Homework for Thursday, May 31

Assignment:  Reflection: Future Family Budget

*The directions really are on the assignment, but here is the intent:
- Show me that you can apply what you learned from imaginary budgets you were restricted to with what your real life might look like one day.  As you think about the limitations you "lived," try to remember when you thought, "I certainly wouldn't spend this much on my vacations!" or "I plan on growing much more of my own food," or "I would take the bus if I had this little money," and so on.  This is intended to be an emotional reaction to the Average American Budget and how you see yourself in relation to that experience.
- There are no right or wrong answers, but your thoughtful answers will indicate how much effort you put into applying what you experienced.
*Your budget should NOT look exactly like the Average American.
*Your budget MUST add up to 100% on page one.
I cannot upload the pie chart I copied onto the worksheet, but here is a copy of the questions.
Due Friday, June 1, or Monday June 4 at the latest!

Homework? Wednesday, May 30

New Assignment?  Nope

However, you should be completing any papers you want to turn in or redo so you can turn them in by THIS Friday!
*Pre-algebra pre-test continues in class Thursday:  fractions, proportions, percentages, probability.
*Retests for the percentage/proportions unit continue; make sure yours is planned!
*Reflective piece for the Finance Park will be assigned on Thursday.

Homework for Tuesday, May 29

Assignment:  Your very own Funny Ha Ha!

*You will know it is correct because it will be funny ... or it will not ... but in either case it will make sense!
*Please do not forget to turn this in:  credit/no credit

Looking ahead, Thursday 5/24

Assignments:  Nothing New

Due Friday, May 25:  Finance Park Books

*We went over in class how to prioritize this huge assignment so as not to sabotage your own points.  Tackle the larger value assignments first and then evaluate what you have left versus losing 10% over the weekend.
Assigned next Tuesday:  Mini Math Assignment, your choice
Wednesday in class:  Non-graded "test" over order of operations, decimals, and negatives.  This is used to assess your readiness for pre-algebra next fall.
Thursday in class:  Non-graded "test" over fractions, ratios, proportions, percents, and conversions.  Ditto above.
Due Friday:  Finance Park Reflections.  This will be available NEXT Tuesday, but it is not due until Friday.  It is your last official Transition Math assignment!   

LAST DAY to turn in Transition Math late and redone assignments is Friday, June 1st.

Homework for Wednesday, 5/23

Nothing new!

Keep working on your Finance Park book assignments.  This should be your priority in math, right now. 
*Double check on the Finance Park tab of this blog that you have ALL of the assignments written into the assignment sheet in the front of your book.
*Turn it in early if you want to.  If I notice anything that you can correct between now and Friday, you will have that option. 
*You will not have time in math class tomorrow beyond the first 15 minutes of class, so this has turned into homework for most of you.  Plan well!
Books are Due Friday, 5/25

Homework for Tuesday, May 22

Assignment:  Student Choice pre-retest
I know it's a busy time for you all, but we do have loose ends we need to wrap up.  Today you should have received something specific to your needs for the retest that will happen in class tomorrow.  Please have someone check over your work if you get stuck; it's important that you remember how to do these types of problems!
*Quizlet is always an option for this assignment.  The categories you can select from are Percents and Proportions (aka verbal expressions), Fractions to Decimals, Decimals, Fractions, Percents, Proportion Applications, and Sven's Proportion Problems.  Tonight we are using the "Learn" option.
DUE WEDNESDAY

Assignments for Monday, May 21

In your book:  the final assignments!

*Partner - in class assignment:  The Price We Pay, pg 46

- this was a fun competition completed in class today.  If you were absent, just complete it for credit ... it's not about getting them correct, it's about having fun guessing!

*Unit 3 Test: pages 80 - 82

- this will be graded IN CLASS on Tuesday, May 22.  This is an open-book, open-parent test and you will be graded on the number you have correct!  This should be a priority tonight; it cannot be handed in late.

*Extra Credit:  Crossword Puzzle, page 117

- You may only get extra credit for this assignment IF you have completed all of your other FP Book assignments and IF you turn in your book on time.  

