BLENDED ACTIVITIES

Learner-developed problems

Try asking your learners to develop math problems based on their lives. One learner came up with the following:

• My name is . I ride the bus Mody, Wensday, Friday to GED class at Trinity Episcopal church on Jackson Avenue. I pay at 90 cents coming and going. For week would be? For a month? For three mons? For a year?
  There are lots of opportunities here for the tutor to work on various literacy skills in the context of a meaningful problem that the learner has developed himself.

Employment

Your learner has indicated he would like to work on literacy and numeracy related to employment. You can give him the following two newspaper advertisements:

• Person Friday wanted – $250/week. A good junior job. Must type 50 wpm. Also involves filing, switchboard, mail, copying and supplies. Hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM with a 60-minute lunch and two 15-minute breaks. Phone Barb at 586-9834.
• Receptionist/Typist – Needed immediately in Fallingbrook area. This person will type 60 wpm, be well-groomed and have a pleasant demeanor. Good company benefits. Salary $24,000 annually. Hours are 8:45 AM to 5:15 PM daily, 60-minute lunch and two 30-minute breaks. Send resume to Box 609, Stn “C,” Winnipeg, MB R7B 2K2 before March 15th.

Which position has the longest working day and by how much?
How much will the Person Friday position pay yearly? (52 weeks)
How much will the Person Friday position pay weekly? (five days)
Which position pays more per hour and by how much?
Writing, reading and spelling activities – develop a resume, write a cover letter, write a “Job Wanted” advertisement, read about job interviews, and so on.

Taking medicine

Ask your learner to write a short paragraph describing a recent illness (his own, a family member’s or a friend’s). Use a medical reference book to read about the illness. Discuss ways to measure liquid medicines. Use water to demonstrate the difference in quantities measured by teaspoons, soup spoons and tablespoons. Compare the differences in quantities measured by tableware and measuring spoons. Read the labels on non-prescription medicine bottles. Prepare a chart showing the time of day when the medicine should be taken and the dose. Calculate the total number of doses over a period of days.