Friday, May 22, 2015

Khan Academy: Big History And So Much More!

Everyone at Crossroads will use their Crossroads Gmail Account to create an Account on KhanAcademy.Org!  Make sure that you finish updating your profile once you sign in.  Go to your Profile screen and Add Mr. S as a Coach by entering the following code:  r9m5bm

The Big History Project (Click Here To See Class Blog Page) can now be completed on Khan Academy.  All ten sections are there.  You must also continue to post your feedback on a Tackk.com webpage (as outlined in the original instructions), but this will make your task of working through the assignments much easier!  You may also work on "Hour of Code" and learn to program in Java.  Finally, there are tutorials for all of your other subjects on this fantastic resource!  Make sure you check out all the classes you can complete and help yourself with!

Good Luck!

- Mr. S

Monday, May 11, 2015

Student Learning Objective Test / MoneySkill.Org

Objective:  Students will complete the Student Learning Objective (SLO) Post-Test for Computer Science Today.  Students will take their time and Construct and Argumentative piece of writing in order to demonstrate understanding of Business Computer Information Technology.  Students who complete the test early will be allowed to go online and start their MoneySkill.Org coursework that is due at the end of Marking Period 4.

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVE (SLO) POST TEST
Every student will be given the exam and expected to draft and write an argumentative constructed response.  Students may not use computers or any other technology to complete the writing.  They may use scratch paper to outline thoughts and ideas, arrange work, and write drafts.  Final essays must be written or copied to the official forms issued to them at the beginning of the test.  Once completed, the test will be collected and students will be allowed to work on the items below.


MONEYSKILL.ORG
Please click the link below and log into the MoneySkill.org website:
MONEYSKILL.ORG (CLICK HERE)


Your Username is your First Name.
Your Password is your Student Number.

You have until June 10th to complete all 12 units online.  There will be a certificate of completion for this and it is a graded event!  You must complete this starting today in class, and use your time at home, or free time in school to work on it.  It is considered a HOMEWORK Assignment.  Every student must complete the program for credit.  Good Luck!

- Mr. S

Friday, May 8, 2015

Personal Monthly Budget Project 2015 - College & Major Selection Day

PRIOR TO STARTING THE BELOW ACTIVITIES, PLEASE COMPLETE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA STUDENT SURVEY LOCATED AT THE LINK LISTED TO THE LEFT.  WHEN COMPLETE, READ ALL DIRECTIONS AND
BEGIN YOUR JOURNAL ENTRY!

Objective:  Students will use online research tools, conversation and creativity to identify a prospective college or career path for themselves.  Based on the selection of college's they choose, they will identify a major course of study as well.  Once identified, students will perform a number of tasks to record and explain their choices.  Students will be asked to complete the following tasks as they reflect on their choices:

1.  Constructed Response Journal Entry - Weebly.com Journal
2.  Navigation and Completion of College/Major Choice Project
3.  Completion of Online Form to record choices.
4.  Completion of Google Document (SHARE) to outline information about their choice.


Today, the first thing you will create is a Journal Entry (Weebly Journal) after reading the following article:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers/college-majors/the-college-major-what-it-is-and-how-to-choose-one

Please describe what major you are interested in and why you chose it at this point in your life.  I realize college is a few years away, and I am sure your interests might change between now and when you are going to go to school, but you will use the information you develop today to research future careers tomorrow.  Eventually, you will be responsible for choosing a College, Career, and your first Job after college to complete the PERSONAL MONTHLY BUDGET PROJECT (PMB) over the next few weeks!


If you choose not to pick a college and major, you must identify another path to a career.  You will need to identify how you will receive training, and complete all the steps below based on that training choice.  I will explain what I mean in class.

After your Journal Entry is complete, please go to CollegeBoard.Org and create an account. (CLICK HERE).  You will use this site to research your College and Major and use the information tomorrow to decide what your first career might be.  You must complete the COLLEGE SEARCH and MAJOR AND CAREER SEARCH sections of the CollegeBoard.Org website prior to completing the survey below.

