Week of May 26

Hi everyone,

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful Memorial Day weekend. This will be the final blog post for this school year. Here is what I have planned for this week:

Computers 2
On Tuesday, students will take a quiz over what they have learned using Code Academy. Students not yet finished with the lessons will have time to complete them. Wednesday and Thursday we will review for the final exam. For the final, students will be required to create a PowerPoint using the skills they have learned this semester.

Business Concepts
The exam in business concepts is comprised of test questions from chapter tests. All questions are matching, multiple choice, and true/false.

On Tuesday, I will hand back all chapter tests and students will correct them in class. These will be used as study guides for the exam. All chapter tests MUST be returned to me before the final exam. Any student not returning chapter tests to me will have his/her exam grade reduced by 50%.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we will be playing review games.

I think that's it for this week. Good luck on exams and have a great summer!

MD

Week of May 18

Hi everyone,

I apologize for the missed post last week. Here is what I have planned for this week:

Computers 2
Students will be completing lessons using the website Code Academy. They will learn the basics of HTML coding to create webpages.

Business Concepts
We will continue chapter 8 this week, over saving and investing. Students will take part in a contest using a stock market simulation website. They will be given $1000 to invest. The student in each class who earns the most money by 5/27 will receive a prize.

There should be no outside homework this week. We will be taking a test over the chapter on Friday and I will also collect notes that day.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one!

MD

Week of May 4

Hi everyone,

The last full week for seniors. I will be passing out chapter tests and study guides for seniors to use to prepare for their final exams on Monday, May 11. Otherwise, it's business as usual. Here is what I have planned:

Computers 2
Students will be creating a website using Weebly. The site will be a "fan club" page for a celebrity of their choice.

Business Concepts
On Monday, we will finish up chapter 7 notes. Students will compare offers from several different credit card companies. On Tuesday, we will review the chapter. On Wednesday, students will take a test over the chapter and I will collect chapter notes. On Thursday and Friday, students will work on  "end of semester" PowerPoints summarizing what they have learned in class to help them in the real world. I know it's not the end of the semester for most students, but everyone can still summarize what they have learned up to this point.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one!

MD

Week of April 26

Hi everyone,

It's hard to believe it's the last week of April already, but here is what I have planned:

Computers 2
Some groups are finishing up their Kizoa videos at the beginning of this week. For the rest of the week, students will work on writing essays on the topic: "Is social media good for society?" Students will then use the website Voki.com to create an avatar. Students will record themselves reading the essays, which the avatar will then appear to be reciting.

Business Concepts
This week we will start a chapter on credit. We will complete activities in class including calculating loan interest, examining credit card statements, and learning about student loan debt. Study guides 7.1 and 7.2 will be due on Thursday.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one.

MD

Week of April 20

Hi everyone,

Here is what I have planned for this week:

Computers 2
Students will work in groups to create videos using the website Kizoa. The videos will be 1.5 to 2 minutes in length to raise awareness about various causes. Groups will pick their own topics.

Business Concepts
We will continue working on the checking packets this week. The earliest the packets will be due is this Thursday. If I don't feel that is enough time for students to finish, I will push the due date back to next Monday. I'm going to play it by ear. We will continue working on them in class each day. I'm planning on having a test over this chapter next week.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one.

MD

Week of April 13

Hi everyone,

Finally, a normal week. I'm sure the students are as happy as I am to be finished with testing for the year. Here is what I have planned for this week:

Computers 2
Students will continue to use the website Canva. They will finish the website tutorials started last week and begin creating advertisements for a business of their choice.

Business Concepts
We will go over the reading guides completed last week. These will be used for the notes and the study guides for this chapter. Students will be completing checking packets provided by First National Bank. Packets will be completed in class and cannot be taken home. Finished packets are worth 150 points (equivalent to three tests). Students will also receive participation points for working in class. Each day, both a pencil and a pen (blue or black) needs to be brought to class while we are working on the packets. We will work on these this week and next week. A due date has not yet been set.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one!

MD

Week of April 6

Hi everyone,

I hope you all enjoyed spring break. We are now in the final stretch before summer break. This week is going to be a bit different. Because I teach in the largest computer lab in the school, my room will be used for testing this week.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I will be proctoring the Aspire test for freshmen and sophomores in my room. My students will sit in the gym on these days with a substitute. On Thursday, I will be proctoring the test at the junior high, but students will be able to use my room. On Friday, I will be out for a doctor's appointment. Here is what I have planned for Thursday and Friday with the substitute:

Computers 2
Students will be using a website called Canva to make a variety of publications. This week they will be completing tutorials to see exactly how the program works.

