This Artifact provides evidence of the following Indicators:

Standard D.4:  Helps all students to understand American civic culture, its underlying ideals, founding political principles and political institutions, and to see themselves as members of a local, state, national, and international civic community.

 Introductory Statement

          Below is a warm up problem that I began class with in Algebra II the day after the presidential election.  It helped students understand mathematically what the percentages actually meant and the constant of variation that occurred.

         This problem is just one example of how a teacher can relate math to current events and the political realities around them.  It helps students realize that math is applicable to real life, and that it is a major factor in the political process.

WARM UP PROBLEM

     If Bush receives 52% of the vote when Kerry receives 46%, what percent of the vote does Kerry get when Bush gets 44%?

 Reflective Statement

       In everything I do as a teacher, I promote freedom of expression and thought, equality, and value of citizenship.  It's not often, though, that the curriculum deals with these issues.  The best way I can do this is through my pedagogy and example.

          One thing I could do more often is give students problems that deal with democratic ideals.  I could use the social studies curriculum and create interesting math problems.