-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Our Math Stories\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/our-math-stories\/\">Our Math Stories<\/a><p>by Pam Meader\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn my quest to become more informed on diversity issues, I\u2019ve viewed many webinars and attended many live online discussions. During an MLK celebration, the facilitator I was listening to asked, \u201cHave you ever been <em>othered?<\/em>\u201d (When you are <em>othered, <\/em>you are seen as less worthy of dignity and respect.) I reflected on that question and recalled an incident in my life when I had experienced the feeling of being <em>othered<\/em>.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/our-math-stories\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (Nov 2021)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-nov-2021\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (Nov 2021)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a high school equivalency test.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-nov-2021\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/10\/question-g5c4339417_1280.jpeg\" alt=\"Who Is Missing in Our Math Class?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/who-is-missing-in-our-math-class\/\">Who Is Missing in Our Math Class?<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor all the years I\u2019ve been teaching math, I\u2019ve been finding or creating word problems or situations in context for my students to apply their reasoning to. So many questions require comparing two groups, and there\u2019s always been one really easy go-to context for questions like that: men and women. For example, I might have asked something like:\n\n\n\n<em>There are 20 men and 25 women enrolled in an adult education program. What fraction of the students are women?<\/em>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/who-is-missing-in-our-math-class\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (Oct 2021)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-oct-2021\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (Oct 2021)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a high school equivalency test.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-oct-2021\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"But I Thought I Was Teaching Conceptually! (An Unfinished Journey)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/but-i-thought-i-was-teaching-conceptually-an-unfinished-journey\/\">But I Thought I Was Teaching Conceptually! (An Unfinished Journey)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nWhat does it mean to teach math conceptually? For me, it seems to be a moving target \u2013 each time I think I have it figured out, I discover that there are new understandings for me just around the bend. So I keep traveling down the road toward conceptual teaching, not knowing if there will ever be an end in sight. Here\u2019s a peek into my journey along this road. What does your journey look like?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/but-i-thought-i-was-teaching-conceptually-an-unfinished-journey\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (Sept 2021)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-sept-2021\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (Sept 2021)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a high school equivalency test.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-sept-2021\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/03\/ANC_logo_web.png\" alt=\"Procedural Fluency\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/procedural-fluency\/\">Procedural Fluency<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\nProcedural fluency, one of the three components of <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vrae.org\/images\/customer-files\/ccrstandardsadulted.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">rigor<\/a> (College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education, p. 45), often calls to mind the need for worksheets with the same kind of problem repeated over and over, or software that generates problems for students until they can get five right in a row. It carries an idea that students should practice procedures until they can be done automatically \u2013 without thinking \u2013 until it is no longer difficult to remember which step comes next.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/procedural-fluency\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/08\/adult_students_illustration.png\" alt=\"Meeting the Needs of Numeracy-Level Math Students (GLE<2)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/meeting-the-needs-of-numeracy-level-math-students-gle\/\">Meeting the Needs of Numeracy-Level Math Students (GLE<2)<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat is numeracy? In general, the word <em>numeracy<\/em> is the math equivalent of literacy: the ability to flexibly and accurately use numbers, shapes, and data to communicate and solve problems. When students are first starting out learning reading and writing skills, we often refer to that level as \u201cliteracy-level.\u201d Most programs who serve students at this level offer specific literacy-level classes to meet the unique content needs of literacy students, such as phonemic awareness and basic phonics.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/meeting-the-needs-of-numeracy-level-math-students-gle\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/08\/data_detective_book_cover.jpg\" alt=\"Special Summer 2021 Edition: Book Review of The Data Detective\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/special-summer-2021-edition-book-review-of-the-data-detective\/\">Special Summer 2021 Edition: Book Review of The Data Detective<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.<\/em>\u2013Everyone and no one\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe quote above is so well-known that, like many popular sayings, it\u2019s been attributed to a number of different people, and we don\u2019t really know who used it first.<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lies,_damned_lies,_and_statistics\" target=\"_blank\">1<\/a> How do you respond to hearing that quote? In his new book, <em>The Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics<\/em>,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/special-summer-2021-edition-book-review-of-the-data-detective\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/07\/beach-3121393-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Our blog is on summer vacation, but&#8230;\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/our-blog-is-on-summer-vacation-but\/\">Our blog is on summer vacation, but&#8230;<\/a><p>&#8230; did you know that you can still browse our archives to get your fix of adult numeracy goodness? We&#8217;ve got nearly 60 feature blogs plus <em>Will This Be on the Test?<\/em> challenges available for your reading pleasure.\n\n\n\nSee you in September!  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/our-blog-is-on-summer-vacation-but\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/05\/woman-1038648_640-e1620826860558.jpeg\" alt=\"Lighten Up!\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/lighten-up\/\">Lighten Up!<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAdults have so much fear and dislike related to math, much of it rooted in their prior school experiences. We as math teachers need to think about our role in why so many people feel this way about math, and what we can do to change this. Here\u2019s one thought: lighten up! Maybe we need to be a little less perfectionist, and a lot more flexible.\n\n\n\nWhat got me on this blog topic?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/lighten-up\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (June 2021)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-june-2021\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (June 2021)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWelcome back to our continuing exploration of how to bring real conceptual reasoning to questions students might encounter on a high school equivalency test.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-june-2021\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (May 2021)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-may-2021\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (May 2021)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em>Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.