Hi Alice, I like your approach to finding and using "real life" applications of math as much as is possible. If the students can see the application and relevancy of the math they are learning then they will be much more involved. With your public school experience I know you have many novel and different approaches to teaching math. Use this experience as you identify those manipulatives that will work for adults. Though sometimes it doesn't take much for adults to get into these items even if they are for children. I use Lego kits when I want my students to create a object that they can develop a marketing campaign around. The see the Legos as object that will let them accomplish their task and not as toys even though they are. Gary