Math Credit Ideas

[mom31257]

I'm helping a student who has no plans to attend college. I believe he has some learning disabilities that were never diagnosed. He has completed Algebra 1 and Geometry. I'm currently teaching him BJU's Consumer Math course that includes finances, budgeting, insurance, mortgages, etc. 

Any suggestions for a fourth math credit? I don't think he could do a full Algebra 2 course, and GA requires four credits to issue a high school diploma. 

Thank you! 

[Lori D.]

So kind of you to help this young man! 😄

ideas:
- Business Math?
- Bookkeeping or Accounting?
- Intro to Statistics? (maybe ALEKS Intro to Statistics, or, High School Prep for Statistics?)

Perhaps create a math course that is less about equations/calculations and more about the History of Math & Mathematicians and key concepts and discoveries in math around the world and over time? And add in some projects of interest along the way? (ideas of texts could be much more detailed than Exploring the World of Mathematics (Tiner) -- such as A History of Mathematics (Merzbach & Boyer), or, The Math Book (Pickover) -- and also possibly the Great Courses lecture series: The Joy of Mathematics)

Or create a course based around 1-2 Great Courses lecture series on math topics of interest.

Or create a math class of specific topics of review and practice that would be useful to him in real life, such as:
- Measurement (metric/English conversions; volume, area, and other calculations)
- Conversion of Decimals/Percents/Fractions
- Estimating
- Data (creating/interpreting graphs and tables)
- Probability

[Zoo Keeper]

My humanities lover enjoyed reading Coincidences, Chaos, and All That Jazz https://www.amazon.com/Coincidences-Chaos-That-Math-Jazz/dp/0393329313/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=chaos+and+all+that+jazz&qid=1633201857&sr=8-1

 

[mom31257]

@Lori D., thank you! I like the idea of some history and statistics. I think he might be dyslexic, but I'm not experienced in that. 

His mother passed away about 3 years ago, and his dad has struggled to homeschool him. I taught him his math last year and helped tutor him in a couple of subjects. His dad asked me if I would manage all of his schoolwork this year even though we moved away. We meet 4 days a week on Zoom, and I plan out each week's assignments. He is attending the co-op that I started there ten years ago. He's a good kid that will do anything you ask, so that makes it a nice part-time job for me. 

[Lori D.]

Oh, Amy, what a heart-breaking story/situation! What a blessing you are to this young man and his dad. I hope you have a great year, despite it having to be distant/via Zoom! 😄 

[mom31257]

17 minutes ago, Lori D. said:

Oh, Amy, what a heart-breaking story/situation! What a blessing you are to this young man and his dad. I hope you have a great year, despite it having to be distant/via Zoom! 😄 

Thank you! It is going well so far. The whiteboard feature and my pen tablet help a lot. 

We moved this summer to live closer to my dad, and I’m teaching him and four other math classes with students from the area we lived in before. 

They are all friends’ kids, so it’s nice to still be connected to those families!