<\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn the April 2021 WTBotT blog, I talked about how the data domain encompasses many different kinds of reasoning \u2013 number sense, proportional reasoning,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-may-2021\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/04\/2-JobChoices.jpg\" alt=\"We Are All Adult Learners\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/we-are-all-adult-learners\/\">We Are All Adult Learners<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nI have been in the field of education all of my adult life (and spent most of my childhood in school!). I\u2019ve had about 40 years of experience working in adult education, including teaching in prisons, family literacy programs at libraries, workplace environments, and storefront community-based organizations. I feel like I\u2019m fairly knowledgeable about teaching and learning. So, while I would never call myself an expert, I would say that I do have expertise in adult education.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/we-are-all-adult-learners\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (April 2021)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-april-2021\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (April 2021)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nWelcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d (You can find earlier installments as you scroll down the blog.) Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s dig into some data this month. What skills and understandings do you think of when you think of the data domain?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-april-2021\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/03\/pxfuel.com_-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Seeking Patterns, Breaking Rules\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/seeking-patterns-breaking-rules\/\">Seeking Patterns, Breaking Rules<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\n\n\n\nIn math, seeking patterns is a helpful strategy. Once we think we\u2019ve found a pattern, we can make a rule or generalization, or sometimes even a formula. In some life situations, however, we need to be more cautious about making rules when we think we see a pattern.\n\n\n\nFinding patterns helps to make learning easier and faster, but it can also lead to biases. All of us have biases of some kind. Some of them are innocuous (a preference for certain colors,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/seeking-patterns-breaking-rules\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (March 2021)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-7\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (March 2021)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nWelcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d (You can find earlier installments as you scroll down the blog.) Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/adultnumeracyatterc.wordpress.com\/2021\/02\/01\/will-this-be-on-the-test-6\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Last month<\/a> we looked at a question about a snail crossing a garden.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-7\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/02\/wikimediacommons_hello_my_name_is_sticker.svg_.png\" alt=\"What\u2019s in a Name? Having Fun with Data\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/whats-in-a-name-having-fun-with-data\/\">What\u2019s in a Name? Having Fun with Data<\/a><p>Just what is in a name? Inspiration for fun math conversations and activities! Our one-in-a-million Sarah Lonberg-Lew shares how in our latest #adultnumeracy blog at https:\/\/adultnumeracyatterc.wordpress.com\/2021\/02\/08\/whats-in-a-name-having-fun-with-data\n@MAAdultEd @coabehq @adultnumeracy1<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (February 2021)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-6\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (February 2021)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nWelcome to the latest installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d (You can find earlier installments as you scroll down the blog.) Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.\n\n\n\nI have heard an argument made that it\u2019s not worth spending time teaching fractions in adult ed classes.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-6\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/01\/ranked-choice-illustration.png\" alt=\"Ranked-choice voting: How does it work?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/ranked-choice-voting-how-does-it-work\/\">Ranked-choice voting: How does it work?<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\n\n\n\nImagine that it\u2019s the end of the school year and you\u2019re planning a class celebration with food and drinks. You ask your students to choose which beverage they\u2019d prefer: juice, water, or soda. The students respond as follows:\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/01\/blog55_image1.png\"><\/a>\n\n\n\nSo, you decide to go with soda for everyone since more students preferred that to juice or water.\n\n\n\nDuring the party, you realize that less than half of the students drank any soda!  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/ranked-choice-voting-how-does-it-work\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (January 2021)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-5\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (January 2021)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nWelcome to the first installment in 2021 of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually. (You can find earlier installments as you scroll down the blog.)\n\n\n\nI learned a lot of rules in math class, and when I started teaching math,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-5\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/DEI_math_classroom.gif\" alt=\"Finding the Genius\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/finding-the-genius\/\">Finding the Genius<\/a><p>by Pam Meader\n\n\n\nIn my <a href=\"https:\/\/adultnumeracyatterc.wordpress.com\/2020\/10\/08\/beginning-steps-in-addressing-dei-in-a-math-classroom\/\">previous blog<\/a>, I mentioned being consumed with watching countless webinars on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Recently, I attended one sponsored by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sabes.org\/\">SABES<\/a> with <a href=\"https:\/\/education.gsu.edu\/profile\/gholnecsar-muhammad\/\">Dr. Gholdy Muhammad<\/a>, author of <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/en\/book\/show\/51107534-cultivating-genius\">Cultivating Genius, An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy<\/a>. <\/em>Her thoughtful words helped me to better understand approaches for addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our math classrooms.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/finding-the-genius\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (December 2020)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-4\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (December 2020)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nWelcome to the fourth installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually. (You can find earlier installments as you scroll down the blog.)\n\n\n\nThis month let\u2019s dive into one of my favorite types of problem to see on a test \u2013 an algebra story problem.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-4\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/03\/ANC_logo_web.png\" alt=\"I Found the Answer! (Now What Do I Do with It?)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/i-found-the-answer-now-what-do-i-do-with-it\/\">I Found the Answer! (Now What Do I Do with It?)<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\n\n\n\nI was using a recipe that I had gotten from my cousin in Germany. The recipe called for 200 mL of milk. I wanted to know what that was in cups so I Googled the information. Here\u2019s what I found:\n\n\n\nTo calculate&nbsp;200 Milliliters&nbsp;to the corresponding value in&nbsp;cups, multiply the quantity in milliliters by 0.0042267528198649 (conversion factor). In this case we should multiply&nbsp;200 milliliters&nbsp;by 0.0042267528198649 to get the equivalent result in&nbsp;cups:&nbsp;200 milliliters x 0.0042267528198649&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.84535056397299 cups.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/i-found-the-answer-now-what-do-i-do-with-it\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (November 2020)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-3\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (November 2020)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nWelcome to the third installment of our monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test? (You can find earlier installments as you scroll down the blog.) Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.\n\n\n\nThere are few topics that provoke anxiety and frustration in learners and teachers like fractions.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-3\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/DEI_math_classroom.gif\" alt=\"Beginning Steps in Addressing DEI in a Math Classroom\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/beginning-steps-in-addressing-dei-in-a-math-classroom\/\">Beginning Steps in Addressing DEI in a Math Classroom<\/a><p>by Pam Meader\n\n\n\nSo much has happened in so little time. First the COVID-19 pandemic hit and shortly after school buildings were closed and classes went virtual. Getting up to speed on the latest technologies and transforming face to face class lessons to virtual was a huge task for teachers. The killing of George Floyd followed, and our nation was ripped apart again over racial inequities. Teachers are grappling with how to make changes in their practice and classroom culture,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/beginning-steps-in-addressing-dei-in-a-math-classroom\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (October 2020)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-2\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (October 2020)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nWelcome to the second installment of our new monthly series, \u201cWill This Be on the Test?\u201d (If you missed the first blog, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/adultnumeracyatterc.wordpress.com\/2020\/09\/01\/will-this-be-on-the-test-1\/\" target=\"_blank\">check it out here<\/a>.) Each month, we\u2019ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.\n\n\n\nThere\u2019s almost always more than one way to tackle a math problem.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-2\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/10\/will_this_be_on_test_logo_sm.png\" alt=\"Will This Be on the Test? (September 2020)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-1\/\">Will This Be on the Test? (September 2020)<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nWelcome to the first installment of our new monthly series, &#8220;Will This Be on the Test?&#8221; Each month, we&#8217;ll feature a new question similar to something adult learners might see on a high school equivalency test and a discussion of how one might go about tackling the problem conceptually.\n\n\n\nThere are lots of good reasons to study math \u2013 it better prepares students for the numbers and relationships they encounter in life and at work,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/will-this-be-on-the-test-1\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/07\/math_on_moon.jpg\" alt=\"How to Open Up Word Problems (and promote digital literacy, too!)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/how-to-open-up-word-problems-and-promote-digital-literacy-too\/\">How to Open Up Word Problems (and promote digital literacy, too!)<\/a><p>by Heidi Schuler-Jones\n\n\n\nIn today&#8217;s classroom, we know that it is not enough to simply teach math content and skills. Students also need to develop facility with technology tools. Using a traditional word problem as a starting point, here are some ideas for doing so.\n\n\n\nFirst, think about ways to &#8216;open up&#8217; a word problem:\n\n\n\nLimit the information provided to students and instead have them find information based on their own interests.Allow students to make choices on figures,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/how-to-open-up-word-problems-and-promote-digital-literacy-too\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"What the Pandemic Has Taught Me to Value\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/what-the-pandemic-has-taught-me-to-value\/\">What the Pandemic Has Taught Me to Value<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\n\n\n\n\nIf you had asked me a few months ago about my favorite tools to use in the math classroom, I would have talked about how much I love my square inch tiles and the value of group work.&nbsp; I would have thought about how hard I work on my questioning techniques so I can check in with each group, try to assess where they are with the problem, and to provide just the right push to move them forward.&nbsp;  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/what-the-pandemic-has-taught-me-to-value\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"You\u2019ve Heard of Digital Literacy. What about Digital Numeracy?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/youve-heard-of-digital-literacy-what-about-digital-numeracy\/\">You\u2019ve Heard of Digital Literacy. What about Digital Numeracy?<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\n\n\n\nFor too many of us in the United States, the definition of literacy is simply the ability to read and write. We supposedly include numeracy in that definition, but it is usually overlooked. Teachers will often say things like, \u201cI\u2019m a literacy specialist\u201d or \u201cI teach literacy.\u201d When we hear those terms, we don\u2019t assume that they are also teaching numeracy. In fact, \u201cliteracy\u201d is often a code word meaning, \u201cI don\u2019t touch anything math-related.\u201d\n\n\n\nSo,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/youve-heard-of-digital-literacy-what-about-digital-numeracy\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2020\/03\/screenshot_nb_vid1.png\" alt=\"Making Math Meaningful in the ESOL Classroom\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/making-math-meaningful-in-the-esol-classroom\/\">Making Math Meaningful in the ESOL Classroom<\/a><p><em>This article also appears on the World Education blog here<a href=\"https:\/\/thewell.worlded.org\/making-math-meaningful-in-the-esol-classroom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\": https:\/\/edtech.worlded.org\/making-math-meaningful-in-the-esol-classroom\/ (opens in a new tab)\">: https:\/\/edtech.worlded.org\/making-math-meaningful-in-the-esol-classroom\/<\/a><\/em>\n\n\n\nby Sherry Lehane\n\n\n\nMath in ESOL Coursebooks\n\n\n\nDid you ever start a home do-it-yourself project and suddenly realize you were in over your head? Maybe you didn\u2019t have the carpentry skills or the right tools to do the project? This is how I felt many years ago when I attempted to teach math to my ESOL learners, many of whom had very little formal education.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/making-math-meaningful-in-the-esol-classroom\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Percents\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-percents\/\">How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Percents<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\nWhen I was about 8 years old, I went on a \u201cdate\u201d with my best friend. My mother dropped us off at a restaurant with some money and we ordered burgers, fries, and ice cream sundaes, just like a couple of grown-ups. Everything went fine until we got the bill and realized we were supposed to leave a tip and neither of us had learned how to do percents! Luckily, the kind waitress helped us work it out.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-percents\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"Rethinking Placement Testing\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/rethinking-placement-testing\/\">Rethinking Placement Testing<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\n\n\n\nWe all know that first impressions matter. Students start\nforming an impression of their program, class, and teacher from their first\ninteractions during intake, which usually involves some sort of assessment for\nthe purposes of class placement.\n\n\n\nMany standardized intake assessments involve a student\nsitting by himself, answering traditional, procedural math questions that have\nonly one correct answer.&nbsp; This experience\ncan reinforce the individualistic, procedurally-focused math experiences that\nstudents have had in the past,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/rethinking-placement-testing\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/04\/Desmos_beautifulmath.jpeg\" alt=\"Using Desmos: How Can It Fit in My Classroom?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/using-desmos-how-can-it-fit-in-my-classroom\/\">Using Desmos: How Can It Fit in My Classroom?<\/a><p>by Connie Rivera\n\n\n\nI was sold on the idea of using free Desmos <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.desmos.com\/activities\">Classroom Activities<\/a> as soon as I tried one myself. Why?