Math Stories for Problem Solving Success: Ready-to-Use Activities for Grades 7-12

Here are 51 interesting, true-to-life situations to motivate teenagers to apply math skills for solving everyday problems. For example, in the story "The Challenge" students use decimals and averages as they compare rival football teams' statistics. In "An Interesting Loan", they get practical experience working with money as they help Mike figure out how to pay for a new dirt bike. Each reproducible story is followed by three increasingly difficult groups of problems that focus on the same math topic, making it easy for students of all ability levels to develop the math skills being stressed in the lesson.

James L. Overholt, Ed.D (University of Wyoming, Laramie) has over 20 years' of experience as a public school teacher and educator. He began his career teaching in the public schools of LeSuer and Albert Lea, Minnesota, then served as a mathematics teacher/coordinator and instructor in Elementary and Junior High School Education at the University School, University of Wyoming. Presently Dr. Overholt is a Professor of Education at California State University, Chico, where he specializes in mathematics education for both practicing and perspective teachers.

Nancy H. Aaberg, M.Ed, (California State University, Chico) has over 15 years' experience as a public high school mathematic teacher, athletic director, and activities director in Marysville, California. Presently Mrs. Aaberg is a mathematics teacher and consultant in Yuba City, California.

James F. Lindsey, Ed.D. (University of California, Berkeley) has over 20 years' experience as a teacher and administrator in public school. He taught in the upper grades of the elementary school, high school music, social studies, and mathematics, and was a principal. In addition, he serves as a Professor of Education for 21 years at California State University, Chico, at which he is now Professor Emeritus. He has also taught at Christchurch Teachers' College, New Zealand, and at St. Patrick's College, Dublin, Ireland.