Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Go Back                 Case Posted on October 26, 2014 2:01 pm Add to Favorites uLyJaj Reps: 99 The never ending question Why do I need to learn this? Ill never use this stuff again?! We all know that we are bound to get this question.... at least 5 times. What are some ways we, as teachers, can help relate the classwork to real life problems and situations?                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.                 Solution 1 Posted February 19, 2015 5:52 pm uHugyT Reps: 100 The best way to relate classwork to real life problems and solutions is to incorporate projects that show the students how they relate to real life. For example, in math we can use a pie to demonstrate fractions. For science, we can use the "Drops on a Penny" lesson plan to demonstrate surface tension. It helps to get students involved in their learning in a meaningful way that they will remember. Votes: +12 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution uJabaz Reps: 100 Excellent suggestion!   Posted on: February 26, 2015 9:22 pm Candice Greene Reps: 201 This is a great suggestion, I love projects.   Posted on: February 27, 2015 9:40 pm Jenna Herberson Reps: 200 Incorporating real life into teaching prepares students for the real world.   Posted on: February 25, 2018 7:53 am Add a Comment                 Solution 2 Posted February 13, 2015 6:49 pm DeJyQy Reps: 104 Honestly, I think this is simple. Don't give students unnecessary work and tell them how it relates. We need to learn fractions to decide how much of the pizza everyone gets, we need to learn about history so we know where we come from, and science to help understand what is all around us... This could be really fun to work into your daily lessons. Votes: +8 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Candice Greene Reps: 201 This is a great idea, I would want to add, relating the lesson into real life, into my lesson plan.   Posted on: February 27, 2015 9:39 pm Add a Comment                 Solution 3 Posted February 17, 2015 4:26 am Hebehu Reps: 101 I would connect the content material to real world examples and preferably those examples that include their interest. For example if the student really likes football, then explain how the laws of physics are applied to increase performance. I would also show students examples of professions and the skills they need to know to do their job well. This should be linked to something relevant to them such as what if their doctor didn't understand measurements and over medicated you. Votes: +5 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 4 Posted February 21, 2015 11:19 pm eqeTys Reps: 103 Like other people have said, honesty goes a long way. Grammar serves a purpose no matter what job you have: writing memos as the VP of a large corporation, writing emails as a teacher, or reading books as an editor. If there isn't a realistic and probable real-life application for whatever subject matter you are teaching, either find one (because it's probably out there) or be honest about it. Votes: +5 / -1 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 5 Posted February 21, 2015 11:48 pm ajybus Reps: 90 A effective way to relate classwork to real life problems and situations is to make the classwork not seem like classwork but a real life situations they are involved with. In order to create a simulation that demonstrates the concept being taught as a real life problem an activity needs to be constructed that involves the students using real life manipulatives. If you are learning about economics bring in monopoly money and have each student create a business to simulate the transfer of money, if you are learning about identifying the story elements of a story have students identify a situation that happened in their life and have them identify the story elements and act them out in a readers theater. Students learn best when they are actively involved in an activity. Votes: +4 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution uJabaz Reps: 100 Excellent suggestion!   Posted on: February 26, 2015 9:23 pm Add a Comment                 Solution 6 Posted February 17, 2015 11:23 pm yHeGyV Reps: 100 I think that honesty goes a long way. Some of the concepts that they learn may never be used again. However, knowing how to use it might come in handy in the future. There are many opportunities to relate any concept to real life situations. It may take some time to research, but where there is a will there is a way. Equations are a great example. Students feel that knowing how to solve them is useless. Remind students that equations play a role in our daily lives. Whether we are shopping and have x amount of dollars and we need a specific amount of items. How can we solve this? Votes: +3 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution uJabaz Reps: 100 Excellent suggestion!   Posted on: February 26, 2015 9:23 pm Add a Comment                 Solution 7 Posted February 21, 2015 11:48 pm ajybus Reps: 90 A effective way to relate classwork to real life problems and situations is to make the classwork not seem like classwork but a real life situations they are involved with. In order to create a simulation that demonstrates the concept being taught as a real life problem an activity needs to be constructed that involves the students using real life manipulatives. If you are learning about economics bring in monopoly money and have each student create a business to simulate the transfer of money, if you are learning about identifying the story elements of a story have students identify a situation that happened in their life and have them identify the story elements and act them out in a readers theater. Students learn best when they are actively involved in an activity. Votes: +3 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 8 Posted February 23, 2015 5:23 pm HeraPy Reps: 100 Remember to be prepared for this question from students so you are not caught off guard when they ask. I find myself unable to think of certain scenarios when asked randomly, it is always better to be prepared and plan ahead. Votes: +2 / -1 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 9 Posted March 12, 2015 4:03 pm myqydy Reps: 102 Start a "Real - World" Board. On this board put examples of how you use skills you are working on in the real world today. Recipe cards, menus, resumes, ect... Even encourage students to bring in things they find along the way! Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 10 Posted October 4, 2015 7:51 pm Kayla Campbell Reps: 105 As many others mentioned, relating classwork to real life can definitely make it more effective. Do research while planning lessons, know your students and what will benefit them. I teach high school ESE students, I have to integrate life skills/work skills into almost every lesson in order to make it beneficial to them. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 11 Posted October 4, 2015 8:32 pm Alyssa McGee Reps: 101 Restrict a question limit for these students. Make a light hearted game out of it so the student doesn't feel angry about their restriction of questions. And for these specific questions make it an assignment for the students to either prove me wrong how they will not need this information and I will provide them with the information on how and why they do. They can collaborate together to present their case to me and I will do the same. A reward will be given to the winner. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 12 Posted March 2, 2015 4:05 am JuMaPa Reps: 100 So you can teach it to your kids, who will also have to endure this :) it may or may not help to let them know you had to learn oodles of useless stuff yourself. Votes: +1 / -1 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Alyssa McGee Reps: 101 This solution really doesn't encourage them to keep working on useless stuff although it may be honest it isn't exactly helpful in a learning environment.   Posted on: October 4, 2015 8:33 pm Add a Comment                 Solution 13 Posted February 22, 2015 2:16 am aHemaV Reps: 100 Being practical in your teaching is extremely important. The previous posts have offered excellent tips but just be sure to understand that while teaching practical skills is important, it doesn't always happen. With the standards changing the way they are, just realize that occasionally you're going to get an odd one. Now, this probably won't happen too often, but just don't beat yourself up if it does. Votes: +1 / -2 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 14 Posted February 27, 2015 5:57 pm eQyvyT Reps: 102 For the majority of students this may be true, however, explain to the student that he or she is too young to limit their possibilities. The brain is still growing. I would try to present problems in class that will require the content knowledge to solve, let the students attempt to solve it on their own, then introduce the content and allow the students to solve it. Connect this to a big picture scenario that they can feel excited about or interested in. Votes: +1 / -2 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.