Finance Park books are due for the final time on Friday, May 25.  

Books will lose 10% per school day that they are turned in late.  Absences DO NOT extend this grace period.  You have all of your assignments in the book now, so be working to complete them at home if necessary.

For tomorrow, May 18

FINANCE PARK FIELD TRIP

*Be in room #1 by 8:00 Friday morning or have notified the office that you are running late or will be absent.  The bus will leave as promptly as possible!
*Bring a sack lunch with your name on it.  Include a beverage if you want one.
*You do not need to bring anything besides your lunch.
-the park provides pencils and calculators
*For the BUS only:  you may bring a book, but leave it on the bus once you arrive.
-you may NOT bring any electronic items (phones, ipods, etc)

Be prepared to live your new life and have fun!
I will see you all up there,
Mo ;)

Assignments for Wednesday, May 16

In your book:  

Cable and Eating Out, page 112

*Pretty straight-forward; most of you will go over on your cable, so be careful when you eat out!

Established Expenses, page 95

*Also straight-forward: you must insure your family and yourself.
*Your savings and charity categories are just guidelines.  These are the only categories where you are not required to be within your minimum/maximum.  Use the money you have left at the end of the month to fulfill these categories, bringing your checkbook balance to $0!

Actual Budget, page 113

*After you add up what you have spent,  bring your checking balance to $0 by dividing that money up in savings and charity (your choice).  You will need to match your NMI to complete this mathematical task.
*Be sure to add up the money you've spent correctly ... check it twice!
*This should be the last step in your so-called life.  Hopefully.  If you've overspent, you are going to have to go back and save somewhere.  Find a category that you spent near you maximum in and redo it.  It's a hard-knock life, eh? 

In class tomorrow:  details about our field trip on Friday!

Assignment for Tuesday, May 15

In your book:  Home Improvement, page 105 - the ORANGE worksheet
*Follow the instructions on the worksheet; we are NOT doing page 105 in the book except to copy the amount you pay per month to the last line.
*Details to keep track of include "spending" enough money, interest charges, taxes, number of different items to buy, paying some in cash, and figuring out the final total to pay each month. 
*Glue your purchases to either the orange sheet or page 105 in your book.
*Complete the line items (cost and number purchased) for each of your items ON the orange worksheet.
*The LAST line, Line 8, on your worksheet is the amount that needs to fall between you minimum and maximum.
*An EXTRA orange worksheet is here for you to use.

Assignment for Monday, 5/14

In your book:  Clothing, page 110

*Make sure you use the sticker I handed out in class to determine what you need to purchase, NOT the categories in the book.  A copy of the sticker is HERE.
*These are the MINIMUM purchases you need to make.  You can always buy more as long as you do not go over budget.  As a matter of fact, if you are a thrifty shopper you may need to buy something else in order to reach your minimum.
*Do not forget that the "anything of your choice" is something you must buy in addition to the other items.
*These are all supposed to be clothing items; make sure you are buying clothing (jewelry, hats, gloves, etc.)
*Your clothes need to fit the intended age rage of your child.  Ask your parents if you are not sure what size your child would wear, but generally infants wear infant size (0-24 months or baby), 2T - 4T covers ages 2 - 4, children are usually covered in a "children" category (sizes 4 - 12 or XS - XL children size), and teens are "teen," also often XS - XL, but in the teen department.
*You must cut out the advertisement, the picture, AND especially the price of your item.  Glue them into your book and let me know on what page your clothing items are pasted.

Update for Friday, May 11

First of all, I cannot stress enough how you all need to follow the directions in the book for these Finance Park assignments.  A lot of the questions you wait to ask me are answerable right there on the assignment page.  Follow the directions.  Subtract where they tell you to subtract, divide by the number they tell you to divide by.  Etc.  If you have a question about a specific assignment (like how to follow the directions) go to the link on the Finance Park Book page of this blog.  Seriously ... I put them there for a reason!  I want you to be able to complete these without having to be in the classroom to ask me.

If you have questions that would benefit everyone and you cannot find the answer, PLEASE ask that question in a comment on this post and I will answer it and/or create a link with the answer.

