Final Stretch - (36/1-4)

Today you will be given time in class to finish (IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER):

1. Counseling Word Cloud Project (Due ASAP)
2. IWork Pages Yearbook Page (Due By Thursday, May 30th 4pm)
3. Family Monthly Budget (Due By Friday, May 31st 4pm)
4. 8th-Grade Project (Due ASAP)

When you are finished with these, I am sure there is additional work in other classes that you need to work on.

- Mr. S

Memorial Day Remembrance 2013

All:

Watch the following Memorial Day Tribute Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmCbiibZvX0

Please read the following post and write a short reflection in your Weebly.com journal.

"3rd Herd" Prior To MFO Deployment (Ft. Lewis, WA)

As you know, I am a Veteran of the US Army.  This weekend is for you to relax and enjoy a well-deserved rest.  While we celebrate our Veteran's on another day, please bear in mind the following excerpt from About.com:

"Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. While those who died are also remembered on Veterans Day, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime."

Use the following links to find out more about this special weekend and why you should be thankful for the sacrifices made on your behalf.  We are not a perfect nation, but the blood of a few has been given so we can enjoy the freedoms we have.  Always Remember!
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/memorialday.htm
http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Word Clouds - Simple Counseling Project

Before starting work on your Yearbook Pages, please take a few minutes to create a Word Cloud with one of the following websites:

http://www.abcya.com/word_clouds.htm

http://worditout.com/

http://www.wordle.net/

All three will work.  Some of your computers may not have the Java Console installed.  Please do not install it, you can use the computer at the printer in the front of the room if you need to.  Wordle seems to work the slowest, but have the most choices for being creative.  ABCYA is the easiest to use and should be simple to download and send to me.  WordItOut requires you to enter your email to get the downloaded copy.

Please choose as many adjectives below to describe yourself.  The more times you repeat a word, the bigger and more highlighted it will be in your Word Cloud.  Copy and Paste the words you want to use to describe yourself into the text box on the Word Cloud creator you are using.  Then hit create.  Each of the sites works in a slightly different way.  Eventually, you need to create a custom Word Cloud, download it to the desktop as a JPEG picture, and email the picture to my email (hscribnercaa@gmail.com) so I can print it for inclusion in your personal guidance folder.

Look to the right to see an example of my Word Cloud (Click Image To See It Better).  Below is a list of adjectives to use, but you can include any additional words that describe you that are not on the list.  Make sure you do not use any profane, vulgar or other poor word choices.

Good Luck,

- Mr. S

ADJECTIVE LIST (If you can't find enough below, CLICK HERE)
afraid embarrassed gentle new slippery
agreeable encouraging gorgeous nice slow
amused energetic great nosy smiling
angry enthusiastic grieving nutty strange
annoyed defeated grubby obedient successful
anxious defiant grumpy obnoxious sweet
arrogant delicious handsome odd tall
ashamed delightful happy old tame
average depressed harsh ordinary thoughtful
awful determined healthy outrageous thoughtless
bad dirty helpful panicky tired
beautiful disgusted hilarious perfect tough
better disturbed hungry petite tricky
brave envious jealous pleasant troubled
bright evil jittery precious upset
calm excited jolly pretty uptight
charming exuberant kind prickly victorious
cheerful fair lazy proud vivacious
clumsy faithful little puny voiceless
confused fantastic lively quick wasteful
cooperative fast lonely quiet weak
courageous flaky loud scary weary
crazy foolish lovely scrawny wicked
creepy frail lucky selfish wide-eyed
cruel frantic magnificent shaggy witty
cuddly fresh mysterious silent wonderful
dangerous friendly nasty silly worried
dizzy frightened naughty skinny young
dull funny nervous slimy zany

 

Yearbook MacWorks Pages Project (35/1-2)

Today you will be creating your own 1/3 page for the Crossroads Yearbook.  Your page section will be copied and listed alphabetically in our yearbook.  The yearbooks will be printed in black & white to save money, but an electronic color copy will be emailed to everyone and linked to my website for download.  You can then print and bind your own color copy if you like.

Here is a video tutorial I recorded to help you: (Click Link and Watch It)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzY9jTFcLEUWMmQzWkV3VHV3V2s/edit?usp=sharing

Here are some tutorials for you to learn how to use MacWorks Pages:

http://www.apple.com/iwork/pages/

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Pages09_UserGuide.pdf

http://www.lynda.com/iWork-tutorials/pages-09-essential-training/47996-2.html


When you think you have mastered the software a bit, please click the link below to download the template.  You will be using any one of the three outlined spaces to create your page.  Do not resize the background blocks, but you can change the background color and edge trim.  Ultimately, the yearbook staff will be editing, proofreading, and pasting your section into the final draft of the yearbook.

YEARBOOK PAGES TEMPLATE: (CLICK LINK BELOW AND DOWNLOAD)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzY9jTFcLEUWbUZjUTlJd2tvVHc/edit?usp=sharing

Anyone who does not submit this project will have the picture from their SCHOOL DISTRICT ID used in the yearbook.  Enjoy creating this last project of the year.  Do not forget that any time not spent on this project can be spent finishing your Family Monthly Budget, working on your 8th Grade Project, or working on Extra Credit items to improve your grades.

