She has watched DePriest and Chud make math more real-world by incorporating math into learning throughout the day. Lisa Greenwood, mother of fourth-grader Emma, says she has no concerns that her daughter s missing anything in her unconventional math class. Like how much dog food she would need for her puppies how many pounds are in the bag. Class members also run a real store at lunchtime from a table in the front lobby of the school. They sell erasers that look like dollar bills, pens that smell fruity, rulers, and clear plastic balls with reptiles inside.
Students eagerly volunteer to be sales people, giving up their lunch breaks.
The students decide what merchandise to order, and, in the end, how to spend the profits. Raymond suggests they use the money to save mountain gorillas in danger of extinction. Someone else proposes that they could buy school equipment and throw a party. In the meantime, there are sales to be made. In fact, DePriest has made a conscious effort to inform parents through regular newsletters and by sending home thorough descriptions of math units.