Assignment in your book:  Entertainment and Recreation, page 111.

Things we changed from what's in your book:
*You may use the internet; activities do not have to be found in the newspaper.
*Whether you are single or married, if you have children you must spend an evening out and hire a babysitter.
*Eating out for the purpose of this page IS different from the Cable and Eating Out page.
*DETAILS must be included: cost of each ticket, where specifically you are going, how many people you are buying for (and individual costs), etc.  If you eat out, tell me the menu items you chose and how much they are.  Use the menus available on the internet (or an actual menu) to order.  Make sure your Line 5 answer (total) is between your minimum and your maximum.

Homework for Thursday, 5/10

In your book:  A Case Study, page 68 - 69

*This can be done with your partner or parent
*Hint: income is income, regardless of how you get it!

Life Posters should be handed in by Friday!

Homework for Wednesday, May 9

In your book:  **Follow the directions on each page!**

20)  Utilities, page 101

*this page cannot be completed until you make your housing choice

21)  Unit 2 Test, page 61

*This is an open book test; all of the answers are in chapter 2 IN your book
*You may certainly use a parent to help you answer these questions.  The important thing is that you know the answers!
*We will be correcting this in class tomorrow.

22)  Transportation Fixed, pages 102 - 103

*First: you MUST buy a car that fits your family.  For example, if you are a single parent with an infant, you still cannot buy a two-seater vehicle because you cannot put an infant in the front seat of a car.  If you have a spouse and 3 children, make sure you have 5 seats!  Also, the ONLY people who can buy motorcycles are those of you who are single with no children.
*The COST of your car is different from the PAYMENT you will make each month.  You will need to work through the ENTIRE page(s) before you know whether or not you can afford to buy your car.
*Follow the tables and the directions in your book ... be sure to include your lucky and/or unlucky chance if it applies
*Fuel Efficiency will be noted in the advertisement if it applies - it's a good selling point!  You may look online to verify fuel efficiency: it is either considered that it is or it isn't. 
*Glue your car on to the bottom of page 103.

23) Transportation Variable, page 104

*After you have bought your car, complete this page based upon what you've bought. Follow the directions on the page!

Due Thursday:  Life Poster

*If you have not yet received your "previously known" names from me, be sure to ask!
*The outside border of your paper should be decorated. 
*This is an effort based grade.  Make it lovely!

Homework for Tuesday, May 8

FP Assignments:

#18)  Housing, pages 98 - 100

*Please use the orange/red worksheet that I gave you to determine the price of a house you can afford to buy.  All of the directions you need are on that sheet.
*You must use newspapers or real estate brochures to find your housing.  You may not do an internet search.
*The physical advertisement for your housing must be cut out and glued onto either the top of page 99 (for buyers) or the bottom of page 100 (for renters).  This advertisement MUST include the cost of the housing and the number of bedrooms if you have children.
*To complete this assignment:
a) Page 99 (for buyers) or 100 (for renters) must be completed as per directions on that page.
b) Your monthly payment must fall between your minimum and maximum as figured on your Budget Guidelines, page 94, of your workbook.
c) The complete advertisement for your housing must be glued onto the page.
Note: if you have a Lucky Chance down payment, you must use it now for credit!  If you choose to rent, then write "I rented" next to your lucky chance sticker and then check it off on your assignment sheet.
#19)  Unlucky Chance (pages vary)
Note: I neglected to change the page numbers on these stickers, so use the category for your sticker rather than the page number to determine where to stick it.
*Follow the same basic guidelines as for your lucky chance: read the directions on the sticker, write the page number in your book, and check it off when you have completed it.

LIFE POSTERS may now be completed.  Make sure you get your "previously known as" people from me!
These are Due Thursday, May 10, decorated and fabulous!