Good Luck,

- Mr. S 

Please see the example below for what the yearbook pages will look like:

FMB - Final Changes (34/3)

Everyone:

BLANK FAMILY MONTHLY BUDGET WORKSHEET LINK (Click Here)

Here are the final changes to your Family Monthly Budget.  Please record the changes and email me your final budget forms. You must email me the budget as a MS Excel Workbook/Worksheet.  DO NOT UPLOAD TO GDRIVE AND SHARE IT!!   I will review you budget and return them next week.  This will be a major part of the grade for this marking period.:

(You may now add 10% of your earnings in the stock market game (Investopedia) to your monthly budget.  See me for a withdrawl amount for today.)

1.       Add 5 pints of your favorite ice-cream to your grocery bill for the month

2.       Add $150 to your budget for home repair.

3.       Add a Doctor’s visit to your budget ($20 copay)

4.       If you did not add a vehicle to your initial budget, you need to find a car and insurance.

5.       Get a pet:  dog, cat, fish, snake, whatever….but budget for the animal, veterinarian and care products.

6.       You are taking a class at a local college….add $425 for tuition and $125 for books.

7.       You went to the movies with your niece/nephew/child/etc…..add enough to cover popcorn and tickets.

8.       You took first prize in a writing contest….add $100.

9.       Add $50 per month for an increase in cell phone service

10.   Find a bicycle for fun and add the cost to your budget

11.   You went to the mall to shop for clothes… add $125.

12.   You won the lottery……$150…scratch off… add to your budget

13.   Your mom’s birthday is coming up…get her a gift….add it

14.   You utility bills are 10% higher than you budgeted for…..add it

Don't forget to estimate your monthly grocery budget by multiplying your weekly grocery shopping plus your fast food budget by four.  Add those values to your budget as well.

Finally, email your final budget to me and include at least 3 paragraphs on what you learned while keeping a budget and how this project might help you in the future.

Here is the grade breakdown for each task of this project:

100 Points - Career Day Google Document (Click Here To See The POST)

100 Points - Moving Day Google MAP (Click Here To See The POST)

100 Points - Moving Day Worksheet

100 Points - Menu/Grocery List Worksheet

100 Points - Utility/Insurance Day Entries (Insurance POST) (Utility POST)

150 Points - Final Changes To Worksheet (SEE ABOVE)   

150 Points - Overall Completeness and Turned In Correctly/Proper Format/On Time 
(All Worksheets, Emails, and Budget)

800 Total Points For Project (More Than 50% of 4th Marking Period Grade Overall)
 

Good Luck

- Mr. S

FMB - Insurance and Investment Day (34/2)

About Renters Insurance

Unfortunately, sometimes bad things happen. We get car insurance, homeowners insurance and health insurance to be on the safe side. But what if you are a renter? Who protects your belongings and makes sure you are not held responsible for personal or property damage at your apartment?  If you rent an apartment, condo, or home, rental insurance is your safeguard against property loss and personal liability.
Imagine the following scenarios:

• What if all your clothes, TV, computer, furniture, and other belongings were destroyed by fire? Could you replace them, immediately, out of pocket?
• Could you be held liable if your friends or family were injured on the apartment grounds or in your apartment?
• What if your apartment unit was broken into and your personal property was stolen, how would your belongings be replaced?

Fire. Injury. Robbery. These are just a few reasons why people get apartment renters insurance. It is up to you to protect your belongings and prepare for the unexpected with rental insurance. Whether you are looking for apartment rental insurance or insurance to cover your storage rental you need to consider these:

• protect you against the financial risk associated with property damage
• insure full replacement value for your personal property and that of your neighbors
• provide you with quick payment for approved claims
• provide you with temporary living expenses over and above your normal living expenses if your apartment is covered in the loss
• give you peace of mind!

Use this calculator to total up the value of everything in your apartment and think about how you would replace it in the event of a disaster or problems:
http://www.residentshield.com/contentscalculatorequote

PICK YOUR DREAM CAR and then use this calculator to find out how much you might pay annually for insurance: (If you have a car in this budget, enter the amount of your monthly payment estimate)

http://money.msn.com/auto-insurance/auto-insurance-quotes.aspx

Use this calculator to estimate your monthly payment.  You must estimate using a 48-month loan at 7% interest.  Good Luck!

http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/auto/simple-loan-payment-calculator.aspx

NOW use the following calculator to think about how much Savings you will need to set aside while you are earning a living (your starting amount is the amount left over from your shopping trip on moving day:

http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/savings/simple-savings-calculator.aspx

Add your monthly savings into your budget.

You might also need some life insurance, but that is normally handled with your employee benefits people.  Your new jobs could include Life, Health, and other benefits we will discuss today.

Finally, you can now add 10% of your earnings from our Investopedia Stock Market Game.  Call me over to make the withdrawl if you want.  I will have today's print out with totals and will approve all withdrawls.

Enter all of your items on your budget and save it for tomorrow!!