Business Concepts
On Thursday and Friday students will use the textbooks to complete a reading guide for chapter 6 over checking accounts. This reading guide will be their notes and study guides for this chapter. These study guides will be due at the end of the hour on Friday.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one!

MD

Week of March 30

Hi everyone,

A short week ahead thanks to spring break. Here is what I have planned:

Computers 2
On Monday, students will be finishing their Audacity project. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will watch episodes of Brain Games, a National Geographic show about perception.

Business Concepts
On Monday, we will finish the notes for chapter 5 over budgeting. Students will begin completing budgets for their lives after high school. On Tuesday, chapter study guides will be due at the beginning of the hour and we will review for the test. On Wednesday, students will take a test over the chapter and I will collect notes.

I think that's it for this week. Have a great spring break!

MD

Week of March 23

Hi everyone,

We have made it to spring and to 4th quarter. For seniors especially, the end is in sight. Here is what I have planned for this week:

Computers 2
Students will be finishing up their business marketing campaigns in Publisher this week and starting a a new project using a program called Audacity. This program lets you import music clips and edit them. Students will be creating song mash-ups using mp3 files.

Business Concepts
On Monday, we will review chapter 4 over taxes. On Tuesday, students will take a test over the chapter and I will collect notes. On Wednesday, I will be setting up for the school play all day and students will get to watch an episode of Shark Tank. On Thursday, we will begin chapter 5 over budgeting.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one!

MD

Week of March 16

Hi everyone,

Here is what I have planned for this week:

Computers 2
Students will be creating a marketing campaign for a business that they create. They will be making business cards, gift certificates, flyers, and catalogs in Publisher. They will receive participation points for working in class.No outside homework.

Business Concepts
On Monday, students will be introduced to the 1040EZ and will fill out several example forms using W2s and 1099s. Later in the week we will discuss other types of taxes as well as what they provide for citizens. Chapter 4 study guides will be due at the end of the hour on Friday.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one!

MD

Week of March 9

Hi everyone,

I apologize for missing the blog post last week. I was waiting to see if we were going to have a snow day on Monday and then I completely forgot to make a post.

Here is what I have planned for the upcoming week:

Computers 2
Students will be introduced to Microsoft Publisher this week. We will start out creating a newsletter together and later in the week students will create newsletters on topics of their choice. Later in the week I will also be showing the presentations that students worked so hard on the past couple of weeks. I should have all presentations graded by Friday.

Business Concepts
On Monday, we will review chapter 3 over jobs and careers. On Tuesday, students will take a test over the chapter and I will collect notes. On Wednesday, students will watch an episode of Shark Tank as I will be absent. On Thursday and Friday, we will start chapter 4 over taxes. There should be no outside homework.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one.

MD

Week of February 23

Hi everyone,

Hopefully this week we are back to normal. I know I have had my fill of snow days for the year! Here is what I have planned for this week:

Computers 2
Students will be working on their independent PowerPoint projects all week. They will receive participation points for staying on task and working all hour.

Business Concepts
We started chapter 3 last Friday, over careers and job searching. This week we will continue the chapter. Students will explore career options and pick two careers to research. After gathering information, each student will pick one of the two careers and write a short essay. All of this work will be done in class. There should be no outside homework.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one!

MD

Week of February 16

Hi everyone,

I hope you have all enjoyed the extra-long weekend. Here is what I have planned for the three days left in this week:

Computers 2
On Wednesday, students will do one final PowerPoint using information from the book. On Thursday and Friday, students will begin working on the final PowerPoint project for this class. It is worth 100+ points and will take a couple of weeks to finish. The presentation is on a topic of the student's choice.

Business Concepts
We will start chapter 3 this week, over careers and job searches. This week, student will begin to research two careers of interest to them after high school. They will write a short paragraph about one of these two careers. There should be no outside homework this week.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one!

MD

Week of February 9

Hi everyone,

Students have an early dismissal on Friday at 11:45 this week. Here is what I have planned:

Computers 2
Students will continue using video, audio, and special effects to create PowerPoints.

Business Concepts
On Monday, students will finish their PowerPoints about identity theft. On Tuesday and Wednesday, they will watch a movie called Scammed. On Thursday, students will do an online activity about consumer protection. This activity requires everyone to bring a pair of earbuds to class. Earbuds may also be purchased from me for $2 a pair.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one!

