MIA Projects!

I am still waiting for a handful of students to turn in their Core Democratic Values project.  This was assigned on February 17 with a due date of February 24.  This is considered a "Test/Quiz/Project" grade, so it is in the "60% bucket".  Please check Infinite Campus for your child's grade, and if there is a big "M" for Missing, please encourage your child to complete this assignment.

 It must be turned in by Monday, March 3; this is the end of the marking period.

Thanks,
Cathy

Economics, Possible Homework, Making up CDV test, and other "stuff"

Yes, you read the title correctly; we have started a unit on Economics!  Obviously it won't be too deep or philosophical, but we will be discussing economic terms and doing a little bit of application.  Mr. Clover kicked off the unit yesterday by going over a few terms, encouraging the kids to draw small pictures in the margins to help them remember the meanings.

Today, we watched clips of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" which is an excellent tool to demonstrate concepts such as "factors of production", scarcity, supply and demand, and competition in the market place.  I have used this movie for the past four years to introduce Economics, and there is a written response as an assignment. There was plenty of time given in class today to complete the written response, but please ask your child if he or she has Social Studies homework tonight. I use the  Gene Wilder version; it seems a little friendlier than the Johnny Depp version.

Thursday and Friday will be CDV test make-up days.  Several kids have already taken the test again, and everyone has had 90% or better.  I asked them what they did differently; most said they studied.

The CDV Project, a PowerPoint presentation, was due Monday, February 24; I am still waiting for several kids to submit that assignment.  The entire week last week was dedicated to completing this project, so kids who are not done are going to need to make arrangements to get computer time.  This project will go into the "Test/Quiz/Project" column, so it is imperative that your child complete this assignment by Friday, February 28.

Thanks,
Cathy

CDV Test; Feast or Famine

Today we took the test over the 10 Core Democratic Values we spent immersed in last week.  The test date was on the board all week, there was information in the blog, and I think I sent home an e-mail,too.

Test results covered the range from +0 to +10.  I told the kids they had to have an 80% (B-) to pass because there were only 10 questions on the test.  There was also a word bank, so all the information was at their fingertips.

Tomorrow, those who did not receive an 80% or higher will be getting a worksheet that will need to be completed as a "ticket" to re-take the test.  I know re-taking a test is not an exciting activity, but it must be done.  The grade I record at the end of the re-test cycle will be the highest grade your child receives; grades will not be averaged, and if, by some cruel twist of fate, a lower score is earned, the higher score will be the final grade.

The marking period ends next Monday, so it is imperative that the re-testing be completed by Friday, February 28.

Thanks,
Cathy

Here is a link to Quizlet; it would be a great way to practice the CDVs..  To get to my account, put the following in search bar on the Quizlet page:   MrsCWood

http://quizlet.com/

CDV Test Monday, February 24

Greetings,

The test over Core Democratic Values will be Monday, February 24. The test consists of 10 terms which the kids have been working with all week.  I posted the list of words and definitions earlier this week.  I also have a Quizlet test at the link below.  Search MrsCWood to find the CDV quiz.

Thanks,
Cathy

http://quizlet.com/

Test Reminder

Greetings,

We will be having a test over the Core Democratic Values on Monday, February 24. We have been working with the CDVs all week as the kids create their presentations.  I posted a list of the definitions on Tuesday, so if you scroll down you will find them.  The test is a "Fill in the Blank" test with a word bank, so if your child reads over the definitions a few times over the weekend, they should do well on the test.

Thanks,
Cathy

Core Democratic Values Definitions

Below are the CDV definitions.  This is basically the test :)

Core Democratic Values

Definitions

Common Good: when all people work for the good of all; the government makes laws that are good for everyone.

Diversity:  Difference in language, dress, food, where ones’ ancestors were born, one’s religion and race are accepted as important.

Equality: Everyone should be treated the same regardless of where their parents or grandparents were born, their race, religion, or wealth.

Justice: The idea that all people should be treated fairly, that no one person or group should be favored.

Patriotism: Devotion to one’s country and its core democratic values in words and deeds.

Popular Sovereignty: The idea that government comes from the people.

Pursuit of Happiness: The right to find happiness in your own way as long as it does not impact on the rights of another.

Life: Each person has the right to the protection of his or her life.

Liberty: The freedom to believe what you want, to choose your own friends, to have your own ideas and opinions, and to be able to express those ideas in public.

Truth: Citizens can demand that the government refrain from lying and offer full disclosure.

Core Democatic Values

We started working on a Core Democratic Values presentation on Monday.  We will continue to work on this assignment until Friday, and the assignment will be due on Monday, February 24.  The presentation is requires the kids to include the "book definition" of each CDV, the definition in their own words, a real life example of the CDV, and a picture to represent the CDV.  We are using chromebooks, and the kids will turn in their work to me electronically.  Technically, all presentations should be completed by the end of class on Friday; we will not have compters in the classroom on Monday.

On Monday, February 24, the kids will be taking a test on the Core Democratic Values.  The test will be based on the definitions the kids have been using to create their presentations, but I will include links to the definitions in a separate posting (I'm not at my "teacher computer" right now).

Thanks,
Cathy

Core Democratic Values

Greetings,

Today we started discussing Core Democratic Values, and Mr. Clover lead the discussion.  We will be spending about two weeks on this subject, with a project and a test.  More information will follow!

There is no homework tonight unless the kids did not complete their work on Wednesday.

Thanks,
Cathy

Welcome to Mr. Clover, and Possible Homework

Greetings,

Today we welcome Mr. Clover, our student teacher, coming to us from Calvin College.  He was willing to lead the lesson during Seventh Hour; I think he's going to fit in well!

There may be possible homework tonight.  On Friday, the kids started working on pages 3 & 4 in the "Canada" booklet.  Some kids had the assignment completed, but many had not started.  This is due Tuesday, February 4.  The assignment is based on two pages of reading; 136-137.  There is a lot of information packed into those two pages, so reading will need to be done carefully.

Thanks,
Cathy