On the Money

To succeed in college, career, and life, students need to become financially literate. But understanding the basics of a long-term investment or a short-term loan is not enough without the math skills to make financially sound choices.

In the already full curriculum of middle schools today, how can teachers find room to include financial literacy? The key is to integrate financial topics into mathematics instruction, using everyday topics such as spending, saving, and earning to bring math concepts to life. On the Money: Math Activities to Build Financial Literacy, Grades 6–8 does exactly that.

The fourteen chapters in On the Money provide lessons and activities on such financial topics as jobs and net pay, sales discounts, credit card management, car insurance, and paying for college. The related mathematical skills include determining percentages, analyzing and representing data, evaluating probabilities, creating functions, and more. Each chapter includes—

• a “Balance Sheet” summing up the mathematical and financial literacy knowledge that students will take from the lesson;
• relevant Common Core mathematics standards and practices and Jump$tart financial literacy standards;
• a full lesson plan, complete with sections on the “Sales Pitch,” the “Fine Print,” and “Closing the Deal”;
• downloadable activity sheets and other classroom material available on NCTM’s More4U website; and
• suggestions for extended learning, including references and resources.