Our algebra curriculum includes basic percent calculations...extending to percent increase and percent decrease as well. I created an investigation that prompts students to dive into a real-world application. Students were given a copy of my annual "bonus" pay stub and a sample of my typical monthly pay stub. We discussed the abbreviations throughout the pay stub before using a Showdown structure to complete the percents investigation questionnaire. My favorite part of this activity is the shock when my students realize the salary amount required to yield a take-home of their desired income.
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Mathematicians acquire multiple skills along their journey. Communicating mathematically must be at the top of the list. As a self-assessment before our End-of-Course exam, I created a series of "I have...Who has..." vocabulary card sets for students to complete in their teams. We structured this review as a rotating station activity.
