Tips for Using Contemporary's GED Mathematics in the Classroom

Particularly with the addition of the Casio fx-260 calculator in 2002, the GED Mathematics Test continues to be the one that causes the most concern among GED students and, therefore, their instructors. Contemporary’s GED Mathematics addresses this concern. It was developed with those qualities that directly answer the needs of the GED student:

• An incremental approach within chapters to lead students slowly yet steadily to skill achievement
• An emphasis on word problems to focus attention on the area in which most students need work but fear the most
• Explicit instruction on using the Casio fx-260 calculator
• A friendly, helpful instructional tone to aid in comprehension and to ease student tension

What's in Contemporary's GED Mathematics?

The book begins with an introduction called "To the Student" that contains general information about the GED Test and instructions on how to use the book. You may use this introduction and the test tips it includes to ease students into your class. If you intend for students to study or even just read sections of lessons independently, you'll want to go over the section "How to Use This Book" with the class.

The Pretest on pages 1–12 consists of 65 questions and is divided into three parts. Each part contains a combination of multiple-choice and short answer problems dealing with one of the following content areas–number operations, data analysis, statistics and probability; measurement and geometry; or algebra. The Pretest can be self-administered and self-checked by the student. However, if at all possible try to discuss each student's answers with the student. Ask why the student answered the way he or she did. Use the Evaluation Chart at the end of the Pretest to create a lesson plan based on each student's needs.

The eleven instructional chapters are derived from the primary content areas on the GED Mathematics Test:

• Chapter 1: Whole Numbers
• Chapter 2: Word Problems
• Chapter 3: Decimals
• Chapter 4: Fractions
• Chapter 5: Ratio and Proportion
• Chapter 6: Percent
• Chapter 7: Measurement
• Chapter 8: Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
• Chapter 9: Basic Geometry
• Chapter 10: The Basics of Algebra
• Chapter 11: Advanced Topics in Algebra and Geometry

Each chapter follows the same format—instruction in key skills followed by a variety of practice exercises. In addition, the book contains a number of features designed to make the task of test preparation easier and more effective:

• Alternate format questions using the number grid and the coordinate plane grid are practiced throughout the book. (See pages 45 and 46 in Chapter 1, Whole Numbers, for an example.)
• Throughout the lessons, step-by-step explanations for calculator use make it easy to understand how to work the examples with the Casio fx-260 calculator. (See page 156 in Chapter 6, Percent, for an example.)
• Math Tips throughout the book offer useful hints in areas that can sometimes be troublesome. (See page 237 in Chapter 9, Basic Geometry, for an example.)
• Math Rules are explained in simple language and are contained in highlighted boxes to make them easy to find. (See page 172 in Chapter 6, Percent, for an example.)
• Each Chapter Review is divided into Part I (with calculator) and Part II (without calculator) like the actual GED Mathematics Test.
• The Formulas page (page 439) contains all the formulas that will be provided on the GED Mathematics Test.
• The Using a Calculator page (page 440) gives a quick review of calculations with the Casio fx-260.

The Chapter Reviews may be used for reinforcement as each chapter is completed, as a warm-up for the Posttest, or as a review between the Posttest and the Practice Test. The Evaluation Chart at the end of each test will help you determine which content areas the student needs to review. The Posttest and Practice Test are similar in format and content to the actual GED Mathematics Test.

Suggested Teaching/Learning Activities

Following are ideas for teaching particular math concepts and skills:

• If several of your students are not fluent in the basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts, have them work in pairs with flashcards. Or have individual students work with calculators. A student should try to answer a basic fact such as 3 + 9 before pressing the equal-sign button.
• Have students write their own word problems–perhaps stemming from situations in their own lives. Students can exchange papers and work each other’s problems.
• Create a file of practical, real-world information that students can use to solve problems on their own. For example:



• stock market reports for work with fractions
• current interest rates for savings accounts, NOW checking accounts, CDs, treasury bonds, and so on, for work with percents, decimals, and fractions
• telephone rates for work with decimals
• sports statistics for work with percentages (winning percentages), ratios (batting averages), averages (bowling averages), and so on
• grocery receipts for work with rounding


• Stress the importance of visualizing a word problem. Demonstrate how to diagram the information in a problem to help understand and solve it. You might want to have students select which of several diagrams correctly represents a word problem.
• If students have difficulty with a particular word problem because of the size of the numbers involved, suggest that they substitute very low, “manageable” numbers (such as 2 or 10) for the large numbers and then try to figure out the setup of the problem.
• Have students work on word problems in small groups or pairs. Ask them to list the steps needed to solve each problem.
• When solving word problems, students may sometimes use calculators to concentrate on the correct understanding and setup of a problem and eliminate the emphasis on computation.
• Give students sets of data and have them make bar graphs, line graphs, circle graphs, and pictographs from them. You may also want students to make up math questions about their graphs, exchange papers, and answer each other’s questions.
• Be sure students try to solve the problems in the practice exercises before they read the answers and explanations.
• For review, have students routinely go back one of two lessons, cover their answers to the practice exercises, and work the problems again.
• At most only one or two advanced algebra problems that appear on the test. You may want to skip over this difficult content matter (Chapter 11) with those of your students who are having problems with algebra.
• Assign the reproducible activity sheets in Contemporary's GED Instructor Resource Binder if students are having problems in these particular areas:



• fluency in the basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts
• fluency in adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing whole numbers, decimals, fractions, or integers
• rounding
• visualizing word problems
• choosing the information needed to solve a word problem
• identifying the operation(s) needed to solve a word problem
• identifying the setup of word problems
• setting up word problems themselves
• setting up percent problems
• solving basic algebraic equations
• using the alternate format grids
• using the Casio fx-260 calculator