December 2, 2013 · 7:00 am

A.C.T. Word of the WEEK!

In an effort to raise your ACT scores above 48, and since you have no chance at all to be successful in life Unknown-1without an ACT score in the upper tenth percentile of the world, and due to the fact that Michigan teachers no longer are involved in the creation of public policy that guides the goals of public education in Michigan, and since that duty has been  replaced by lifelong politicians whose single ambition is re-election made possible by anonymous corporate lobbyist donations, and because the United States is a democracy guided by an uninformed and un-involved electorate, and because Finland and South Korea and Poland as well as thirteen other nations are doing a better job at educating their kids than we are, things like the memorization of the meaning of random words on nation wide multiple choice tests have become a common classroom feature – s0 we will be instituting in Mr. Wood’s class an A.C.T. “Word of the Week.”

In addition you can add to that list facitious – treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.  Synonyms – flip, glib, frivolous, tounge-in-cheek, ironic, sardonic…

Good lucks kids…enjoy your enigmatic role as “another brick in the wall.”

Go below for our “Word of the Week” podcast and  here for more fascinating ACT vocabulary information.

Comments Off on A.C.T. Word of the WEEK!

Filed under SAT Word of the Week

Tagged as

· 6:27 am

Reflections – daily journals

Beginning this Marking Period II, I expect all Economics and Government classes to bring their reflection books to class.  These journals will bethe-thinker used for in-class assignments approximately two to three times a week.  Their usage will be unannounced, however if you don’t have your reflections book with you on the day we  have an assignment, you’ll receive a zero on Reflections for that day.

Reflections Purpose and Process below…

  • Purpose of “Reflections” – to think, and to reflect in journals.  To use those reflections as a basis of discussion.
  • Announcement of “Reflections” – a white board hanging daily outside my door  will announce which classes are assigned reflection for the day.
  • Direction of “Reflections” – A statement will be up on the  white board, or I will issue one orally at the beginning of class.
  • Process of “Reflections” – I’ll provide parameters, you provide the insight.  Simple…think and reflect.  Ten minutes max.
  • Grading of Reflections – five points if you bring it and you write.  Zero if you don’t.  I’ll pull three journal random at the end of the process and grade them for effort (twenty point assignment).  Journaling totals will consist of a accumulated 100 point Homework grade at the end of each Marking Period.  You will not be allowed a pass or a tardy to go get your journal…so don’t forget it.
  • “Reflection” Follow Up – we may just put our pens away and move on.  Or we may talk about your ideas.  Depends on time for me and inspiration by you.
  • Final Thoughts – Is for you to think three dimensionally – and for us to talk about them.

 

Comments Off on Reflections – daily journals

Filed under 2 Government, 3 Economics, Uncategorized

Tagged as , ,

November 29, 2013 · 4:00 pm

The Cider House Rules – Redux

This is the first assignment of Marking Period 3 – it is due by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, December 4, and it is worth 50 points.  For the original assignment – go here.

I really want us to dig into movies in this Senior Current Issues course.  If that is the case then I would like you  600full-the-cider-house-rules-screenshotto look at the main characters and contemplate why they do what they do with more intensity, with more depth than we did on this assignment.  Maybe in the process we will see the world in a different light as well.  For the most part, while I believe you enjoyed The Cider House Rules, and while you may have thought about the issues brought forth in a reflective way, I don’t feel as though we really dug into these issues that pushed the movie to the edge.  I got the feeling reading many of your posts that for the most part you  wrote and wrote and at the end of it all you just stopped.  However many words  – that was it.   A lot of the posts didn’t feel edited or reviewed.  And many  had no conclusion.  You should always when you write for blogs, posts, assignments, or life – sum up your thoughts with some kind of a concluding insight.

Continue reading →

Comments Off on The Cider House Rules – Redux

Filed under 1 Senior Current Issues

Tagged as ,

November 26, 2013 · 8:55 am

SCI end of the MP Assignments…

Senior Current Issues students please provide Mr. Wood the following:

#1 – (Americans) – print out your goals list that we compiled from the interview earlier this Marking Period, take a pen and write out what you’ve done to accomplish those goals.   Provide me a letter grade that you think you should get on the fifty point assignment.  I will take your input into consideration in grading you.  This is due in my hands by the end of the day.

#2 – (Internationals) – two blog posts by Sunday night 11:59 PM.  This will finalize your required postings for your blog.  Nice job guys – your American Experience posts have been thoroughly enjoyable.

#3 – (All students) CA goals are noted here.  Make sure that your blog is up to date in regards to all of the requirements.  You must make a post on your blog (Senior Current Issues Blog grade) that I will read by Thursday and I will grade you on a 100 point Common Assessment in regard to following through on the blog requirements.  If you do not currently have a podcast, say so on the post.   If you intend to do a podcast this weekend, note it on that  post and hand it to me on a flash drive first thing Monday morning in MP3 or MP4 format if you want credit.  If you are able to link your podcast to your blog – tell me that on the post as well.  After I grade and comment on this post you may remove it from your blog if you wish to.

#4 – (All students) Cider House Rules Assignment is due posted to Google Docs by 11:59 PM Wednesday November 27.

Have a nice Thanksgiving all.  See you next week.

Comments Off on SCI end of the MP Assignments…

Filed under 1 Senior Current Issues

November 23, 2013 · 2:32 pm

Survey – Benefits and Opportunity Cost of Going to College

Please take your time in filling out the survey below. Your input in improving this unit is essential. Your answers are anonymous. This survey has been created via “Survey Monkey.” Thank you in advance for your participaton.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world’s leading questionnaire tool.

“>

Comments Off on Survey – Benefits and Opportunity Cost of Going to College

Filed under 3 Economics, Uncategorized

Tagged as , ,