End of the semester

I can't believe it is the end of the semester already. As a high school teacher, I have some classes that end now and some that this is the halfway point. No matter what, I always make sure to do a survey for my students so I can reflect better on the year. The students love it because they feel they have a voice and that it is really their class. It is important for me so I can see what is working and what isn't. This year has been a change in my homework assigning. I am definitely doing less of this, and giving more freedom on the assignments, so I was excited to see what the students thought about this new policy.
The results were overwhelmingly positive, but there were still some that said the weekly assignment is still too much. There were a few that wanted the "traditional" worksheets for their assignments too. It proved to me that I am going in the right direction, but have not arrived at the destination. But isn't that the point? That as a teacher we never really arrive at a destination but always are on the journey to make our classes better? Isn't that why we do professional development, and twitter chats, and read the books and most importantly reflect on our year? So we can keep journeying on.

 

 

I have realized that less homework has been a good thing, and I am going to even reduce the amount for next semester. I realize that I need to keep impressing on my students the importance of creativity and hard work. I am goin gto work on bringing more creative assessments to my class, and as always keep the balance of what is done. Have a wonderful break everyone and best of luck in the new semeseter. 

Twitter accounts for High School Students

I am trying to create a list of Twitter accounts to get my students started on their own learning networks, and working on creating a positive digital footprint. I have started with these so far. This one includes professsion and Illinois colleges, scholarships and financial aid help, so far. I will keep adding to it, and please feel free to do the same. I also took the list of the Economist to follow from HuffPost and put it here. Please feel free to add anyone I may have accidentally overlooked.

Externalities

Externalities are one of my favorite things to teach in Economics. I open with this wordle and have the students discuss what they think the topic is that we are learning that day. I then have the students create a mind map using Popplet on positive and negative externalities. Next, they split into groups and go through the moral dilemma sheet and discuss each externality.  Finally, after discussing the situations, which usually get heated, we look at the USA Today report on school air quality. Our school is in the first percentile for bad air, we are surrounded by factories, so it is a great discussion on the externalities of factories. We get the tax money, but the poisoned air as well.

Types of Economies

For teaching types of Economic Systems, I have been using the following activity. First, we start off discussing what an Economic System is, what are the characteristics of our current system. Then, I use my Prezi to discuss the different types. From there, the students get into groups, obviously, and have the task to create schools based on the three types of Economic Systems. They create a traditional, market, and command economy school. I have them first think of what questions need to be answered to run a school, and then decide how they would answer them for each type of school. The groups then present their schools to the class.

1st Week Economics Activities

I found these assignments and have been using them the past few years the second or third day of class. They are a great way to introduce the main topics of Economics. The first is a Zoo Game . I have the students work in groups for this and then go over the questions at the end together. I find that this is a way to make Economics seem more accessible to the students, and start them off by explaining that they already know the concepts, they just have to understand why they know.

The second is a fun game that the students really get into. Once again, groups are formed. I inform the students that they are their own country, and that they need to make supplies. They need food, which will be 4 strips of 2 inch green paper. They need clothing, which will be a four color paper chain. They need education, which will be an eight page book with a different color cover. Finally, they need shelter, which is a 2 inch white square, attached to a yellow triangle. Seems simple enough. They then each get an envelope with materials. I tell them they have 7 minutes to complete the task. The trick is I don't give everyone all the materials they need. I only give them some of the stuff. If I am feeling particularly crafty, I give one group nothing, or just a paper clip, or something small. I make sure one group has a ruler, one group has a glue stick, etc. Some groups get more than others. The point is that they have to trade to get what they need. An excellent way to introduce scarcity, utility, trade, interdependence and self sufficiency.  It is also a good way to quickly get to know your students by seeing who gets up and starts the trade. I usually offer money, for the winning group. I make sure to measure exactly and no one usually wins.

Money!

One thing that has been constant since I started teaching Economics is the fake money system. The students earn "money" for being in class, their job, as well as extra jobs they do. They have to pay rent on the first of the month, front row seats are more. They also play "That's Life" a few times throughout the semester, where they pick a card and then they have to pay whatever it says. For example, buy lunch for your mom pay 30 dollars. They have to keep track of their money in and out on a checkbook sheet, which is an assignment due at the end of the semester. They have to be responsible for their money, if it is stolen or lost it doesn't get replaced. They don't get sick days or vacation days. They cost of items always goes up, and the pay doesn't, which usually leads to them forming a union at some point, a great lesson to learn! In the end, I give them extra credit for the money they have left. There are other things that the money can buy, like a repick on their household budget project, or food from my "store." A lot of great economic lessons can be learned.