Due tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 1, Honors Students in Periods 1 and 3 and ALL STUDENTS IN PERIOD 5 owe me what was the Extra Credit Assignment from two weeks ago, the California Budget Balancer, including the 500 word summary. To turn this assignment into Extra Credit, learn how to create a Dropbox by reading further below on this blog, create a specific folder for your period, and INVITE me to share in that folder - where you will put your summary file in a Word document.
Non-Honors students may of course earn up to nine pointes Extra Credit by completing this assignment.
In addition, although this opportunity was offered by Mr. Krohn in Period 3, I will award up to nine points Extra Credit for completing either, or both of the FINAL TWO EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES:
1) Write 550 words in a Word or Google Document about why you feel our Government is non-functional. Indicate areas of strength and weaknesses you have learned about during the course of our Semester and explain your perspective. Up to nine extra credit points.
2) Complete a visual presentation (Completely different) from your Final Project - although you could incorporate elements if you chose - of your learning(s) in this course. What are you more aware of and curious about after having "invested" 17 weeks of your high school time in an American Government class? Your presentation should be either in Powerpoint, Prezi, or a Windows Movie Maker file in order that it be most easily reviewed by Mr. Krohn or myself.
These two FINAL EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES are due first-thing the morning of December 12, and no late arrivals will be accepted. Send them via Dropbox and see what happens to your final grade :)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
All Students, Check your Grades ONLINE
All grades have been posted for Periods 1 through 6 and are available online at the School's Main webpage.
It is important for you to understand that grades posted AFTER November 15th ARE PRELIMINARY AND ESTIMATED GRADES ONLY. These assignments HAVE NOT been graded. However, I inserted typical scores you have earned on previous assignments PLUS I allowed full credit for an upcoming Extra Credit assignment that you would OWE me, if you hope to earn the grades indicated.
Most of you now have the minimum information you need in order to plan for your Final Grade. If you insert your current percentage as a whole number for the Final Project, and or Final Exam you can estimate your Final Grade. For instance, if you currently have earned a 75% in class and you hope to keep that grade at the final, you would need to score at least 75% on both the Final Project AND the Final Exam to maintain a 75%. That would be 19 of 25 for the Project and 38 out of 50 on the Final.
If, on the other hand, you are hoping to raise yourself by a letter grade, all you have to do is calculate what the missing points are for an assignment (like 50 points for the Final Exam), ADD that amount to your total points, and divide your estimated score on all remaining work.
The following example may be useful. Say the total number of points for the semester was 400 and you hoped to earn a "B". You would need to score 80% of the 400 points in order to earn the "B" grade. What is 400 x .8?
The answer is 320. You need to accumulate 320 points by the end of the semester in order to earn the "B" grade. What do you do if you're 17 points short? Complete TWO extra credit assignments PRIOR TO THE END OF DEAD WEEK and submit them for up to 18 points. How easy was that?
All American Government Students have 5 EC opportunities you may submit for up to 45 points of credit. Look at the most recent THREE opportunities posted below PLUS consider this for the fourth opportunity:
#4 - Complete a minimum of 30 minutes Internet research on a recent Bill that was PASSED in Congress and Signed by the President. What do you notice about the Bill that made it go all the way through the process AND get approved by the President? Complete a 500 word analysis, including the name of the Bill and the date it was signed into legislation in order to earn up to nine EC points.
Alternatively, you could pick ANY subject related to how the Legislative process works and write up to 500 words on your interpretation of what is, or is not working in this process. You explore, use your Critical Thinking Skills, and summarize what you have learned and present a single sheet of paper to me with your findings. Up to nine points extra credit will surely be coming your way.
#5 - Invest one hour on the QUIA website and accumulate time on the activities. You might learn something new AND earn up to nine points in the process. How cool is that?
Have a nice day.
It is important for you to understand that grades posted AFTER November 15th ARE PRELIMINARY AND ESTIMATED GRADES ONLY. These assignments HAVE NOT been graded. However, I inserted typical scores you have earned on previous assignments PLUS I allowed full credit for an upcoming Extra Credit assignment that you would OWE me, if you hope to earn the grades indicated.
Most of you now have the minimum information you need in order to plan for your Final Grade. If you insert your current percentage as a whole number for the Final Project, and or Final Exam you can estimate your Final Grade. For instance, if you currently have earned a 75% in class and you hope to keep that grade at the final, you would need to score at least 75% on both the Final Project AND the Final Exam to maintain a 75%. That would be 19 of 25 for the Project and 38 out of 50 on the Final.