&nbsp; Because I discovered math ideas I didn\u2019t already know just by working through <a href=\"https:\/\/teacher.desmos.com\/activitybuilder\/custom\/59b01d08f4d48d0a0ee7526e\">an activity<\/a>!&nbsp; \n\n\n\nUsing tech tools in class can\u2019t be technology for technology\u2019s sake. Our instruction must be focused on the mathematical understandings we want students to develop. Only then should we search for the activities that help students discover those ideas.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/using-desmos-how-can-it-fit-in-my-classroom\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2014\/10\/adultnum_lgo_rgb_sm.jpg\" alt=\"Estimation \u2013 What Good Is It?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/estimation-what-good-is-it\/\">Estimation \u2013 What Good Is It?<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\n\n\n\nThat\u2019s a good question: what good <em>is <\/em>estimation? After all, aren\u2019t tests are just looking for the right answer? Let\u2019s explore this idea, but first try this quick test-like question:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWere you\nable to immediately find the answer because you knew that 2 x 80 is 160? Or did\nyou get out your calculator to figure out the answer? If the latter, you might\nbe one of many who could use some help with number sense \u2013 something that\nestimation skills help build.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/estimation-what-good-is-it\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2019\/06\/ecstatic-2821540_640.png\" alt=\"Ten Mathematical Facts You Won\u2019t Believe! Number Six Will Shock You!\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/ten-mathematical-facts-you-wont-believe-number-six-will-shock-you\/\">Ten Mathematical Facts You Won\u2019t Believe! Number Six Will Shock You!<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nMathematics and its history are rich with surprising events\nand results. Here are ten mathematical tidbits and stories you won\u2019t believe!\n(And some of them you shouldn\u2019t believe because they aren\u2019t all true &#8212; see if\nyou can figure out which ones are! The answers are at the end.)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. Pythagoras (he of the famous theorem) and his followers were so upset by the discovery of irrational numbers that they drowned the man who discovered them.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/ten-mathematical-facts-you-wont-believe-number-six-will-shock-you\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/03\/ANC_logo_web.png\" alt=\"A Revolution in Math Education \u2013 Why It\u2019s Different This Time\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/a-revolution-in-math-education-why-its-different-this-time\/\">A Revolution in Math Education \u2013 Why It\u2019s Different This Time<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\n\n\nAt the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Adult Numeracy Center at TERC (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/adultnumeracy.terc.edu\" target=\"_blank\">Adult Numeracy Center at TERC<\/a>, we are big fans of the work of Stanford Professor Dr. Jo Boaler. Dr. Boaler has taken the groundbreaking work of psychologist <a href=\"https:\/\/mindsetonline.com\/abouttheauthor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Carol Dweck (opens in a new tab)\">Carol Dweck<\/a> on \u201cmindset\u201d and built an organization aimed at revolutionizing the way math is taught. Her organization, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youcubed.org\">YouCubed.org<\/a>, promotes teaching math as an open, visual, creative subject, focusing on building strong conceptual understanding over ability to reproduce procedures quickly.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/a-revolution-in-math-education-why-its-different-this-time\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/04\/640px-Sleeping_baby_with_arm_extended.jpg\" alt=\"Risk, Probability, and Parenting\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/risk-probability-and-parenting\/\">Risk, Probability, and Parenting<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\n\n\n\n<em>(opinions in this blog are those of the author and not of the SABES Mathematics and Adult Numeracy Curriculum and Instruction PD Center) <\/em>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<em> PinkStock Photos, D. Sharon Pruitt [CC BY 2.0 (https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0)] <\/em>\n\n\n\nParenting is hard. I just became a new parent a few months ago. I knew it was going to be hard before the baby even came the first time I picked up an instruction manual and learned how to strap a baby in a car seat.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/risk-probability-and-parenting\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"In Defense of Guess-and-Check\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/in-defense-of-guess-and-check\/\">In Defense of Guess-and-Check<\/a><p>by Aren Lew\n\n\n\nProblem solving is a lot more than reading a short story\nproblem and performing one or two calculations. Real problem solving is what\nhappens when you can\u2019t see a clear path to a solution and have to be creative. There\nare many great problem-solving strategies: look for a pattern, examine a\nsimpler case, draw a picture, model with an equation, etc. Also on this list is\nthe humble guess-and-check, aka guess-check-and-revise. For some reason,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/in-defense-of-guess-and-check\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Integrating Statistics in the Content Areas\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/integrating-statistics-in-the-content-areas\/\">Integrating Statistics in the Content Areas<\/a><p>This post originally appeared in the December 2018 edition of\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/reflectconnect.weebly.com\/\">Reflect &amp; Connect: The Reflective Practitioner<\/a><\/em>, managed by our colleagues at the SABES ELA Center.\u00a0This is a\u00a0companion\u00a0blog\u00a0post to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/adultnumeracyatterc.wordpress.com\/2018\/11\/19\/the-case-for-statistical-literacy-across-subject-areas\/\">&#8220;The\u00a0Case\u00a0for\u00a0Statistical\u00a0Literacy\u00a0Across\u00a0Content\u00a0Areas&#8221;<\/a>.\n\n\n\nby Melissa Braaten\n\n\n\nInterested in incorporating statistics into your content classes, but not sure what this might look like in practice?\u00a0There are ways to get students involved with collecting and interpreting their own data,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/integrating-statistics-in-the-content-areas\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"The Case for Statistical Literacy Across Subject Areas\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-case-for-statistical-literacy-across-subject-areas\/\">The Case for Statistical Literacy Across Subject Areas<\/a><p>This post originally appeared in the October 2018 edition of\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/reflectconnect.weebly.com\/\">Reflect &amp; Connect: The Reflective Practitioner<\/a><\/em>, managed by our colleagues at the SABES ELA Center.\nby Melissa Braaten\nIn the academic sphere, statistics can sometimes seem like the odd one out. Most of us associate statistics with math, although it is far more dependent on context for meaning than other domains of math.\nFor example, a graph of population data with the context removed is just a meaningless squiggle.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-case-for-statistical-literacy-across-subject-areas\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Making the Most of Word Problems\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/making-the-most-of-word-problems\/\">Making the Most of Word Problems<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n\nWhether they\u2019re called word problems, story problems, or problems in context, they usually amount to the same thing \u2013 a short story about a character who for some reason needs to know how long it will take to do a task or how much it will cost to go on ten rides at the fair. Why do our students need to know how to answer these questions?