Week of October 28th

Hi everyone,

It's hard to believe we are in the last week of October already. Here is what I have planned for this week:

Computers 1
This week we will start Microsoft Excel. We will walk through the first project together and at the end of the week, students will try a spreadsheet on their own. In the past, I have found that students typically earn higher grades on Excel activities than they did on Word activities.

Business Concepts
On Monday, students will continue creating budgets for themselves, finding housing, a car, and other necessities without spending more than their income allows. Last week, I told students that study guides would be due at the end of the hour on Monday. Instead, they will be due at the beginning of the hour on Tuesday. Depending on how quickly students complete their individual budgets, we will take a test over this chapter on either Wednesday or Thursday. I will also collect notes that day.

Business Law
On Monday, we will finish watching A Civil Action. On Tuesday and Wednesday, students will work on their response essays over the movie. On Thursday, we will start chapter 6, introducing contract law. There should be no outside homework this week.

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

MD

Week of October 21

Hi everyone,

Monday is the first day of the second quarter and everyone gets a fresh start with their grades. We have another four-day week, as well. Here is what I have planned:

Computers 1
We will review on Monday and take a test over Word - Project 3 on Tuesday and Wednesday. The test is being scheduled for two days because most of the students in this class are freshmen and sophomores. These grades will be taking the Explore and PLAN tests on either Tuesday or Wednesday during our class. So, they will take the Word test on the day they are not at their grade-level tests. Juniors and seniors will all take the test on Tuesday and have a study hall on Wednesday. On Thursday, we will do some type of fun activity because I don't want to start Excel right before a three-day weekend.

Business Concepts
On Monday, students will take a test over chapter 4 on taxes. I will also collect notes that day. On Tuesday, we will start a chapter over budgeting. There should be no outside homework this week.

Business Law
On Monday, we will review chapter 5 over civil law. On Tuesday, we will take a test over the chapter and I will also collect notes. On Wednesday, we will start a movie titled A Civil Action about a civil lawsuit in Woburn, MA. After watching the movie, students will write responses essays. There should be no outside homework this week.

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

MD

Week of October 14

Hi everyone,

We've made it to the final week of the first quarter. Here is what I have planned:

Computers 1
Students will continue typing business letters and creating letterheads. They will complete the chapter reading guide which is to be used as a study tool for the chapter test. The test is scheduled for next Tuesday, October 22.

Business Concepts
We will finish the taxes chapter this week. Chapter study guides are due on Wednesday and students will take a test over the chapter on Thursday. I will also collect notes on that day. On Friday, a representative from Land of Lincoln credit union will be coming in to do a budgeting simulation.

Business Law
We will continue the chapter over civil law this week. Students will complete a case brief and watch episodes of People's Court. Chapter study guides will be due on Friday.

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

MD

Week of October 7

Hi everyone,

We have two more weeks left in the first quarter and they are each four-day weeks. Here is what I have planned for the upcoming week:

Computers 1
Students will continue typing letters, including  letterheads and tables. There will be no test this week.

Business Concepts
We will continue covering taxes this week. Students will look at W-2 forms and fill out 1040EZs. There should not be any outside homework.

Business Law
On Monday and Tuesday, students will present their criminal trial projects. On Wednesday, we will start the next chapter, over civil law.

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

MD

Week of September 30

Hi everyone,

Thanks to all the parents who made it to parent/teacher conferences. I enjoyed meeting all of you.

Monday and Tuesday will be the same for all of my classes this week. On Monday, we will review and on Tuesday we will take a chapter test. Computers 1 classes will be testing over research paper formatting, business concepts will be testing over careers and business law will be testing over criminal law. In both business concepts and business law, I will also collect chapter notes on Tuesday. Here is the schedule for the rest of the week:

Computers 1
We will start our last project in Word, over letterheads and business letters. We will work through the first one together starting on Wednesday.

Business Concepts
Study guides for the careers chapter are due on Monday. We will grade them in class so students can use them to study for the test on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we will start a chapter over income taxes. Students will fill out a W-4 form this week and next week we will start filling out 1040EZ forms. There should be no outside homework this week.

Business Law
Students will continue working on their group criminal trials projects. Depending on how quickly they get finished, we may start the presentations on Friday, but if that is not enough time, we will start them at the beginning of next week.

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

MD

Week of September 23

Hi everyone,

I have been grading all day today and should have new grades posted in TeacherEase this evening. If not this evening, definitely before 9 a.m. tomorrow. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled this week on Thursday evening and on Friday afternoon. I hope many of you will have a chance to stop by my room.

Here is what I have planned for this week:

Computers 1
Students will continue typing MLA formatted reports, using correct citation methods. No test this week.

Business Concepts
We will continue the chapter on careers this week. Each student will write a short paragraph about a career that he/she researched and will compare it with values, interests, and abilities. Later in the week, they will fill out Subway applications and learn about proper interviewing behavior. Study guides for this chapter will be due on Monday, September 30.

Business Law
We will continue the chapter on criminal law this week. Students will be put into groups to complete research projects on famous criminal trials. Each group will write a paper, create a PowerPoint, and give a presentation to the class about their famous criminal trial. These presentations will be given sometime next week. Study guides for this chapter will be due on Friday.

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

MD

Week of September 16

Hi everyone,

This week is homecoming week. Along with the assemblies and costumes that are expected, here is what I'm hoping to get accomplished:

Computers 1
We will continue working on the first MLA formatted report together. Then, students will complete a reading guide for the chapter, which will be useful as a study guide when we take a test in a couple of weeks.

Business Concepts
On Monday, we will review chapter 2. On Tuesday, students will take a test and I will collect notes. On Wednesday, we will start chapter 3, over careers and finding a job. Students will research two careers that are of interest and learn about job applications and interviews.

Business Law
On Monday, we will review chapter 3. On Tuesday, students will take a test and I will collect notes. On Wednesday, we will start chapter 4, over criminal law. Students will look at the Illinois Criminal Code and research a famous criminal trial.

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

MD