“When will I ever use this?”

Stop right there.  Let us enter the student’s daydream land and consider her two questions.  As you walk down a street, chances are Sir Algebra will not stop and ask someone to solve an equation.  But, let’s walk down that same street together and grab a cup of coffee and a sandwich before continuing on our journey.  We have 10 dollars between the two of us.

Welcome to Algebra.

X comes in many forms.  Chances are, it will not come in the form of this mysterious Sir Algebra.  But in math class, it comes as, well, “X”.  At a coffee shop, it comes as that sandwich you can buy with your remaining money.  As parents, it comes as the alarm clock time you must set, to allow enough time to cook breakfast, drop the kids off at school, and get to work on time.  

Algebra is something we use every day, most of the time without realizing it.  So, why do so many children find Algebra hard to relate to? Because Algebra can be hard to personalize in the classroom.

Give me an X-ample.

Many teachers believe, and education research confirms, that connecting Algebra to a student's interests can help the information become relatable, and in turn, easier to understand.  Once your students begin to see the relevance in their lives, the elusive X becomes easier to comprehend -- it becomes more concrete.  

If we parents and teachers can help them see Algebra's role in everyday life, we will have a better chance of engaging our children and students. An example of this would be to engage students and your children with story problems that deal with social issues your Algebra students face on a daily basis, such as texting friends, seeing a concert, or buying that sandwich at a coffee shop.  

So, the answer to the daydreamers question, “when will I ever use this?” is:

Everyday. Algebra is everywhere.

As parents and teachers, we can work towards making Algebra more relatable.  Integrating Algebra into everyday life becomes easier with practice.  Going to an ice cream shop this weekend?  If you buy an ice cream for $1.50, and are going to spend a maximum of $5.00 in total, which ice creams can your child buy?  Let the ice cream be X.  Have your child decide!  If Sir Algebra comes around the corner inquiring as to what X equals, your child will know the answer.