Block Day Week of 2/23-27

Good Morning!!  Today we have a action packed productive day ahead!!  On our agenda for today is learning about credit, debt and the different financial institutions and terminology you need to start familiarizing yourself with!!  In fact, in getting started today, consider this situation:

Two friends have offered to lend you $1,000 to buy whatever you want!! Woohoo!!

• The first friend would like you to repay the money within a year, but for every month that goes by without repayment, he or she will charge you $10 interest.  
• The second friend places no time limit on repayment, but will charge you $5 interest for every month that goes by without repayment.

Discuss in 5-6 sentences: 

1. Which is the better offer?
2. Under what circumstances is the offer better?
3. Which deal would you prefer and why?
4. What do you think you would do if presented with this opportunity?  Would you accept it or not?  Which deal would you prefer and what would your repayment plan look like?  
5. What would be your recommendation for someone else in the same situation?

After you have completed the blog, please respond to the questions located at http://goo.gl/NfPv3E based on Chapter 4, Sections 1 & 2.  Please read and respond carefully and always choose the very best answer.  The reading today spans from page 87-98.

After completing the above we are going to shift our focus to applying for college.  Don't worry if you don't finish this today - wherever you leave off your work will be saved for you!  Remember, you will have to begin by creating a login.  Be sure to record your username and password.  This will be important for future communications between you and the college you plan to attend.  To begin this process please follow these steps:

• The application can be found at: http://home.cccapply.org/
• This link will take you to the landing site for all California Community Colleges including Foothill, DeAnza, Canada, CSM, Santa Barbara CC, etc.
• Complete the application - ask me, Mr. Rubin, anytime you have a question or get stuck
• Complete this form with your brand new college enrollment identification number http://goo.gl/a5RgQG

Once you have completed all of the above, please, please, please help yourself be successful!!  I can't possibly encourage you anymore to utilize whatever extra class time you might have for this.  Check School Loop, complete work for your classes that is due, apply for scholarships http://www.macareercenter.com/scholarships.html ... ANYTHING!

Wal-Mart, Outsourcing and the Reality for You and Me!

http://goo.gl/FXyqcv (for 3rd period only)

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday!! You know, it's interesting to think about our global economy, the factors of production and the controversy that surrounds Wal-Mart.  It really is a tough question to answer whether Wal-Mart is Good or Bad for America.  Would it make sense to decide we won't import any foreign goods?  Of course not, because we certainly want to be able to export our goods too!!  Listen to this report by Dave Padilla on how connected our world is today and how simple the export of Oranges can affect our global economy!!

After listening to the report, please respond to the following:

• What impact has the Port of Oakland's Labor Dispute had on Citrus Growers and other jobs around the world?
• What is good about the import/export of goods?  What is bad?
• What are the benefits of a company (i.e. Wal-Mart) outsourcing?  What are the negative aspects?
• Finally, having taken a day (or a couple days) to think about the documentary we just watched, what is your feeling - Is Wal-Mart Good for America or no?  Give one reason you would use to defend your claim!

Thanks!!!

Mr. Rubin

Today is Monday 2/23!

Good Morning and Happy Monday!  We are into the final week of February!!  What better way to kick off the week than a blog post?!?!  Before we get into my class, please take a moment for your blog this morning and address the following questions:

• Can you believe it!! Although second semester is undoubtedly longer than the 1st, grades are already posted for the 1st quarter progress period and we are less than 4 weeks from the end of the quarter!! In SchoolLoop, check all of your progress grades.
• What grades did you receive in each course? (make a list) 
• Next to the grade you received, list one thing you could have done to improve your grade in each class. If you received an A, how would you explain your success to a classmate?
• Finally, what is your current term GPA?  In addition, how are you feeling about this GPA? About school? About finishing off the 2014-15 school year strong?

Thanks for your thoughtful response.  After completing the blog today here is what is on the agenda:

1. Finish watching the documentary: "Is Walmart Good for America." The worksheet for this movie is located at http://goo.gl/3hQ55i and you can actually access the video at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frol02s489q71&continuous=1
2. Remember, in addition to the short online multiple choice assignment, there is also a handout I passed out that needs to be completed on blue paper.  If you misplaced that handout, you can always login to Schoology and print out a copy for yourself!

