Friday, May 31, 2013

What Now?

The last of your Trans Math assignments should be in. 
*I do have all of your retests posted in TeacherEase.  Great job overall!
*I will be continuing to post your Finance Park books over the weekend as I complete them.  You will be able to take them home on Monday.

Monday, June 3
Lots of activities including Ultimate Quiz Bowl, Field Day, and 8th grade graduation!
*You will not need a lunch this day unless you did not order a hot dog. 
*Don't forget that you will need to be picked up AT the park at 2:30.

Tuesday, June 4
Half day of school includes saying good-bye to the 8th graders, cleaning (it's fun, seriously), and more info on the 6/7 field trip. 
*School ends at 11:30 this day; no lunch needed!

Pre-Algebra:
All of you are ready for pre-algebra next fall, but some of you are planning to study it over the summer. If this is you, please see the pre-algebra tab now on this blog. You will need to check out a pre-algebra book from me on TUESDAY.

Here's to a great finish to the school year!
Mo ;-)

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Tests are in!

Your tests have been entered into TeacherEase.  Great job overall; mostly arithmetic errors which, by the way, will continue to cause you grief when you make them.  Ouch!
Special congratulations to: Mari, Maxwell, Vivika, Logan, and Becca for achieving 100%!

Keep working on your Finance Park books as they are due Friday.  You will have work time in class tomorrow as well as receiving your test corrections.  Keep pushing through; we're almost there!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Tuesday, May 21

Finance Park Book:
Extra credit - page 118 Crossword Puzzle
*will only be counted IF you complete ALL of your other assignments.
The book is due this FRIDAY!

Quizlet: 
*you have the option of completing a Quizlet assignment tonight for credit to prepare for the test tomorrow.

That's it! 
Wednesday there will be no homework, Thursday will be test corrections, books are due on Friday.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Homework and Updates, Monday May 20

Homework:  Eat Your Veggies, page 24
Note that you do not need to draw vegetables in the graph, but you should fill it in with something ... like a color. 
*When you get to problem #5, you will need to figure out what 1,050 represents and how you can figure out that percentage.  Think about it!  This will take an extra step, but you can do it.  By the way, this specific type of problem will NOT be on the test, but it shows a lot of understanding if you can figure out how to do it.
*For problem #6, you can solve it as part-to-part ratios (with percentages just happening to represent the parts) or in two steps, solving first for one vegetable and then the other. 
Due Tuesday - we will be correcting this in class so you can use it to study from if needed

Finance Park Book -
31) Post Test, pages 121-123
This assignment is open book and you may use a calculator, but there will not be redoes for this assignment, so take care!  Please fill in everything on these pages for full credit.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Wednesday, May 15

Finance Park Book: 
#28) Entertainment and Recreation, page 111
Most of the directions are on this page as it is written.  The few adjustments are mostly specific to your age and family situation as well as any lucky or unlucky chance cards.
*YOU MAY USE THE INTERNET.
*List the details like how many tickets bought, where you went, for how many hours, etc.; total costs are not enough information!
*Be sure your activities (movies, hiking) are age and family appropriate.
*Be sure to "go out" if you need to.
*Be sure to get a babysitter if your children are younger than 12.
*If you travel outside of the general Olympia/Tumwater/Lacey area (more than 30 miles) you need to account for gas.  In these cases, you will need to figure out the gas mileage of the car you bought (or buy a bus ticket) and record that as well.
*Eating out, restaurants, and school lunches are not counted in the entertainment category.  However, if you buy popcorn or a jumbo pop while at the movies, they count as expenses.
*You may include an extra sheet with your work on it OR use one of the back pages in your book; just let me know on page 111 where to find your work.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tuesday, May 14

Finance Assignment:  Home Improvement
For this assignment, you need to follow the directions on THIS GOLD SHEET; do not follow the directions on page 105. 
*Go through the steps as listed on the worksheet; they work!
*Be sure to follow the directions on your Lucky and/or Unlucky Chances if they apply for you in this category.
FrequentlyAskedQuestions:
How can I spend $600?!?!?  My maximum budget isn't even that much!
Answer: You are going to need to use your credit card.  You are the average American. 
How do I know how much cash I can afford to pay?
Answer: You don't!  You might assume that you can pay around your minimum monthly amount in cash, but then you will have to test it through the steps to see if it works.  Think of it as a guess and check: you make a logical guess, then check it!
Do I need to buy furniture?  Beds?  Plates?  Will my family be living with nothing if I don't?
Answer:  No, no, no ... you are living a typical month in the life of "you."  This month you happen to be moving, buying a new car, and replacing $600 worth of furniture.  It's not exactly a typical month for the average American, but the payments you are budgeting for are.

