Seventh grade is a year of transition in math, as the style of instruction changes — and students are urged to become independent learners who ask questions and take risks with their ideas. The key words in seventh-grade math are
evaluate,
interpret, and
analyze. For example, your grandchildren may be required to collect data about a particular topic; examine, or evaluate that data; construct graphs to represent, or interpret it; draw conclusions, or analyze it; and present their findings to the class. As their skills develop, seventh-graders gain mastery in the use of fractions, decimals, and percentages. They also begin their study of algebra. They learn how to write
and solve simple algebraic equations (If
3n + 20 = 140, then
n = 40), how to plot points on a graph, and how to use graphs to help solve algebraic problems.
What's Next? Your grandchildren may ask you why advanced math study matters. According to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, it's critical to the nation's future. The group's
Learning for the 21st Century Report outlines one possible future for your grandchildren’s education, emphasizing core subjects and problem-solving skills so that young people will be ready to step into crucial, and well-paying, technology jobs in the intensely competitive information economy of the future.
• Do you have granddaughters who love math but don't like math class? Danica McKellar, mathematician and former child TV star (she was Winnie on
The Wonder Years) understands. Her books, including
Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail (Hudson Street, 2007), challenge the "math nerd" stereotype, and give girls the tools they need to succeed in algebra while keeping their self-esteem intact.
• Theoni Pappas's Fractals, Googols, and Other Mathematical Tales (Wide World, 1993) explores a range of complex mathematical concepts through the use of fanciful stories.
• If you need a refresher in basic algebra, you can find one at math.com.
Share Your Math History. Many kids find math to be a struggle in middle school — sometimes even those who are good at it. You may have felt the same way once. Share with your grandchildren how you survived middle-school and high-school math. Then open their eyes to the ways you went on to use mathematics in your adult life, in everyday activities like baking; in hobbies like carpentry; or in tasks like managing a mortgage and maintaining a family budget. You're a role model for your grandchildren, so use your experiences to help them gain the confidence to stick with math, despite the challenges.
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