Remember, you need to be great about keeping up with our daily assignments this quarter.  The first quarter progress grading period is now over - nothing else can be submitted - but moving forward it will really benefit you to use your time in class as best you can so you stay up to date with everything and have a successful finish to the year!!

The above are due today at the end of class.  In addition, if you finish early, don't forget that there was a blog on Friday that you could still do today AND you could also make sure you recorded your most recent stock prices :)

Friday 2/20 - Updating Your Stock Prices

Good Morning and Happy Friday!  I recognize that we may not have time in class and will, therefore, make this blog a short one!  It is a requirement nonetheless!!  For today's blog, please make a note on your green handout of each of your current stock prices as of today, Friday February 20th.  In addition to completing  your green sheet, please respond to the following questions in paragraph format!

1. What 3 stocks are you tracking?
2. What is the current price of each stock you are tracking
3. How would you say your stock is performing?  Have you earned or lost money?
4. Give one reason, based on evidence you have found online - ideally in an article you have made a note of on your green sheet - as to why one (or more) of your stocks is performing well or poorly.  Remember, you can locate all of this information on https://www.google.com/finance

Block Day 2/18-19

Good Morning -

Happy Block Day!!  Today we have an action packed class period.  To kick off the day, and since our focus in the textbook today is Consumerism, we are going to spend a moment choosing a product and practicing being a good consumer.  I am going to let you pick the product but it needs to be something that is new and sold in multiple locations so you are able to compare prices.  You will need to compare the product at 3 different stores.  Soooooo ....

1. Pick a product
2. Find the product at 3 different stores
3. For each store compare price, warranty and return policy.

After completing this blog post, please read Chapter 3, Section 3 beginning on page 76 of the textbook.  There are only 10 questions on today's assignment which you can find at:  http://goo.gl/qCYw83

We will then move on to watching the end of the documentary movie "Is Walmart Good for America."  The worksheet for this movie is located at http://goo.gl/3hQ55i and you can actually access the video at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frol02s489q71&continuous=1

On Friday, we have a guest presenter coming to our class.  Please be sure to be here and be ontime.  I am offering 15 points for being on time, sitting in your seat when the bell rings (without me having to remind you) and being an active participant during the lesson.

Thanks everyone!!

Other Misc. Thoughts:

• This Friday @ Lunch will be the only opportunity to present posters not on time.  If you're scheduled to present this coming Tuesday, 2/24, don't miss your presentation slot
• This Friday we have a guest presenter.  Be here.  Your active participation is worth an easy 15 points
• Any assignments you did not receive credit for must be submitted at or before lunch on Friday.

Monday 2/17

Good Morning and Welcome back from what I hope was a nice, relaxing 4 day weekend!!  I hope you enjoyed it!  We are about to hit the toughest stretch of the school year with no breaks for the next month.  For today's blog, please respond to the following questions:

1. How was your weekend?  What did you do that was fun?  Did you do anything productive?  Did you have to work?  Was anything not fun?
2. How can you stay motivated through the end of the 3rd quarter, exactly one month from this Friday?  What would you describe to someone as the 3 keys to success in staying focused on your education?

Thanks for a quick, but thorough and thoughtful response!  We have Factors of Production Presentations today.  You can review each of your classmates at the following link: http://goo.gl/TtMQPk

Your Role as a Consumer!

Good Morning!!

Today we are going to learn about your role as a consumer. This process involves your consumption, income, decision making and the overall process that you use in making decisions on whether or not to buy a product.  To kick off the day today, please identify a produce that you have recently purchased.  Having identified that product, please respond to the following questions:

• Before making your purchase, what questions did you ask yourself and others?
• Why did you buy this particular item?
• Do you think you acted wisely in making your purchase?  Why or why not?

By aking questions and seeking information before making purchases, you are developing buysing strategies that will help you acr wisely as consumers.  With that in mind, the last question for this mornings blog is:

• What can you do to make sure that your purchases are wise ones?

Below is the link to today's questions.  As you read chapter 3 sections 1 & 2 please respond to them with the best answer:

http://goo.gl/HqJGIF

Thank you!