Still have a question?  Ask it here so I can add it to the list for everyone to see!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Assignments for Monday, May 13

Finance Park Book:
#25) Utilities page 101
*After you buy your house, complete this page.
*These numbers do NOT have to fall within your minimum and maximum guidelines.  Did you save or lose money in this category?
#26) Cable and Eating Out, page 112
*Remember that you can add these two category totals together in order to complete this page between your minimum and maximum guidelines  Total.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Friday assignments, May 10

Finance Park Book:
#23) Transportation Fixed - pgs 102-103
The majority of mistakes on this assignment are made in NOT completing all of the steps!  Be sure to make it all the way to Line 8 before you assess whether or not your car falls within your budget guidelines.
*Pay attention to the differences between new and used loans as well ...
*When figuring your insurance, registration, and tax, be sure to add them together for the total.  If you do not know whether or not your car is fuel efficient, ask someone!
*Your car MUST fall between your minimum and maximum budget guidelines.
#24) Transportation Variable - pg 104
You must have bought your car before you can complete this page.
*Note that they ask for the miles driven TO work, not the total mileage.  When you rolled the dice, you figured out the miles driven TO work, so use that.
*Note the age of your car in years using the model year of the car.
*You must also consider whether your car is fuel efficient or not.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Assignments for Thursday, May 9

Finance Park Book -
#21 Chapter 2 Test
This is open book and you may work on it with your partner.  Note I said "work on it ..." this does not mean just copying your partner's answers. 
*There are no redo options for this assignment
#22 Clothing and Accessories
Use the sticker you received in class or follow THIS LINK for the guidelines.
*You must shop for your family in your situation.  Make sure the clothes fit and that they are what the family member has requested.
*Your final spending must fall between your minimum and maximum guidelines unless otherwise noted on a lucky or unlucky chance sticker.
*Follow directions carefully on Lucky and Unlucky stickers; those are separate assignments from the category which they affect, but sometimes there are additional instructions that you are responsible for.
*Don't forget the "other of your choice" at the bottom of the clothing guidelines!  This is in addition to everything else you have bought which means, at a MINIMUM, you will have at least 3 clothing/accessories purchases.
*Be sure to glue the items and their prices in the back of the book on the page you have designated as "Clothing."

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Assignments for Wednesday, May 8

Finance Park Book Assignments:
#18  Home Buyer, page 99 - 100.
This is just a reminder as we discussed this assignment further in class today.  Details are in yesterday's blog entry if you still need them.
#19  Food Expenditures, page 109 ONLY
For assignment details and a copy of the Food Options worksheet, click HERE.
#20  Unlucky Chance
These are the best days, no?!?!?
Make sure that you stick your sticker IN your book and write the page number where I can find your sticker on the assignment sheet.
Like the Lucky Chance sticker, you are graded on your ability to follow the directions on the sticker, stay within your minimum and maximum guidelines (unless otherwise specified), and solve whatever problem you are faced with.
Be sure to check off this assignment when you are done with it!

Note:  I have found a few assignment sheets AND Lucky and Unlucky Chance stickers left in room #1 ... if you think this could be you, check the no-name board!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Assignments for Tuesday, May 7

Finance Park Book: 
#17 - Lucky Chance!
Today we drew Lucky Chances in class.  This should be listed as assignment #16 on your assignment sheet and include the page number where you put your lucky chance sticker.  Obviously this assignment will be completed at different times and different places for all of you, so PLEASE check off your lucky chance assignment when you have it completed.
*You are graded on being able to follow the directions on your sticker completely and accurately.

