Review Materials

Wow! The end of the semester snuck op on me! It does not feel like the semester will be over and final exams beginning next week (just 5 school days to go). While I am always excited for the summer vacation, as I am sure you all are too, it is a bit bitter sweet this semester as I know it will be a long time before I have the opportunity to teach such a great group of students all day long!

However, we still have work to do. I have uploaded a couple of specific review materials:

EOC Unit-by-Unit Study Guide, part 1

• This document includes Unit 1A through Unit 4A. Each page has the essential ideas and concepts that need to be remembered for the EOC.

EOC Practice Questions

• This document includes 33 Exercises with about 10 questions each to practice for the EOC.

This definitely crunch time, and although I confident in what everyone will be able to do, please do not take the EOC lightly. Go in prepared and do not put yourself in the situation walking out where you say to yourself, "I wish I had studied more." The ball is in your court. What are you going to do with it?

Week of 24 May 2010

We are coming down to it now, just 6 days of instruction until final exams. We have been reviewing a little each day with Blue Diamond questions, but hopefully you are taking the time to round up all your notes and things from this entire semester and have begun looking them over. The EOC is just a few weeks away, and although I am planning review in class, it is expected that you are reviewing on your own. I have given you access to all the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS) Goals & Objectives. Be sure you can explain each one and you will have absolutely no problem on the EOC. If you are unsure where to find the NCSCOS Goals & Objectives you can use each of the Preview/Review Guides I have distributed to begin each unit or you can visit the State Department of Public Instruction (DPI) website or visit the Success Series Video website.

Again, remember that there is only 6 days of class left before the EOC (Monday is Memorial Day, no school). We must use our time wisely!

Beginning Thursday, bring your textbook from home to school everyday. I have already taken up all the textbooks from the desks - you will not need one until Thursday, at the earliest.

Week of 10 May 2010

I know this post is a few days behind, I apologize for being absent on Monday. It was my goal to not miss any days this semester, unfortunately that goal will not happen. More importantly, we are cruising with rational choices and economic thinking in Unit 7: Introduction to Economics. The idea we learn this week are the basic form of the complicated ideas that govern economics for businesses and governments. If you understand these concepts you will be well on your way to understanding Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.

Thursday this week is Awards Day. Students will be honored with awards all day in every class. There will also be an assembly during second period to announce departmental honors to select students throughout the school. From each second period class, select students will have the opportunity to attend, everyone else will watch it on television in their classrooms.

Be prepared, we are in the home stretch. The EOC is less than a month away. Please be sure to go back and review your notes and information. We will begin reviewing in class as well.

Week of 3 May 2010

We will be wrapping up the Civics portion of the curriculum this week and moving on to the Economics portion of our program.

A few things to keep in mind for this week:

1) Interim Reports will be distributed on Monday! They must be signed and returned.

2) Landmark Supreme Court Cases Quiz on Wednesday at the beginning of the period. I know I have said it a dozen times, but I am saying it again, you will get to use ALL three of your Supreme Court Cases charts IF and ONLY IF they are ALL cut and pasted when you get to class that day. If even one of them is not completed, then you will not get to use any. NOTE: You may only use your own, not someone's from another period!

3) We will begin reviewing this week by taking part in the Blue Diamond assessments. We will be conducting these for about 15 minutes everyday from now until the end of the semester. Make sure to have a pencil!

4) Fire drill Thursday during 4th period.

5) Unit 6 - State and Local Government test will be Tuesday for 2nd and 4th period. 1st period will still have to be determined.

I would also like to apologize for the length of time it is taking me to grade the projects. There are two waiting to be evaluated by me. The grading is taking a lot longer than I anticipated, particularly for the Roles of the President Current Events assignment. I assure you, I am working on them but they are more time consuming than I anticipated.

We are in the home stretch! Do not let the fine weather interfere with your efforts and become a distraction. You will be able to enjoy it more knowing you have done everything you could to succeed in school. Also, dress appropriately - the weather outside will be warm (OK, hot at times) and the A/C blows directly down on top of you in the trailer so carry a light jacket or something. Also, refer back to your student handbook and reacquaint yourselves with the dress code. No need for detention or hassles in school because your clothes are not up to the county's requirements.