Workplace math courses

Workplace Math Courses:

Today in class, we talked about the grade 11 and 12 workplace math courses. I had the pleasure of doing my leading activity presentation and I was very happy to do it for these courses. It allowed me to read the curriculum more closely, and I learned that I would love to teach these courses. It is a course which finally teaches the students how to do very needed activities, such a taxes, measuring things, and how mortgages and other essential parts of life work. Essentially, all the things I wish I learned in high school, but am just now facing without any knowledge. Luckily, my mom is able to teach me all of these things as I face them, but I know not everyone will have that same advantage, so learning them in school is perfect. To me, this is what all students should have to learn before graduating.

For my activity, I had students measuring different household objects, in both the imperial and metric system. I think this is a very important skill to have, as many careers use both. For example, the carpentry business still uses the imperial system, but some bigger companies are forced to write plans and such in the metric system. Or, some plumbing companies use the metric system, but need convert to the imperial system to order materials from the states. As well, I have witnessed many people in my family who cannot convert mL to ounces and vice versa. This is not good, as many recipes use one or the other.

I also think this lesson would be useful, as it allows students the opportunity to practice measuring things. Unless you grew up in a household where this was a common thing (I live in a carpenters house), then even using a measuring tape can be a foreign activity, where the lines are gibberish to you.

All in all, I would love to one day teach the grade 11 and 12 workplace math courses!
What are your thoughts?
Should these courses be mandatory for all students?
Do you have any really cool activities or ideas for these courses?
Let me know,
Miss Sydor