\nThe clearest reason seems to be that they will have to do so on the high school equivalency test that is standing between them and their next step,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/making-the-most-of-word-problems\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"How a Health Diagnosis Made My Math Skills All Too Relevant (And Why Math Education Is Critical for Public Health)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/how-a-health-diagnosis-made-my-math-skills-all-too-relevant-and-why-math-education-is-critical-for-public-health\/\">How a Health Diagnosis Made My Math Skills All Too Relevant (And Why Math Education Is Critical for Public Health)<\/a><p>A huge international study of adult literacy and numeracy skills (Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, known as PIACC) showed that in the U.S., 30% of adults had numeracy skills at or below level 1, which means they could only perform the most basic, single step, whole number operations.1,2\u00a0 This could impact the lives of adults in many ways, but one that has recently caught my attention is the role of numeracy in health care,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/how-a-health-diagnosis-made-my-math-skills-all-too-relevant-and-why-math-education-is-critical-for-public-health\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Some Help Hurts: Our Responsibility to Our Students\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/some-help-hurts-our-responsibility-to-our-students\/\">Some Help Hurts: Our Responsibility to Our Students<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\nA student joined my class in the middle of April and told me she absolutely had to achieve her high school equivalency by the end of June. \u201cI can. I must. I will,\u201d she said to me. She is willing to do whatever it takes \u2013 get a tutor, watch videos about algebra on YouTube, get her high school-aged daughter to help her. She has grit and determination and has been told that this will get her to her goal.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/some-help-hurts-our-responsibility-to-our-students\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Calculator Use in Adult Education\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/calculator-use-in-adult-education\/\">Calculator Use in Adult Education<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\nCalculators are something that both teachers and students seem to have strong opinions about. Some cling to them like a magical tool that will solve all of their math woes, while others blame them for the decline in mathematical fluency. I don\u2019t find either of these attitudes helpful. A calculator can be a useful and powerful tool, but only in the hands of someone who knows how and when to use it. As a teacher,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/calculator-use-in-adult-education\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Scale Diagrams as a Testing Strategy and a Teaching Opportunity\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/scale-diagrams-as-a-testing-strategy-and-a-teaching-opportunity\/\">Scale Diagrams as a Testing Strategy and a Teaching Opportunity<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\nThe end of the calendar year is the season for HSE testing, so I\u2019ve had a lot of students looking for test prep recently.\u00a0 Every practice test seems to include at least one Pythagorean Theorem question with an accompanying diagram, like the one below:\nSarah has to drive from her home to the post office, then on to the grocery store before she returns home.\u00a0 She will travel on the roads shown below.\u00a0  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/scale-diagrams-as-a-testing-strategy-and-a-teaching-opportunity\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Differentiating Instruction with Parallel Tasks\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/differentiating-instruction-with-parallel-tasks\/\">Differentiating Instruction with Parallel Tasks<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew &amp; Melissa Braaten\nOne of the biggest challenges we face teaching math in adult education classes is having students who vary widely in their readiness, prior knowledge, and reasoning ability. Ask a question of your whole class and some students will have their hands up with the answer before others have made sense of the question. The situation often feels intractable \u2013 how can you keep all your students in that sweet spot of being challenged without being frustrated,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/differentiating-instruction-with-parallel-tasks\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Why is Reading Math So Hard? (aka, My attempts to assess why my students struggle to read word problems)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/why-is-reading-math-so-hard-aka-my-attempts-to-assess-why-my-students-struggle-to-read-word-problems\/\">Why is Reading Math So Hard? (aka, My attempts to assess why my students struggle to read word problems)<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\nIt\u2019s common knowledge that many adult students struggle with word problems \u2013 which, incidentally, make up the majority of the questions they will be asked to answer on high stakes HSE exams.\u00a0 Since word problems bring together both language and mathematical reasoning, they require students to use and integrate several skill sets.\u00a0 Deficits in any of these skills can cause students to get lost. A lot of literature on word problems involves helping students build operation sense (the ability to know what the operations can look like in the real world in order to select the correct ones to use),  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/why-is-reading-math-so-hard-aka-my-attempts-to-assess-why-my-students-struggle-to-read-word-problems\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Having Realistic Expectations\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/having-realistic-expectations\/\">Having Realistic Expectations<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\nAs a math teacher in adult education classrooms, I have never had the experience of having a class of students who had similar educational backgrounds and ability levels. In fact, I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever met a math teacher of adult learners who has had that experience. And yet, when I plan my curriculum and lessons, I write one set of learning objectives for all my students. But how can I expect them to arrive at the same place at the end of a lesson when their starting points are so vastly different?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/having-realistic-expectations\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Paying Attention to Student Work\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/paying-attention-to-student-work\/\">Paying Attention to Student Work<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\n<em>Effective teaching of mathematics uses evidence of student thinking to assess progress toward mathematical understanding and to adjust instruction continually in ways that support and extend learning. \u00a0<\/em>National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 2014<a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ednref1\">[1]<\/a>\nThe quote above is a good description of \u201cformative assessment\u201d in mathematics, in which assessment information is sought for the purpose of informing and modifying instruction. \u00a0Paying attention to the work our students are handing in can provide some of this valuable \u201cevidence\u201d of student thinking.\u00a0  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/paying-attention-to-student-work\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Connecting Math to ESOL\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/connecting-math-to-esol\/\">Connecting Math to ESOL<\/a><p>by Ann Pellagrini\nI\u2019ve always had a love\/hate relationship with math. \u00a0In school, even though I was in advanced math classes, I struggled to grasp the concepts because teachers didn\u2019t connect what we were learning to real-world applications. To this day, the only things I remember about geometry are the Escher drawings in the book. Consequently, if there\u2019s someone in the room who seems to know more or has some kind of credential like being a math teacher or engineer,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/connecting-math-to-esol\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"What&#8217;s the Big Idea?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/whats-the-big-idea\/\">What&#8217;s the Big Idea?<\/a><p>by Connie Rivera\nYou may have seen one version or another of <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YmwwrGV_aiE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Did You Know?<\/a><\/em>, a video that went viral in 2007. I\u2019ve seen it more than once during presentations since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doleta.gov\/wioa\/\">WIOA<\/a> regulations came out. The key take away for me was the idea presented in the video that \u201cWe are currently preparing students for jobs that don\u2019t yet exist, using technologies that haven\u2019t been invented, in order to solve problems we don\u2019t even know are problems yet.