Frederick Slack - T&T Mathematics Tutor

Hello fabulous parents and students. Today, I have an observation, and then a question. I have noticed that with how important to be literate it is in our country. The place that schools have really failed us the most is in literacy. Our ability to read, write, and do mathematics as a country is declining at an alarming pace.

What got me into education in the first place was a statistic that said, 20 years ago, 70% of fourth graders cannot read on their level. And, if you cannot read on your level by the fourth grade, it is nearly impossible to catch up. That number has gone up in the intervening years. Instead of 70%, it is now over 80%. This is the failure of the education system.

So, I created Tutors & Teach with Jennifer Krahn. But the question I have is, if you have noticed that there is a real need to learn these skills, what is really holding you back from taking people up on their offers and taking on a tutor? It doesn't necessarily have to be me, I just would really like to know why you haven't hired a tutor yet.

I was in my classroom yesterday and I was talking with my students about money and the new minimum wage in California. $20/hour sounds really good right? Well, if the business owners have to pay everyone more money, where are they going to get that money? 🤔
That's right, they get it by raising their prices on their products. When the price of products go up and our dollars can go to less things, that causes inflation.
I then went through how much the average single person spends in a month on rent, food, gas, energy, water, etc. And came up with $2,256 in the city where they live. I then told them that no employer is going to give them more than 34 hours in a week because if their hours go over 35, then the employer needs to provide health benefits and many small businesses can't do that for their employees due to cashflow. So, you will gross $2,720 before they take out the pesky income tax, social security, etc, thanks IRS.
The conclusion? You will need to do something else if you intend to be independent after school, like a second part-time job or build a business for yourself, there are lots of things you can do on that front. The students seemed thoughtful, at least the ones who paid attention.
What are your thoughts? Is it really a good idea to continue to raise the minimum wage this quickly? After all, is every job getting that 17.65% raise in California? No? Then it just increases the poverty line in a state that already has one of the highest poverty lines in the country. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Understanding Fractions

At its most basic, a fraction is a way to represent a part of a whole. The top number of the fraction, called the numerator, represents how many parts you have. The bottom number, called the denominator, represents how many parts make up the whole.

For example, if you have a pizza that is cut into eight equal slices, and you have three of those slices, you can represent that as a fraction: 3/8. The numerator (3) represents the number of slices you have, and the denominator (8) represents the total number of slices that make up the whole pizza.

It's important to note that fractions can also represent numbers that are greater than one. For example, if you have two whole pizzas and one slice of a third pizza, you can represent that as the mixed number 2 1/3. The whole number (2) represents the number of whole pizzas you have, and the fraction (1/3) represents the one slice of the third pizza.

This is the first in a series of tips and tricks to fractions.

Make Working with Fractions a Breeze: Helpful Tips and Tricks

Working with fractions can be a daunting task for many students. It requires a good understanding of basic arithmetic, and the ability to visualize and manipulate parts of a whole. However, with the right tips and tricks, working with fractions can become a breeze. In this article, we will explore some helpful strategies that can make learning and working with fractions easier and more enjoyable.

One of the best ways to make fractions more concrete and understandable is to use manipulatives. Manipulatives are objects that can be physically manipulated to represent fractions. These can include things like fraction bars, circles, or squares. By using manipulatives, students can visualize fractions and better understand the concept of part versus whole. This can be especially helpful for younger students who may struggle with abstract concepts.

Another helpful strategy for working with fractions is to connect them to real-world situations. For example, using food or recipes to teach fractions can be a fun and engaging way to help students understand the concept. You can also use fractions in sports or game-related activities, such as bowling or basketball, to make the concept more relatable and interesting. By connecting fractions to real-world situations, students can see the practical applications of the concept and better understand its importance