-Mr. S

FMB - Utilities Day (34/1)

Here is an article with a good idea of how much you should estimate based on your income for your budget:

http://www.sayplanning.com/saygoodcredit/manage-budget.html

Today you will be examining how much your local utilities cost.  You are at your new apartment and you need to estimate your monthly utility expenses.  There are many websites you can use, but to make sure you are estimating correctly you will need to read the following article first:

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/how-to-estimate-cost-of-utilities.htm

Once you have read the article, please open your Weebly.com Journal and write a few sentences about which utility companies you use in your new city and how much you are estimating for the costs for your new apartment.

Here are some additional websites to help you estimate your costs:


http://www.allconnect.com/shopping/sc-phone/phone.html#selectedTab_tv

http://www.whitefenceindex.com/

http://hes.lbl.gov/consumer/

Once you have estimated your costs, enter the amounts in your budget under the PROJECTED COSTS COLUMN.  Only when you actually recieve a bill would you use the ACTUAL COST COLUMN.

WATER/SEWER Estimate

The average household US water bill varies widely from state to state and municipality to municipality.  Small town household water rates fall somewhere between $1.00 and $2.00 per 748 gallons of water or HCF (hundred cubic feet).  Large city household water rates are from $2.00 to $3.00 per 748 gallons of water.
Many water bills are billed on a bi-monthly basis.

Many large cities have tiered water rate structures, whereby customers pay much higher rates for the water they consume beyond a certain predetermined amount.
The average US resident uses around 150 gallons of water per day.  This number varies widely. Let’s look at a household of 4’s water consumption for one month or over a billing cycle:

• Average daily water consumption: 600 gallons of water
• Average monthly water consumption: 18,000 gallons of water
• How many HCF is this? -> 18,000 divided by 748 = 24
• Average cost per HCF? -> $1.50
• Average monthly water bill? -> $1.50 x 24 = 36
• Average bi-monthly water bill? -> $72

(Bear in mind that this number is for the small municipality only)
* We of course need to add to this number the sewage rate/cost plus any additional fees.  To be safe, let’s just call it an $15 per month.

• New average US household water bill? -> $51

Now, let’s acknowledge that this is only a number to which there’s no need to hold fast to.  It merely gives us an idea of the expensiveness of water, and just how quickly a water bill can go through the roof due to a running or leaking toilet, say, a phenomenon to which 90% of all high water bills are due.

Use the balance of the time in class to finish your other Family Monthly Budget Items or work on your 8th-Grade Projects.  Tomorrow we will look at Insurance and Investments.

- Mr. S

FMB - Menu & Shopping Days (33/1-3)

Hello Everyone,

Please use the handout to plan your menu for a week.  I would like you to plan at least 2 dinners for 2 and a family dinner (6 people or more) for the weekend sometime.  It can be breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but include anything you would normally serve.  Once your menu is complete, make a grocery list.  In addition to groceries, there is a list of other items (BELOW) that you will need to keep at your home.  Detergent, soap, etc.  You may also include any items you might actually use regularly to your shopping list.  Finally, go to the website below and price everything you will need.  You may need to make substitutions, but you will get a good general idea of prices for your weekly shopping trip.  You will enter these figures on your monthly budget (remember that this sheet and shopping list is only for one week) when you are finished as actual costs.

Here are a couple of places to shop.  You may also look for other online grocery stores, pharmacy's or other providers.  They must list individual item pricing and you need to figure out delivery if you do not have one of the stores local to your new apartment.  (Example:  You can price things at Target.com, but you must figure out shipping costs if you do not have a Target store locally.  You must also figure out how to get your purchases home if you do not have a car.)

https://www.freshdirect.com/index.jsp

http://www.amazon.com/

Additional Items to Buy:

Laundry Detergent, Soap, Shampoo, Deodorant, a Mop,  a Broom, All-Purpose Cleaner, Light Bulbs, Dish Soap, 3 2-Liter Bottles of Soda (ie. Coca Cola, Pepsi, etc.), Band-Aids, Cold Medicine, and a Bucket, Tylenol or Advil, Batteries and a Flashlight, a Basic Tool Set, a Wiffle Ball Bat Set, and M&M's.

YOU MUST ADD EVERY ITEM ON YOUR SHOPPING LIST TO THE PERSONAL SHOPPING LIST PAGE OF YOUR DATA SHEET ON THE FAMILY MONTHLY BUDGET.  MAKE SURE YOU CREATE AREA FOR YOUR GROCERY SHOPPING FROM THE SHOPPING LIST YOU COMPLETED FOR YOUR MOVING DAY!

SEE EXAMPLE BELOW:

If you need copies of the forms in MS Excel or Printable, click the form below and download or print a copy:


Weekly Menu PDF (Printable):
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzY9jTFcLEUWdW9scGRJQTBYRWs/edit?usp=sharing

Weekly Menu MS Excel:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzY9jTFcLEUWWTRGSkNyR2U1UlU/edit?usp=sharing

Grocery List PDF (Printable):
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzY9jTFcLEUWNHpwazhVaV9DSDg/edit?usp=sharing


Grocery List MS Excel:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzY9jTFcLEUWaVlFZ2xGc296MnM/edit?usp=sharing

Good Luck,
Mr. S