\u201d\nHow can we teach our students in such a way that they will be prepared for something we don\u2019t even know about yet?\u00a0  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/whats-the-big-idea\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"The Misbegotten Trifle: What Cooking Fails Have in Common with Math Learning\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-misbegotten-trifle-what-cooking-fails-have-in-common-with-math-learning\/\">The Misbegotten Trifle: What Cooking Fails Have in Common with Math Learning<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\nIn a Thanksgiving episode of the popular nineties sitcom <em>Friends<\/em>, the character Rachel attempts to make a traditional English trifle. The layers include: ladyfingers, jam, custard, raspberries, beef saut\u00e9ed with peas and onions, bananas, and whipped cream. As she lists them, the other characters\u2019 reactions go from appreciative to incredulous to disgusted, and the mention of the beef layer gets a big laugh from the studio audience. Upon investigating, her friends discover that the pages of the magazine from which she got the recipe were stuck together and she had in fact made half a trifle and half a shepherd\u2019s pie.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-misbegotten-trifle-what-cooking-fails-have-in-common-with-math-learning\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Teaching Math to ESOL Learners: A Reflection\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/teaching-math-to-esol-learners-a-reflection\/\">Teaching Math to ESOL Learners: A Reflection<\/a><p><em>For this installment we&#8217;re featuring a special guest blog by Sister Margaret Lanen of Notre Dame Education Center in South Boston (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ndecboston.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.ndecboston.org<\/a>)<\/em>\nWhen I was asked to teach a math class once a week this year, I was most willing. I taught algebra, geometry and advanced math in high school for many years and thought it would be easy to teach basic math to new English language learners.\u00a0 Little did I think that the language used in math would be such a stumbling block to ESOL students!  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/teaching-math-to-esol-learners-a-reflection\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"What Does It Mean for Math to Be Relevant to Adult Learners?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/what-does-it-mean-for-math-to-be-relevant-to-adult-learners\/\">What Does It Mean for Math to Be Relevant to Adult Learners?<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\nWhen I am trying to prioritize my curriculum and to build buy-in from my students, I am always trying to think about how to make the math relevant to them. But what does relevance mean?\u00a0 Is it relevant for someone to learn math that they might use someday in a career they are considering? Are the specific algebraic procedures what they will use in the future, or the deeper algebraic reasoning and problem solving that they develop in the process?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/what-does-it-mean-for-math-to-be-relevant-to-adult-learners\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"What&#8217;s Wrong with Right Answers\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/whats-wrong-with-right-answers\/\">What&#8217;s Wrong with Right Answers<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\n<em>NOTE: This blog is a companion piece to an article Sarah wrote earlier this year called <a href=\"https:\/\/adultnumeracyatterc.wordpress.com\/2017\/01\/18\/whats-right-with-wrong-answers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;What&#8217;s Right with Wrong Answers?&#8221;<\/a><\/em>\nAs much as students seem to hate word problems, there is no way around the fact that they are a necessary part of the curriculum. Setting up and solving word problems is a vehicle for learning to analyze information and reason logically. It is an essential skill for taking high school equivalency test and for success in college and real world situations requiring math \u2014this in spite of the fact that the contexts for these problems are often silly and occasionally absurd.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/whats-wrong-with-right-answers\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Changing How Problems Are Presented\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/changing-how-problems-are-presented\/\">Changing How Problems Are Presented<\/a><p>by Connie Rivera\nI am an avid numeracy blog reader. As I read about the experiences and ideas of others, I find I\u2019m challenged to think deeply about decisions I am making while teaching in my own classroom. The blogs I read inspire me with new ideas on a regular basis.\nLately, I\u2019ve noticed ideas from different sources that are all ways to change how problems are presented.\u00a0 All of these teaching strategies produce a slightly different way of investigating a problem,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/changing-how-problems-are-presented\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"What&#8217;s Right with Wrong Answers\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/whats-right-with-wrong-answers\/\">What&#8217;s Right with Wrong Answers<\/a><p>by Sarah Lonberg-Lew\nI used to feel awkward when my students came up with wrong answers. I didn&#8217;t want to embarrass or discourage them, so I felt that the kindest thing to do was to say, as briefly as possible, &#8220;That&#8217;s not quite right &#8211; try again.&#8221; I even avoided using the word &#8220;wrong&#8221;. However, in my rush to save my students from potential bad feelings, I missed an opportunity to find what was good and valuable in their reasoning.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/whats-right-with-wrong-answers\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Differentiating Instruction: Some Quick Adjustments for Math\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/differentiating-instruction-some-quick-adjustments-for-math\/\">Differentiating Instruction: Some Quick Adjustments for Math<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\nEvery math class, no matter how you try to ensure some homogeneity, is a mix of levels. Some students are good at decimals, others only have operations with whole numbers down pat, while some students can reason and estimate well but struggle with procedures.\nSo, what can you do? Nope, the answer is not to completely individualize instruction where students work independently on decontextualized skills. Instead, you still want to encourage them to work on more challenging situations,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/differentiating-instruction-some-quick-adjustments-for-math\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Utilizing Correct Mathematical Language\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/utilizing-correct-mathematical-language\/\">Utilizing Correct Mathematical Language<\/a><p>by Pam Meader\nThe Career and College Readiness Standards have shifted the way we teach mathematics to our students.\u00a0 One change is the importance of using correct mathematical language for both our students and our teachers. In Mathematical Practice 1, students need to make sense of the mathematical language in order to problem solve. With Mathematical Practice 3, students need math language to discuss their ideas or critique their classmates\u2019 ideas. With Mathematical Practice 6, students need to use the mathematical language in writing as well as in their heads.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/utilizing-correct-mathematical-language\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"If Only I Could Remember! (and how Coherence can help)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/if-only-i-could-remember-and-how-coherence-can-help\/\">If Only I Could Remember! (and how Coherence can help)<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\nFrom my elementary school history class, I remember, \u201cIn 1493, Columbus sailed the big blue sea.\u201d\u00a0 From my science class, I memorized the colors of the spectrum because I remember ROY B GIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Green, Indigo, Violet). And, from my math classes, I can still recall PEMDAS \u2013 Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally\u2026 or was that PFMNS (Please Forgive My Niece Sally)?\u00a0 Let\u2019s see: (6 + 4)\/5 + 3(2) \u2013 1.