Date: Fri 29-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-math-T.J.-Maxx

Full Text:

Math Is In Store for Eighth Grade Students

(with cut)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Kids love to shop. So, why not use shopping to teach fractions and

percentages?

Linda Mulholland, eighth grade math teacher, created a project entitled "Take

It To The Maxx " which won her the Celebration of Excellence award.

She will receive $300 and the honor of having her project published in the

teacher resource, the Celebration of Excellence .

With Mrs Mulholland's project, kids learn about percentages and fractions by

visiting a discount clothing store and spending an imaginary $250 on clothes.

There are a few stipulations. At least one item they "buy" must be over $50

(so students have to calculate sales tax) and something has to have been

discounted.

Back in the classroom, students record retail and discount prices, color,

fabric and style of their purchases, and they complete calculations with

special coupon savings as well as regular discounts.

They also prepare visuals of their "purchases" to go with their mathematical

analysis during their class presentations.

Tying social issues, finance and legal consequences into the project, Mrs

Mulholland had students research and write an article on shoplifting.

Shannon Kohn, eighth grader who did the project said that she would definitely

recommend participation in this project. She said that for the first time, she

really understood percentages and sales tax, and can use them.

Kim Wise, also in the eighth grade, agreed. She said "doing it from a book,

you don't understand why you need it. But coming out [to the clothing store]

you see it's useful."