If, on the other hand, you are hoping to raise yourself by a letter grade, all you have to do is calculate what the missing points are for an assignment (like 50 points for the Final Exam), ADD that amount to your total points, and divide your estimated score on all remaining work.
The following example may be useful. Say the total number of points for the semester was 400 and you hoped to earn a "B". You would need to score 80% of the 400 points in order to earn the "B" grade. What is 400 x .8?
The answer is 320. You need to accumulate 320 points by the end of the semester in order to earn the "B" grade. What do you do if you're 17 points short? Complete TWO extra credit assignments PRIOR TO THE END OF DEAD WEEK and submit them for up to 18 points. How easy was that?
All American Government Students have 5 EC opportunities you may submit for up to 45 points of credit. Look at the most recent THREE opportunities posted below PLUS consider this for the fourth opportunity:
#4 - Complete a minimum of 30 minutes Internet research on a recent Bill that was PASSED in Congress and Signed by the President. What do you notice about the Bill that made it go all the way through the process AND get approved by the President? Complete a 500 word analysis, including the name of the Bill and the date it was signed into legislation in order to earn up to nine EC points.
Alternatively, you could pick ANY subject related to how the Legislative process works and write up to 500 words on your interpretation of what is, or is not working in this process. You explore, use your Critical Thinking Skills, and summarize what you have learned and present a single sheet of paper to me with your findings. Up to nine points extra credit will surely be coming your way.
#5 - Invest one hour on the QUIA website and accumulate time on the activities. You might learn something new AND earn up to nine points in the process. How cool is that?
Have a nice day.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving Extra Credit
Here's the link to a third Extra Credit opportunity, but it must be completed prior to TUESDAY, November 29the!
Take the California Budget Balancer Challenge. Note: I believe this challenge is FLASH based, so some PC's may not load the Orange graph on the right-hand-side. That is not important to the challenge. The thermometer is the image you will need to view as you begin to bring the budget into a more balanced state.
In order to earn up to nine extra credit points, you will need to take a screen shot of your final thermometer image and write a 750 word summary of the critical thinking analysis of how you chose to balance the budget.
I was able to develop a $2 Billion SURPLUS by releasing prisoners, adding substantial taxes to fuel, alcohol and tobacco purchases, and taxing more businesses.
You may also submit the Extra Credit opportunities from last week, but these must be submitted on Monday, November 28th, UNLESS YOU INCLUDE A SCREEN SHOT OF YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS SHOWING A DATE OF SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26 OR 27 IN THE IMAGE. IF THIS IS THE CASE, YOU MAY SUBMIT ANY OF THE THREE CHOICES ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1st.
Enjoy your weekend!
Take the California Budget Balancer Challenge. Note: I believe this challenge is FLASH based, so some PC's may not load the Orange graph on the right-hand-side. That is not important to the challenge. The thermometer is the image you will need to view as you begin to bring the budget into a more balanced state.
In order to earn up to nine extra credit points, you will need to take a screen shot of your final thermometer image and write a 750 word summary of the critical thinking analysis of how you chose to balance the budget.
I was able to develop a $2 Billion SURPLUS by releasing prisoners, adding substantial taxes to fuel, alcohol and tobacco purchases, and taxing more businesses.
Enjoy your weekend!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Extra Credit Weekend for Government Students
This weekend there are TWO (2) Extra Credit opportunities for each period in American Government.
EC #1 - Complete a 750 word (One Page ONLY, but it can be 2-sided) summary of your research and new learning about the OMB, the Office of Management and Budget. Summarize your findings, including the TOTAL budget for 2012.
-or- instead of the OMB, Choose one of the 15 Executive Departments that you WOULD CUT FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. Develop your rationale for eliminating this department, including the savings in the budget, AND an approximation of the number of jobs that will be cut if you trim this department.
Submit your ONE PAGE Word document either by email to teacherhaywood@gmail.com or better yet, create a DROPBOX account by clicking this link - MR.HAYWOOD'S DROPBOX INVITE!
If you choose to create a Dropbox, then create a separate folder titled "yourlastname_period no." like this example - Haywood_Period 5.
Put your extra credit Word file inside that folder and invite me to share that folder. Use coachhaywood@gmail.com to share the folder, NOT teacherhaywood@gmail.com. I will explain why that is on Monday.
EC#2 - Become a Budget Hero by taking the Flash video challenge at this link. Take TWO (2) screenshots of your progress. One about half-way through the challenge, and the other at the end when you obtain your results. Copy-and-paste these two images on to a single page within Word and either email the document to me at teacherhaywood@gmail.com or invite me to view it using your new Dropbox account.
