One of the hidden gems of NGPF's free Financial Algebra Course is the 5-Point Practice built into many of our math lessons. This simple format gives students choice, keeps every learner challenged, and gives you a quick read on how confident your class feels. Here's how it works and where to find it.

What is a 5-point practice?

5-Point Practice is a grid of problems on a single math skill, sorted into three levels of difficulty.

• 1-point problems (top row): scaffolded practice
• 2-point problems (middle row): “meeting expectations” questions
• 3-point problems (bottom row): extensions and challenges

Students choose any combination of problems, as long as they earn at least 5 points.

A Closer Look: Compound Interest Formula

Here's the 5-Point Practice from Lesson 7.2: Compound Interest Formula in Unit 7: Types of Credit & Modeling Functions. Students use the compound interest formula to see how balances grow over time. The 1-point problems give students the values to plug in. The 2- and 3-point problems ask them to pull those values out of borrowing scenarios.

There's more than one path to 5 points! Along the way, students see how quickly interest adds up when payments are put off, which is useful to know before they open their first credit card or take out a student loan.

What's so magical about 5-point practice?

• Student choice: Students pick the problems that fit them best and take ownership of their work.
• Built-in formative assessment: Without even grading every answer, you can assess how confident students are based on which problem types they choose
• Every student succeeds: Built-in differentiation, where every student has to try at least one 2- or 3-point problem. Students who move quickly have extension problems to keep them interested.

How can I customize further? 

You can impose your own rules, too. Maybe you make it a 6-point practice or 7-point practice instead. Maybe you assign a different point target to different students to best meet their needs. Use the "extras" as bonus points, because kids are always hungry for bonus points. Because NGPF resources are built on Google Docs, you can always make your own copy (in Google, Microsoft, or whatever else you use) to edit to your liking. 

Where do I find 5-point practice? 

You'll find a 5-Point Practice in the math lessons below. Look for it in the "Practice It" section of each lesson's Student Activity Packet.

Unit 1: Taxes & Fundamentals of Algebra

• 1.1 Fractions & Tax Dollars: Converting Rational Numbers
• 1.5 Graphing a Function: Domain and Range
• 1.7 Piecewise Functions: Writing Equations for Piecewise Functions

Unit 2: Checking & Linear Equations

• 2.4 Writing Linear Equations: Writing a Linear Equation From a Table
• 2.5 Graphing Linear Equations: Graphing Linear Equations Using Slope and Y-Intercept

Unit 3: Saving & Systems of Equations

• 3.2 Graphing Systems of Equations: Graphing Systems of Equations
• 3.4 Manipulating Equations: Solving Literal Equations
• 3.7 Solving by Substitution: Solve Systems by Substitution
• 3.8 Solving by Elimination: Solve Systems by Elimination

Unit 6: Investing Strategies & Exponential Functions

• 6.3 Graphing Exponential Functions: Asymptotes and End Behavior

Unit 7: Types of Credit & Modeling Functions

• 7.2 Compound Interest Formula: Compound Interest Formula

Unit 10: Insurance & Probability

• 10.1 Counting Principles: The Fundamental Counting Principle and Factorial
• 10.4 Compound Probability: Probability Using Set Notation
• 10.6 Conditional Probability: Conditional Probabilities

Answer keys for every 5-Point Practice are in the Lesson Guide for each lesson. You'll need a free NGPF Teacher Account to access them.

Explore More

Looking for more choice-based practice? Some lessons include a Pick-2 or Pick-3 Practice, where students choose two or three problems from a set. You'll find them in Lessons 3.2, 3.3, 9.2, and 10.2.

You'll also find Application problems, a much meatier set of practice problems also provided at three skill levels, for each math lesson. So much math to be done, and through the context of personal finance learning, which makes it more engaging and meaningful for students!

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.