Book Assignment:  Food Expenditures, pg 109
*You must have completed your NMI (page 93) and your Budget Guidelines (pg 94) in order to do this assignment
*Other than page 109, we are NOT using the other food pages in the book for this assignment.  Instead, you will use the Food Options chart I handed out in class today.
*Be sure to buy food for everyone in your family and as related to their age
*Be sure to note when totals equal weekly versus monthly; you need to complete 4 weeks to have your monthly total.
*Show the math SOMEWHERE: on your green sheet, page 109, wherever, just remember to include it.  Label it.  If I cannot tell what you bought (which options, meals out, etc) then you will not pass this assignment.
*You MUST spend between your minimum and your maximum (page 94) unless your Lucky Chance says otherwise.
*Copies of the Food Options chart and more detailed instructions for this assignment are HERE!

Today in class we also figured out mileage to your places of work.  This should be written on page 91 of your workbook.
This is the number you will use (don't worry about to/from); just write it in the blank!
Remember that this could change for the worse tomorrow when we draw unlucky chances!

Homework for Thursday, May 3

*NOTE: If you are leaving your Finance Park book here to be checked this weekend, please do not forget to put it in your airplane hangar before the end of the day.  There won't be regular class time to remember to do this due to the full day of the Mercado!

*NOTE: If you would like to take any sections of your math retest tomorrow, you may select one of your morning Mercado rotations  and do so.  Be sure to let me know in the morning!

 Complete:  Your NMI on page #93. 
  *Go to the Mo'Help page of this blog and click on the link for additional instructions on how to complete this assignment.
  *This assignment must be completed accurately in order to even begin the Budget Guidelines assignment (below). 

NEW Assignments in your Finance Park Book:

15)  Budget Guidelines page 94

  *Follow this link if you have additional questions
  *This assignment must be completed accurately in order to begin purchasing items for your Life on Monday!

16)  Lucky Chance

  *The page number where I can find your sticker should be written in the front of your book (as assignment #17) and written on line 13, page 92 of your Life Profile.
  *The huge majority of you cannot do anything with your Lucky Chance sticker yet beyond these steps.  Have patience!
  *When you DO complete your Lucky Chance, please check it off in the front of the book.  Your Lucky Chance is graded on following the directions completely AND accurately.

Assignments for Wednesday, May 2

Assignments in your Finance Park Book:

#13)  Net Monthly Income (NMI) page 92

*you can only complete problems 1 - 3 at this time, but be sure that you complete them correctly!
  1 - This is the number on your sticker
  2 - Divide that gross number by 12 (use a calculator and round to the nearest dollar if you want to)
  3 - Using the federal tax table sheet that I gave you: find your gross annual income on the sheet, go to the column based upon your marital status, and find the amount of taxes you will pay annually.  Write this number beneath #3, but divide it by 12 and then write that number in the box on the right. 
Note:  If your parents are helping you with this, they will notice that these are old tax tables (specifically 2001), but these older numbers are the numbers that I have based your budget on, so please do not get a current tax table to use for this assignment.  If you are interested though, look it up online and see how much you would have paid this year!
#14)  NMI Calculation Practice page 55 (1 - 3 only)
*All of the practice scenarios are given to you on the page; you may use a calculator if you would like to.
*Deductions are the amount of money you will pay in taxes; your income is not a deduction.
*The last line is the NMI ... remember what those letters stand for?
  (see the Mo'help page if you need to)

Tomorrow:  More taxes, your NMI, and lucky chances!

Homework for Tuesday, May 1

Homework:  Life Poster 

*You received your "Life Poster" today, but you are not able to complete it yet because you are still missing a lot of the information.  Hopefully you were able to  attach your family picture and store it in your airplane hangar.
*Eventually, you will be asked to decorate the poster border, but don't worry about that yet unless you are completely caught up with the rest of the assignments. 
*We will be covering the rest of the information you need in class.
Due date TBA

Finance Park Book Assignments:
#10)  Credit Card Decisions, pg 14
*Be sure to ask your parents if these questions are unclear to you.  I want you to have these conversations, so take advantage of their knowledge!

#11)  A Big Decision, pg 18
*This is your opportunity to look at the pros and cons of buying on credit.  Whether or not you choose to use credit cards in your future, there are pros and cons so list plenty of both.  The decision about how to weigh those pros and cons will ultimately be yours.