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/if-only-i-could-remember-and-how-coherence-can-help\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2019\/02\/19_blog_picture1.jpg\" alt=\"5 Great Reasons to Teach Number Lines\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/5-great-reasons-to-teach-number-lines\/\">5 Great Reasons to Teach Number Lines<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\nI am an adult education teacher, therefore I never have enough time with my students. I want my students to be able to problem solve a wide range of mathematical problems, but I also want to ensure that they leave me with a deep conceptual understanding of the material they have studied. To this end, I find that I am always trying to prioritize my math curriculum to figure out which core concepts or big ideas will make the most of our precious and limited time.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/5-great-reasons-to-teach-number-lines\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Math Journals\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/math-journals\/\">Math Journals<\/a><p>by Pam Meader\nAbout 10 years ago, various documents such as the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nctm.org\/Standards-and-Positions\/Principles-and-Standards\/Principles,-Standards,-and-Expectations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NCTM Standards<\/a> and recommendations of the National Research Council were urging more math communications. I decided that I was going to incorporate some writing into my math classes. I wasn\u2019t sure how to start, so I tried a variety of approaches in all my math classes. However, new research has recently been published that lends clarity to the type of writing that occurs in math classes and its benefits.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/math-journals\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"The Value of Sorts, Matches, and Clipping to a Number Line\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-value-of-sorts-matches-and-clipping-to-a-number-line\/\">The Value of Sorts, Matches, and Clipping to a Number Line<\/a><p>by Connie Rivera\nIn my class, I regularly ask students to:\n\nMatch to each other cut outs of different representations such as: a graph, table, or equation matched to a situation; an array matched to an expression; or a drawing matched to a fraction, decimal or percent.\nSort into categories shapes, graphs, or different visual and symbolic representations of math concepts.\nPlace on a number line, whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents as well as representations of these as groups of objects,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-value-of-sorts-matches-and-clipping-to-a-number-line\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Creating Open Questions\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/creating-open-questions\/\">Creating Open Questions<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\n\u201cOpen questions\u201d are getting a lot of attention these days in math education, and for good reason. Unlike more traditional \u201cclosed\u201d questions, which have one right answer, open questions allow for many possible correct answers, and\/or many possible ways of approaching the problem. Open questions often invite deeper mathematical reasoning than closed questions, more closely replicate how the math is used in real life, and can be an excellent strategy for differentiating instruction in an adult education classroom.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/creating-open-questions\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"The \u201cRight\u201d Formula?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-right-formula\/\">The \u201cRight\u201d Formula?<\/a><p>by Connie Rivera\nI was a participant in a training recently where we were given the tools to \u201cdiscover\u201d one of the not-as-common formulas provided on the Formula Sheet for the Hi-SET test. After some exploration experiences, we were asked to write an equation that showed the relationship between the variables that could be used to find the area of any such shape. Many of the other teachers already knew the formula and were able to link together the ideas to explain how to get the most common representation of the formula (the one on the Formula Sheet).  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-right-formula\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Why Do We Need Adult Education Classes?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/why-do-we-need-adult-education-classes\/\">Why Do We Need Adult Education Classes?<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\nThe other day I was online, looking for an explanation about why a particular math procedure works. I knew <em>how<\/em> to do the problem, but I wanted to know <em>why<\/em> it worked. It took me quite a while to discover the answer, even though I tried some of my favorite go-to sites right away.\nIn the process of looking for an answer, I realized that there are MANY sites that I could go to for help if I didn\u2019t remember the procedure,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/why-do-we-need-adult-education-classes\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Commit to Changing Just One Thing (every semester)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/commit-to-changing-just-one-thing-every-semester\/\">Commit to Changing Just One Thing (every semester)<\/a><p>by Connie Rivera\nA participant in a recent training told us that she felt overwhelmed by being given so much new information during the course and not knowing where to start. It made me remember the presentation and activity where I was first exposed to math as \u201cunderstanding and making connections\u201d rather than \u201cmemorizing and following the rules\u201d. It hit me like a powerful wind that blew me off course. It made me look at a whole new,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/commit-to-changing-just-one-thing-every-semester\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Bedtime Math Helps Kids (and maybe adults, too!)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/bedtime-math-helps-kids-and-maybe-adults-too\/\">Bedtime Math Helps Kids (and maybe adults, too!)<\/a><p>by Martha Merson\nDo you read to your kids or grandkids at bedtime? If so, you may be interested in a fun new twist that some families have incorporated\u00a0 into their nightly routines &#8212; one that may have academic benefits.\nAt least two studies have found that kids whose parents engaged them in math-related story\u00a0 and puzzle activities performed better on tests. Both studies focused on families using Bedtime Math (www.bedtimemath.org) resources. Bedtime Math, a New Jersey nonprofit organization,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/bedtime-math-helps-kids-and-maybe-adults-too\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Encountering Resistance\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/encountering-resistance\/\">Encountering Resistance<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\nWhen you walk into a vacant position at a new school, replacing the last beloved math teacher, you are an unknown quantity, and the unknown can be suspect.\nI was surprised at how intense the resistance was when I started teaching at a new school this year. Math is my specialty, and I had been teaching in a similar program for five years, successfully implementing a math curriculum for adult students, which emphasizes conceptual understanding,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/encountering-resistance\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Productive Struggle\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/productive-struggle\/\">Productive Struggle<\/a><p>by Pam Meader\n<em>\u201cMany of life\u2019s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Thomas Edison\nThis summer I was watching my two year old granddaughter try to pull herself up into a chair. As hard as she tried, she couldn\u2019t figure out how to get her foot out to sit down. She became frustrated and started to cry and of course, my instinct was to run over and do it for her.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/productive-struggle\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Looking at Wrong Answers: Is It Helpful?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/looking-at-wrong-answers-is-it-helpful\/\">Looking at Wrong Answers: Is It Helpful?