#18 - Home Buyer pg 99 (or Renter pg 100)
FIRST - fill out the purple worksheet to determine the house you can afford.  I recommend checking this with Mo before you begin looking for a house.  You will eventually hand this worksheet in.
The directions are ON the pages for completing this assignment. 
*Write your minimum and maximum for your monthly housing payment at the top of the page.
*You must buy (or rent) a house that fits your situation; children must have a separate bedroom from you, but they may share with each other.
*Your down payment (Line 2) is the amount of money you have saved up already to purchase your house.  This down payment amount is on page 99 and may now be different depending on your lucky chance sticker.
*Your house payment (line 5) is PER MONTH.  This is very different from the house you can afford to buy!  This is the amount that must fall between your minimum and maximum budget guidelines.
*Once you have bought a house, you will fill out page 99 (or page 100 if you rent). 
*You may not use the internet, only written advertisements and real estate magazines.
*You MUST glue your house advertisement ONTO page 99 (or 100 if you rent) in your book.
We will go over this completely in class again tomorrow when we're not so rushed, so don't let it keep you up tonight.

Tomorrow:  Unlucky Chance Stickers, Food Expenditures (page 109), and time to work in class!  Come prepared. 
Mo ;-)

Monday, May 6, 2013

Homework for Monday, May 6

Homework:  Test Corrections
At this time of the year make sure that you give FULL reasons behind why you missed a problem.  I will expect nothing less from you!
Retakes will happen some time in the next several weeks; I will give you plenty of time to plan for it/them before it happens.
Due:  Tuesday with parent signature for candy point

Life Posters:  Due by Wednesday, May 8

Finance Park Book:  Budget Guidelines page 94
Calculators ARE allowed!  (and recommended)
Remember that you also must total your minimum and maximum guideline columns. 
*Write in the amount you would spend if you used ONLY your minimums or ONLY your maximums.
These must be approved before you can start spending your money!

Friday, May 3, 2013

Update: Friday, May 3

I absolutely could NOT get into this blog yesterday, so I was unable to update the homework.  I will update the Finance Park page later today.

Ratios, Fractions, Decimals, Percents Test:  The harsh reality of this test is very real: either you can convert or you cannot.  Unfortunately for some of you, there is a lot of work left to do here.  These conversions are not things you can skate by on - you MUST figure them out and be consistent.  When you check TeacherEase you will notice that the test is broken into two sections, both of which will be separate retests.  Because there are only 10 problems in each section, your grade average is quickly affected, so don't be too shocked by the impact. 
Take care of what you do not know and ace it on the retest.
I will tell you this yet again:  Quizlet helps.  It does.  It's practice and it's immediate feedback.  Use it.

AND Congratulations to the two 100% in the class - Marina and Mari.  Yahoo!
Your test grades will be posted in TeacherEase this weekend; test corrections on Monday.

Finance Park Book Assignment:
Get started on your Budget Guidelines, page 94, if you can.  You may definitely use a calculator for this and round to the nearest cent!  Be sure to use your NMI as it was corrected by me on page 93 ... using the incorrect NMI is deadly to your sanity as you will have to redo the entire budget page.  Ugh.

Life Posters: should be completed at your leisure, but I would like to have them all in by Wednesday, May 8.  You do not necessarily know the "previously known as" line, but this refers to the 7th grader and 8th graders that had your life before.  If you do not know and you want to know before Monday, just comment on this post and I will get back to you!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Work for Wednesday, May 1

Homework:  Family Pie Worksheet
Complete the table (copy link above in assignment title) based upon what your parent believes they budget per year in each of the categories. 
*It does not have to be precise, it is just an estimate. 
*It should not include the amount spent, just the percentage of income allotted. 
*Make sure you end up with 100% of the income designated somewhere!
*Calculators ARE allowed for this assignment.
The worksheet part of this assignment should be handed into the in-basket when you complete it ... I recommend you do this as soon as you can fit it in.

Finance Park Book:
#12) Family Pie, page 86.  Using the worksheet above, fill in the circle graph.  Make sure to label each of the categories and include the percent you are representing in each slice.  I recommend coloring your family pie the same (essentially) colors as the "Typical Family Budget" pie because it will allow you to quickly make comparisons.  This is not, however, required.
#13) Where is the Money, pgs 52 - 53.  Fill out the checks as we went over in class today; if you were absent, your parents will know how to fill it out too.  Answer the questions carefully!  This assignment is worth 10 points.  *no calculators
#14) Sales Receipt Analysis, pg 54.  Determine the 7% tax for each of the products, then the total amount needed to buy each.  This assignment is worth 7 points.  *no calculators