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  Case: Why do I need to learn this?
After coming up to the board to complete a sample problem, a student in your middle school algebra class becomes frustrated when she cannot solve the problem. In her frustration she remarks "Why do I have to learn this stuff, I'm never going to use it anyways!" After giving her several every day scenarios that require the use of algebra she is still not convinced and refuses to do her work. Now other students are complaining about the same issue and classroom participating is declining as well as student grades. How do you resolve this issue?
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
I don't have any solutions for the student at hand. But I do have some advice for you. I know as a student struggling in math my whole life I hated math and never felt like the teachers understood me. After watching this video my mind was blown, this is a must see for math teachers.
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_meyer_math_curriculum_makeover