<\/a><p>by Martha Merson\nAn adult ed teacher whom I respect very much once told me she avoided presenting or focusing on problems where students would see flawed reasoning leading to incorrect solutions. Her stance was a challenge to the idea of showing students incorrectly solved worked problems as a way to highlight common misconceptions. In the <a href=\"http:\/\/empower.terc.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>EMPower<\/em> <\/a>series students periodically encounter a practice page or activity that presents two opposing views. For example,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/looking-at-wrong-answers-is-it-helpful\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Keeping Everyone Moving (At Their Own Pace)\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/keeping-everyone-moving-at-their-own-pace\/\">Keeping Everyone Moving (At Their Own Pace)<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\nOne of the hallmarks of the adult education classroom is the need to differentiate instruction to a spectrum of learners. I have the good fortune to work in a program with the capacity to level students for math and reading separately; many adult education teachers find they are teaching a math class of learners who were placed based on their reading level, which means the spread of mathematical ability is extremely wide. Even in my slightly more homogenous classroom,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/keeping-everyone-moving-at-their-own-pace\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"What Does It Mean to Be \u201cGood\u201d at Math?\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/what-does-it-mean-to-be-good-at-math\/\">What Does It Mean to Be \u201cGood\u201d at Math?<\/a><p>by Pam Meader\nLast week I had to visit a dental lab to match a crown to my other teeth. During this visit, the technician asked what I did for work, and when I told her I was a math consultant she immediately said, \u201cOh, I am not good at math but I love science.\u201d I wondered to myself how someone who loves science couldn\u2019t be good at math? Science and all its data collection and analysis is clearly related to math.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/what-does-it-mean-to-be-good-at-math\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Reading vs. Math\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/46-2\/\">Reading vs. Math<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\nMath and reading are usually treated very differently in the classroom:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2015\/05\/reading-math-comparison-image3.jpg\"><\/a>\nThere is no reason that math should be taught in this way, especially if we want students who can reason, solve problems, and have mathematical discussions wherein they justify their thinking; no reason except that other models are not always readily available, so reverting to the familiar is easiest\u2026 and we don\u2019t always know what is possible in a math class.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/46-2\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2021\/03\/MJ_web-e1615902209509.jpg\" alt=\"Remembering Mary Jane\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/remembering-mary-jane\/\">Remembering Mary Jane<\/a><p><a href=\"https:\/\/adultnumeracyatterc.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/04\/mj_300dpi-color.jpg\"><\/a>by Pam Meader\nFor the past few weeks, I have been collecting and organizing pictures of Mary Jane for a celebration of her life at COABE in Denver. This process has made me appreciate even fuller the legacy of the feisty blonde, Mary Jane Schmitt. A lyric from the song &#8220;Maria&#8221; in the <em>The Sound of Music<\/em> keeps resonating in my head: \u201cHow do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?\u201d That was Mary Jane,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/remembering-mary-jane\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Teaching Mathematical Conventions\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/teaching-mathematical-conventions\/\">Teaching Mathematical Conventions<\/a><p>by Melissa Braaten\nYou\u2019ve probably heard (or will hear very soon) about the \u201cshift\u201d towards increased rigor in the new College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education (CCRSAE). In the context of the math portion of the CCRSAE, the word <em>rigor<\/em> has a specific definition: increased rigor involves equal emphasis on developing conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application. Here I want to focus on an important part of developing procedural fluency: comfort and flexibility with mathematical notation.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/teaching-mathematical-conventions\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"The Journey of Teaching Math &#8211; Part 2\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-journey-of-teaching-math-part-2\/\">The Journey of Teaching Math &#8211; Part 2<\/a><p>by Pam Meader\n<em>(This is continuation of a prior blog post. Scroll down to read Part 1 first.)<\/em>\nAfter taking the Teaching Reading in the Content Area course, I started to become interested in making math more interactive. In the 70s, we used to have two days off in October for teacher training when we would devote time to improving our craft. I don\u2019t remember much about those sessions, but do remember purchasing a book called <em>Math Labs<\/em> that offered various activities to make the math classroom interactive.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-journey-of-teaching-math-part-2\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"The Journey of Teaching Math &#8211; Part 1\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-journey-of-teaching-math-part-1\/\">The Journey of Teaching Math &#8211; Part 1<\/a><p>by Pam Meader\nToday the snow is falling outside and we are all hunkered down for a big storm. For me, it is a time to be reflective of where I have been on this journey called math education. A few weeks ago, Marilyn Burns, a well-known math educator in the K-12 world, started a blog and her first entry was about her experience as a math teacher. I couldn\u2019t help but connect to her story,  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/the-journey-of-teaching-math-part-1\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Build on what they know\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/build-on-what-they-know\/\">Build on what they know<\/a><p>by Judy Storeygard\nMany years ago, a friend of mine was studying for a test that her employer required for a promotion. Unfortunately, she had a real block about math, especially subtraction. She had asked if my son, at the time a high school student who liked math, would help her. My first thought was, \u201cOh no, but it comes easily to him. How will he be able to help her?\u201d\nLuckily, my fear was unfounded.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/build-on-what-they-know\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div><div class=\"row mb-4\"><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"Only to pass a test\"><\/div><div class=\"col-12 col-lg-8\"><a class=\"serif h2 post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/only-to-pass-a-test-2\/\">Only to pass a test<\/a><p>by Donna Curry\nI was thinking the other day about a teacher who said to me, \u201cMy job is to help students just pass the \u2018test\u2019 so that they can get a job.\u201d\nI got to thinking about having to pass a test in order to be able to \u201cdo\u201d something, and the act of driving came to mind.\nCan you imagine if we had people pass a driver\u2019s test only so that they could get behind the wheel?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/only-to-pass-a-test-2\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pagination\"><br \/><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Donna Curry<br \/>\nI was thinking the other day about a teacher who said to me, \u201cMy job is to help students just pass the \u2018test\u2019 so that they can get a job.\u201d<br \/>\nI got to thinking about having to pass a test in order to be able to \u201cdo\u201d something, and the act of driving came to mind.<br \/>\nCan you imagine if we had people pass a driver\u2019s test only so that they could get behind the wheel?  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/only-to-pass-a-test-2\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"1432,1086,550,56,537,593","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1189","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1189"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2923,"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1189\/revisions\/2923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.terc.edu\/adultnumeracycenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}