The best way to relate classwork to real life problems and solutions is to incorporate projects that show the students how they relate to real life. For example, in math we can use a pie to demonstrate fractions. For science, we can use the "Drops on a Penny" lesson plan to demonstrate surface tension. It helps to get students involved in their learning in a meaningful way that they will remember.

Honestly, I think this is simple. Don't give students unnecessary work and tell them how it relates. We need to learn fractions to decide how much of the pizza everyone gets, we need to learn about history so we know where we come from, and science to help understand what is all around us... This could be really fun to work into your daily lessons.

I would connect the content material to real world examples and preferably those examples that include their interest. For example if the student really likes football, then explain how the laws of physics are applied to increase performance. I would also show students examples of professions and the skills they need to know to do their job well. This should be linked to something relevant to them such as what if their doctor didn't understand measurements and over medicated you.

Like other people have said, honesty goes a long way. Grammar serves a purpose no matter what job you have: writing memos as the VP of a large corporation, writing emails as a teacher, or reading books as an editor. If there isn't a realistic and probable real-life application for whatever subject matter you are teaching, either find one (because it's probably out there) or be honest about it.

A effective way to relate classwork to real life problems and situations is to make the classwork not seem like classwork but a real life situations they are involved with. In order to create a simulation that demonstrates the concept being taught as a real life problem an activity needs to be constructed that involves the students using real life manipulatives. If you are learning about economics bring in monopoly money and have each student create a business to simulate the transfer of money, if you are learning about identifying the story elements of a story have students identify a situation that happened in their life and have them identify the story elements and act them out in a readers theater. Students learn best when they are actively involved in an activity.

I think that honesty goes a long way. Some of the concepts that they learn may never be used again. However, knowing how to use it might come in handy in the future. There are many opportunities to relate any concept to real life situations. It may take some time to research, but where there is a will there is a way. Equations are a great example. Students feel that knowing how to solve them is useless. Remind students that equations play a role in our daily lives. Whether we are shopping and have x amount of dollars and we need a specific amount of items. How can we solve this?

A effective way to relate classwork to real life problems and situations is to make the classwork not seem like classwork but a real life situations they are involved with. In order to create a simulation that demonstrates the concept being taught as a real life problem an activity needs to be constructed that involves the students using real life manipulatives. If you are learning about economics bring in monopoly money and have each student create a business to simulate the transfer of money, if you are learning about identifying the story elements of a story have students identify a situation that happened in their life and have them identify the story elements and act them out in a readers theater. Students learn best when they are actively involved in an activity.

Remember to be prepared for this question from students so you are not caught off guard when they ask. I find myself unable to think of certain scenarios when asked randomly, it is always better to be prepared and plan ahead.

Start a "Real - World" Board. On this board put examples of how you use skills you are working on in the real world today. Recipe cards, menus, resumes, ect... Even encourage students to bring in things they find along the way!

As many others mentioned, relating classwork to real life can definitely make it more effective. Do research while planning lessons, know your students and what will benefit them. I teach high school ESE students, I have to integrate life skills/work skills into almost every lesson in order to make it beneficial to them.

Restrict a question limit for these students. Make a light hearted game out of it so the student doesn't feel angry about their restriction of questions. And for these specific questions make it an assignment for the students to either prove me wrong how they will not need this information and I will provide them with the information on how and why they do. They can collaborate together to present their case to me and I will do the same. A reward will be given to the winner.

Being practical in your teaching is extremely important. The previous posts have offered excellent tips but just be sure to understand that while teaching practical skills is important, it doesn't always happen. With the standards changing the way they are, just realize that occasionally you're going to get an odd one. Now, this probably won't happen too often, but just don't beat yourself up if it does.

For the majority of students this may be true, however, explain to the student that he or she is too young to limit their possibilities. The brain is still growing. I would try to present problems in class that will require the content knowledge to solve, let the students attempt to solve it on their own, then introduce the content and allow the students to solve it. Connect this to a big picture scenario that they can feel excited about or interested in.

So you can teach it to your kids, who will also have to endure this :) it may or may not help to let them know you had to learn oodles of useless stuff yourself.