This is my first blog.

I teach 7th and 8th grade Math in Westchester County, NY. My 7th grade is currently on the topic of surface area and volume of prisims (rectangular and right triangular), cubes, and cylinders. My 8th grade is currently on the topic of consumer math. For example: commission, percent of change, simple interest, discount, mark-up, and tax. My students always ask when they are going to use what they are learning. What information or advice can be given about these topics to make them understand that they are not learning this just because the state thinks it's important for them to know?