Enjoy your weekend!
EC #1 - Complete a 750 word (One Page ONLY, but it can be 2-sided) summary of your research and new learning about the OMB, the Office of Management and Budget. Summarize your findings, including the TOTAL budget for 2012.
-or- instead of the OMB, Choose one of the 15 Executive Departments that you WOULD CUT FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. Develop your rationale for eliminating this department, including the savings in the budget, AND an approximation of the number of jobs that will be cut if you trim this department.
Submit your ONE PAGE Word document either by email to teacherhaywood@gmail.com or better yet, create a DROPBOX account by clicking this link - MR.HAYWOOD'S DROPBOX INVITE!
Put your extra credit Word file inside that folder and invite me to share that folder. Use coachhaywood@gmail.com to share the folder, NOT teacherhaywood@gmail.com. I will explain why that is on Monday.
EC#2 - Become a Budget Hero by taking the Flash video challenge at this link. Take TWO (2) screenshots of your progress. One about half-way through the challenge, and the other at the end when you obtain your results. Copy-and-paste these two images on to a single page within Word and either email the document to me at teacherhaywood@gmail.com or invite me to view it using your new Dropbox account.
Enjoy your weekend!
Monday, November 14, 2011
American Govt. Final Project due 12/5
The Judicial Branch Final Project for Periods 1, 3, and 5 is available here. Please note the due date is Monday, December 5, with Economic Reasoning Principle Four in place for up to a 10% additional credit to be applied for those who complete it early.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Americans Remember Veteran's Day
On this Veteran's Day Weekend for 2011, citizens across America are commemorating and remembering those who served our country in conflicts across the globe.
Take a moment and review the following websites. I hope you agree it would be a wonderful feeling to receive an electronic note of recognition or thanks if I were a member of our armed forces serving the Nation overseas. Won't you take a few moments to compose a note of thanks?
Most students will need their parent or guardian's permission to post a note online. Please check with your parent/guardian before you select this option.
The website below is affiliated with the Veteran's Wall in Washington D.C.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Govt. Homework Due WEDNESDAY!!
American Government students have Periods 1, 3, and 5 on Wednesday, November 9, and NOT THURSDAY of this week!
Periods 1 and 5 only - your homework is to write a brief reflection of the Top 5 Final Projects components that you enjoy creating. This can be in a simple format of bulleted points, or a narrative if you prefer. Period 3 has an additional piece of HW due for Mr. Krohn - read the bottom of this post for that additional requirement.
Your Final Project will be due Monday, November 28th and will focus on a student-selected Supreme Court Case. Try to select an obscure, or little-known case, yet one that has definite meaning in civil rights or civil liberties.
On Wednesday, Nov. 9 we will work at our tables as individual groups and then as a single group to create the components of the Final Project.
Your first reflection should be your preferred method of presentation. Choose the format you are the most comfortable with, or a new format you are going to challenge yourself with such as Prezi or a video media format you would like to explore - perhaps Animoto.
Reflections 2-5 should include the type of research and other components of a Final Project you prefer. No additional guidance here, you know what you prefer to do and what makes your presentations come alive in the classroom. Write your ideas down and be prepared to discuss on Wednesday.
Periods 1 and 5 only - your homework is to write a brief reflection of the Top 5 Final Projects components that you enjoy creating. This can be in a simple format of bulleted points, or a narrative if you prefer. Period 3 has an additional piece of HW due for Mr. Krohn - read the bottom of this post for that additional requirement.
Your Final Project will be due Monday, November 28th and will focus on a student-selected Supreme Court Case. Try to select an obscure, or little-known case, yet one that has definite meaning in civil rights or civil liberties.
On Wednesday, Nov. 9 we will work at our tables as individual groups and then as a single group to create the components of the Final Project.
Your first reflection should be your preferred method of presentation. Choose the format you are the most comfortable with, or a new format you are going to challenge yourself with such as Prezi or a video media format you would like to explore - perhaps Animoto.
Reflections 2-5 should include the type of research and other components of a Final Project you prefer. No additional guidance here, you know what you prefer to do and what makes your presentations come alive in the classroom. Write your ideas down and be prepared to discuss on Wednesday.
Period 3 Additional Homework
due for Mr. Krohn
Whether you graduate and leave high school this year (2012) or not, you will most likely be 18 and an adult prior to the Holidays in 2012, one year from now.
What is your biggest fear as you consider preparations for recognizing cherished and loved ones during these traditional remembrances with gift giving?
How are you going to address this (these) FEAR (S)? What is your plan? What steps can you be taking today to alleviate those anxieties?
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