MD

Week of February 2

Hi everyone,

It's hard to believe it's the first week of February already. Here is what I have planned:

Computers 2
On Monday, we will review concepts and techniques learned in the second PowerPoint chapter. On Tuesday, students will take a test over the chapter. The remainder of the week we will begin project 3 in PowerPoint together. Students really enjoy this chapter as we begin to incorporate audio clips and videos into PowerPoint as well as use animations. There will be no outside homework this week.

Business Concepts
On Monday and Tuesday, we will discuss common consumer problems. Students will use the website of the attorney general of Illinois to find information about these problems and make posters explaining them. On Wednesday, we will review chapter 2 and on Thursday, students will take a test over the chapter. I will also collect notes that day. On Friday, students will begin creating PowerPoints about identity theft. They will also work on these next Monday.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one.

MD

Week of January 26

Hi everyone,

Another four-day week ahead with parent-teacher conferences from 8-3 on Friday. I'm looking forward to meeting those of you who are able to stop in. If you aren't able to stop by and have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at mdunn@vandals.k12.il.us.

Here is what I have planned for this week:

Computers 2
Students will continue creating PowerPoints using the new skills and techniques in chapter 2. No test or outside homework this week.

Business Concepts
We will continue chapter 2 this week. Students are creating presentations using the Prezi website and later in the week they will create posters explaining common consumer complaints. Study guides 2.1 and 2.2 will be due at the beginning of the hour on Wednesday.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one.

MD

Week of January 19

Hi everyone,

A four-day week ahead of us. Here is what I have planned:

Computers 2
We will start the second project in PowerPoint this week. This chapter adds new techniques to customize a presentation including picture effects, backgrounds, and the use of shapes in design. There will be no outside work this week.

Business Concepts
On Tuesday, we will review chapter 1. On Wednesday, we will take a test over the chapter and I will grade chapter notes. On Thursday and Friday, we will begin chapter 2, over consumer protection. Students will learn about how to complain about products that are unsatisfactory and ways the government helps to keep business from being unfair to consumers. There will be no outside homework from chapter 2 this week.

I apologize that I have not added grades for my Business Concepts classes to Teacherease. By the end of today, I will have all papers graded and in the program. All graded work will be returned to students tomorrow. Students will also be shown their quarter grades thus far.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one.

MD

Week of January 12

Hi everyone,

We made it through the first week of second semester. By the end of the week everyone seemed exhausted, myself included. Hopefully everything will soon start to seem more routine after two weeks off school. Here is what I have planned for the week:

Computers 2
Students will continue to create basic PowerPoint presentations using clip art and transitions. On Thursday, we will review the first chapter and on Friday we will take a test. There will be no outside homework other than studying the review guide for the test.

Business Concepts
This week we will continue chapter 1, including different types of economic systems in the world and the concepts of supply and demand. On Tuesday, 1.1 and 1.2 study guides will be due at the beginning of class. On Friday, 1.3 and 1.4 study guides will be due at the beginning of class.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one.

MD

Week of January 5

Hi everyone,

Welcome to my classroom blog, if it's your first time visiting this year. I only have semester-length classes, so I will be seeing a lot of new faces on Tuesday. This semester I will be teaching Computers 2 and Business Concepts. I usually update the blog on Saturday or Sunday with information about the upcoming week. This week's post will have a short description of each class as well as the schedule for the first week.

On Tuesday, students will be participating in the all-school volleyball tournament. As a result, I will not see those classes. My morning classes will be doing some fun icebreaker activities to learn more about their classmates. On Wednesday, I will hand out a syllabus in each class and go over the expectations for the semester.
 
Computers 2
This class covers both Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Publisher. Students will learn the basics of PowerPoint, including sounds, animations, and timings during the first quarter. Publisher will be introduced during the second quarter when students create flyers, brochures, and newsletters. The class is one semester in length and is an elective. There will not be work to take home for this class, as it is all completed in the computer lab. However, students will be responsible for studying for tests. Attendance is also very important because all work must be done in class.

On Thursday and Friday this week, we will start with the first chapter in PowerPoint, working through the activity as a class.

Business Concepts
This class is considered a consumer education credit. Students will learn about real-life scenarios, such as finding a job, making smart buying decisions, filing taxes, using a checkbook, using credit cards, etc. The class is one semester in length and is a graduation requirement.

On Thursday, students will take and grade a pre-test to find out what they know before beginning the class.

On Friday, we will start chapter one, which covers consumers and their role in the economy. Students will take notes and watch a short video. There will be no outside homework for this week.

I think that's it for this week. Have a good one.

MD