When you have completed today's research, please add the name of your college and the major you have chosen to the Google Spreadsheet by answering the following questions on this link: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1a1yKllyW3DBgE_-H6U3P2dLHR_n-PKDvP6ZDcKNFviM/viewform?usp=send_form


Next, you must open a NEW Google Document and Copy/Paste the following information into it:


College Name
College Address
Major Area of Study you would be interested in.
Sport you are interested in participating in.
Fraternity/Sorority you might belong too.
Extra-curricular activity you might be in.
What dorm you would be in during your freshman year / Where would you live?

How much the school costs (Credit Hour/$)
The name of the Sports Mascot
Name 2 places to eat.
Name 3 things to do around campus
Name 3 things to do off-campus
List the phone number for the following people:

  • Dean of Students
  • School Police
  • Dining Facility
  • Sports Complex
  • Main Campus Phone Number 
Name the document "College Choice (Your Last Name) CS P(?)" You must find out all the information listed above about the college or career training program you are most interested in.  You need to SHARE this document with me for credit.  In the case of a career training program (ITT Tech, Electrical Union, etc.) you will need to fill in as much information as possible.

Monday we will discuss Financial Literacy and Financial Planning.  Later in the project you will see a list of entry-level positions that people could choose based on a variety of decisions.  You will be entering your college and major and choosing a career with this site.  Your choices will determine where you will live and what career you will start with.  We will also be discussing financial planning and investing later this week.

When you have completed the Journal Entry, College & Major Survey, and Google Document above, you are free to work on anything else you owe me for class.  I would suggest you focus on the Investopedia Stock Market Game so you might have additional income for your budget if you Buy/Sell stocks and make a little money.  Good Luck!

Good Luck!

Mr. S

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Glen's Village - Reflection Tackk.Com Project

Objective:  Students will create Tackk.com websites to help them describe and discuss stories about overcoming obstacles in their lives.  Each student will choose someone they consider a hero,  and create a website to show how they overcame adversity to be successful.  Tackk.com websites must include the following:

Headlines
Student/Class Information
Name of "Hero" Being Highlighted
Video of "Hero" from somewhere online.
Explanation of why this person is a "Hero"
Description of Situation "Hero" faced.
Description of Obstacles in the way
Explanation of how "Hero" overcame Obstacles

Description of Lessons Learned by Student

Link to Student's Weebly School Website


Use the following links to view the entire program of "Glen's Village".  Discuss the differences and similarities his story may have to your lives.  Write a paragraph (Weebly Journal) or two about something that might "save" you in your near future, and a little about the path you want to be on in your life!

Click Each Link To Watch:     ​[Trailer]     ​[Episode 1]     ​[Episode 2]     ​[Episode 3]

See SAMPLE Tackk for Ideas and an Example of what to do:
https://tackk.com/myherogcaseyproject

NOW CREATE YOUR OWN TACKK!  You must email me the ACTIVE link for your Tackk.com Website for credit.  Please post the link to our Google+ Community Page as well!

Good Luck!

-Mr. S

Monday, May 4, 2015

Crossroads Stock Market Challenge 2015 / Saving & Investing

Objective:  Students should learn the basics about savings accounts and investing in the Stock Market.  Students will use independent learning time to navigate through a series of videos to help them better understand basic Personal Budgets, Saving Money, Credit Card Tips, and how to Invest in Company Stocks.  Students will complete a Journal (Weebly) Entry, a Budget Worksheet, and sign up for our class Stock Market Challenge 2015.

Steps:
1.  Read the Article below and complete a Journal (Weebly) Entry
2.  Watch Videos Below and Complete Class Worksheet & Vocabulary List
     Worksheet Link (CLICK HERE)
     Please open and make a copy in your Google Drive.
     SHARE with Mr. S for credit when you have completed it!
3.  Create an account on Investopedia.com and click link below to join 2015 Game
4.  Work on anything else you owe for this class if all other items are finished.

To begin your investing journey, please read the following article:  Investing VS Gambling Article (Click Here) and write a brief (2-3 Sentences) journal entry (Weebly.com) about your feelings about the main point of the article.

Second, watch each video link below on your own.  After each video, answer the questions on the worksheet for today.  When you have completed the worksheet questions, please research and fill in the Vocabulary Section on the back of the sheet.  Turn in the sheet for credit!

