Developing Skills with Tables and Graphs. (Blackline Masters). (Spirit Masters) by Elaine C.MurphyReview by: Dale G. JungstThe Arithmetic Teacher, Vol. 30, No. 3 (November 1982), p. 59Published by: National Council of Teachers of MathematicsStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41190525 .

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Reviewing and '7iccoing

New Books for Pupils Edited by Dale G. Jungst Northern Illinois University DeKalb, Illinois

Developing Skills with Tables and Graphs. Elaine C. Murphy. 1981, $5.50 ea. (Blackline Masters) or $9.50 ea. (Spirit Mas- ters). Dale Seymour Publications, P.O. Box 10888, Palo Alto, CA 94303.

There are two books, A and B, in this series on developing skills. Each book contains 48 work- sheets that may be duplicated (blackline or spirit masters) and used with students for indi- vidual, small groups or class projects. Book A is designed to be used with students at grade levels 3-5 and Book В at grade levels 6-8.

Book A is separated into seven sections: tallies, tables, picture graphs, bar graphs, intro- ducing circle graphs, introducing line graphs, and review. Each section, except the review section, contains from three to eleven work- sheets. The first worksheet of each section introduces the main concepts included in that section. The other worksheets provide the stu- dents with additional experiences using the concepts already introduced and/or activities for which they must construct their own tables or graphs. The titles for some of the worksheets are: Hairy Results, Exercises, Scary Score, Jolly's Jungle of Junk, and Ernest's Memory Test. Answers for the worksheets are provided in the back of the book.

Book В contains six sections: tables, picture graphs, bar graphs, circle graphs, line graphs, and review. Each section has from two to ten

Prices on books and materials are included with reviews for general information only. Prices change and actual prices may vary from those listed. Please check with the individual publish- ers and producers.

November 1982

worksheets. As in Book A, the first worksheet of each section introduces the main concepts included in that section. The titles for some of the worksheets are. A Marathon Walk, Order- ing Supplies, Light Work or Watt a Life, Rec- ord Recording, U.S. Giants, Cricket Thermom- eters, and Phony Graphs. Answers for the worksheets are provided.

These books are clearly written and illustrat- ed. The teacher who is looking for graphing activities to supplement a basal textbook or to put in an individualized learning center will find many useful activities in these books. - D.G.J.

Exploring the World of Computers. Donald D. Spencer. 1982, 102 pp., $5.95. Cam- elot Publishing Company, P.O. Box 1357, Or- mond Beach, FL 32074.

The title of this small 102-page book accurately describes its contents. The author tells in sim- ple terms and by use of more than 85 photo- graphs and illustrations what a computer is, what it does, and how it works.

To provide the reader with some idea of the book's coverage, the titles of the eleven content sections are included here: A Computerized World, Why Study About Computers?, Com- puter Uses, History of Computers, Types of Computers, How a Computer Works, The Computer Systems, Communicating with the Computer, Can Computers Make Mistakes?, Computer Careers, and The Future. The book also contains a glossary of computer terms.

This book is well written and illustrated in a manner that would communicate well with mid- dle school students. It could be used to help develop general computer literacy. - D.G.J.

Handy Math: Focus on Earning Money and Handy Math: Focus on Managing Money. Originated by Jan Fair. 1981, 56 pp. ea., $6.25 ea. Creative Publi- cations, P.O. Box. 10328, Palo Alto, CA 94303.

These books, two in the Handy Math series which was originated by Jan Fair, are a collec- tion of problems for the general mathematics classes that presents real-world mathematics activities, which may be used by individual students or small groups of students. Each activity page is perforated and designed to be

used with either thermal or photographic type of copies. Answers are printed on each page in light blue.

Each activity page is coded in the upper left- hand corner by listing (1) a major skill area such as decimals, (2) a subskill within a major skill area such as addition and multiplication, and (3) a topic such as wages - piece rate.

The table of contents includes a Topic Table of Contents, which lists the topic and activity as well as the mathematics skills in that activity. Also included is a Skill Table of Contents with the activities and pages listed under major skill areas. The activities can stimulate interest in general mathematics students and provide a new twist to routine lessons. Practical daily situations are presented throughout the books.

The Handy Math Focus on Earning Money book includes real-world activities in which students will have ample practice in computa- tion dealing with whole numbers, fractions, measurement, percents, decimals, graphing, and reading for information. Students will learn how to figure wages, overtime and taxes; com- pute hours worked; fill out a job application; and figure tips and commissions.

A section entitled ' ' Extending the Activities ' '

gives some suggestions for the teacher to go beyond the book to applications outside the classroom. For instance, real forms for job applications and tests, income tax, social secu- rity, and withholding tax can be obtained from the 1RS office or stores. Students holding part- time jobs can bring in a time card or a duplicate so the whole class can experience completing it. Newspapers include job advertisements and will give students an opportunity to compare jobs, duties, rates of pay, and benefits.

The Handy Math Focus on Managing Money book includes activities of studying money management and ways of spending money. Stu- dents will get practice in the four basic opera- tions with decimals with money, in finding percents in computing interest, adding and sub- tracting whole numbers by figuring insurance premiums, and reading and constructing graphs. Major topic areas include budgets, checking accounts, savings accounts, credit, insurance, and investments.

The section entitled ''Extending the Activi- ties" includes suggestions for the teacher to extend the topics of budgets, checking ac-

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