1.  Personal Budget Tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_GZOr4l7P0

2.  How To Save Money:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxC_KaCD8KQ

3.  Savings Account Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ttAaz32VU

4.  Credit Card Tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en6IfLFlrJM

5.  Company Investing Tips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MPtq56CT1I

Third,   Use the link below to sign up for our Stock Market Challenge.  Please go to Investopedia.com and create an account using your class gmail address.  Once Created, click the link below and you should automatically be forwarded to the game.  The name of the game is CrossroadsatMeade2015 and the password is xroads2015.  Once you have created and account, click the BUY link and enter the Stock Market Symbol for the company you want to buy and how many shares you want (See Market Price).  If you make any money in the market, you can add it to your Final Budgets!


(Click Link Below To Join The Game)
http://www.investopedia.com/accounts/login.aspx?returnurl=http://www.investopedia.com/simulator/game/joingame.aspx?GID=310868&PW=xroads2015&RegLink=Simulator_Invite_Private

Use the following sites to help you pick stocks for the game:
MarketWatch (Wall Street Journal) Website (CLICK HERE)

MSN Money Top 50 Stocks (CLICK HERE)
Finally,  please click the following link and create an account in Investopedia.com.  You will use this site, and the $100,000 in your account to purchase stocks in real time.  Make sure you spend some time discovering how to use the simulator to BUY and SELL stocks.  You will be able to track your purchases and look at class rankings after the system updates overnight.  There will be some great prizes for everyone who participates, and you can add some of the money in your account to your Personal Monthly Budget later in the program if you EARN MONEY over your initial $100,000- Dollar Investment.

Additional Resources:  Here is a link to the Stock Market Basics Presentation: (Click Here) 

HINT:  ALL THE ANSWERS TO THE WORKSHEET SHOULD BE IN THE PRESENTATION

Please review the following video:  Investing Basics VIDEO (CLICK HERE)  and discuss with a partner how you can find stocks you might be interested in investing in for the project.




GOOD LUCK!!

- Mr. S

UN Global Sustainability Goals Project Map

Word Counter For Text

This free script provided by JavaScript Kit

Integrity (13 Characteristics)

13 Characteristics of People Who Have Integrity

1. They Value Other People's Time: They value their own time so they also value the time of other people. They know you have plenty of other places you need to be and won’t hold you up. If you spend time with them, it is likely they will thank you for that as well.

2. They Give Credit Where It Is Due: They do not take credit for things they did not do. They will always credit those who deserve it. If you help this person with a project he or she will likely mention your name so you can take credit for your work.

3. They Are Authentic: They are their truest forms. You won’t catch them in a lie or being fake.

4. They Are Always Honest: They are honest people that feel no need to lie as it is important for them to get to where they need to get in life honestly.

5. They Never Take Advantage Of Others: They are not the kind of people who will take advantage of someone else. They love to build people up and help them get where they need to be. Taking too much from someone else will never be an issue with someone who has a lot of integrity.

6. The Do Not Argue Over Disagreements: They will talk through things in a civil manner or not talk at all. You cannot and will not force this person into arguing over something completely ridiculous. I find this to be a very respectable trait.

7. They Give Most People The Benefit Of The Doubt: They try to see the good in everyone. I think this is because they feel like maybe there are more people in this world that also have integrity. That being said, if you take advantage of them too much they will get rid of you.

8. They Know When Something Is Bothering Someone: They have a great intuition that lets them know when something is going on. If someone is down in the dumps they will notice. Chances are they will actually do what they can to cheer you up.

9. They Believe In Others: They accept your word as truth until it is dis-proven. That being said, they do not take lying well. And once you lie to them, it is unlikely that they will ever take your word again.

10. They Apologize First: If they have done something wrong they will come to you and apologize. This is just how they are. They own up to their mistake and try to make things right.

11. They Are Humble: They do not quite know their own worth. While they are very important and do so much good they don’t quite see it. You should remind them of it.

12. They Do Good When They Can: They are always helping other people. They love to know that they have improved someone’s life. It gives their lives meaning.

13. They Are Always Kind To Those Who Need It: Giving kindness can go a long way. When someone looks like they need a little pick me up these people deliver. They can brighten up almost anyone’s day.

If you are someone who has true integrity, thank you for being who you are and thank you for all that you do. You really do actually make a difference in society, please keep up the good work. If you feel no one else is proud of you, know that I am.

Total Pageviews