Week Eight

This Week

This week has been somewhat chaotic, with a Plan E, Internet going down, and starting a new project, then deciding to hold off on it, then (possibly) deciding to move forward with it again! Thank you weather and state testing!

Today, I decided to wait on completing our vacation project due to the lack of reliable Internet (due to PARCC testing). Then, as I was typing my update, I heard an announcement that the Internet was back on (tentatively). So, we will likely try to continue this next week.

So, here's what we did this week:
Monday: Plan E day, I put up a short quiz on an assignment we didn't have time to do last week on mobile banking, which students should have completed on Pilot

Tuesday: Introduced the dream vacation project and began working in groups

Wednesday: Worked on the project in groups

Thursday: Internet went out, we watched Rick Steves' Europe to get ideas about "places of interest" and how to plan your trip

Friday: I lectured on Taxes, thinking I would start teaching my macroeconomics unit

Students, do not forget you must look up the value of your long-term and short-term portfolios at home since we don't have Internet access at school! Today is Friday, which is the day you look at the value of your portfolios each week, don't forget!

Screen Shot of portfolios at 1:45

 

Upcoming Week

Next week we will see where we are at with the project and decide whether to try and move forward or not!

Have a great weekend,

~Mr. Grieve

Week Seven

This Week

Calling this a "week" is a bit generous! Students got an extra day to study for a test this week, then they took the test, then we had an E Day where they looked over the next project we'll be doing! Now, Friday, it's our first ever snow day! Hope everyone has a nice day off and gets some rest.

Rankings as of Thursday evening - I'm only at 1.64%... way to go Team 4! Currently they're placed 15th out of 448 teams!

Upcoming Week

Next week we'll begin our Dream Vacation project. I've asked teachers who are interested in having students plan a trip for them to give me a destination, so students will have a chance to play the role of travel agents.

Have a great snow day and a great weekend!

~Mr. Grieve

Week Six - Stock Market Simulation

This Week

This week students began investing in their portfolios. I've had them create two separate portfolios, a short-term and a long-term one. The short-term portfolio is an exciting one, as students are participating in a competition with students all across Ohio. There are over 400 teams, and as of market open this morning one of our teams is in 6th place! Let's hope they can keep it up, as I've promised that any group who ends the 10-week simulation with a greater return than me will be awarded with donuts at the end of the competition.

At market open today my overall return was 0.51%, so groups 4,5, and 3 are currently ahead! Find out more at http://ohiosmc.stocktrak.com/

Upcoming Week

Next week we be taking our second "Quest" on Tuesday when we get back. Students were given a study guide to complete this weekend, which gives them an additional 2 points extra credit on the quest. After this, we will begin working on our vacation project! This year I have some teachers who are interested in taking a trip out of country, so students may be able to act as travel agents for these teachers! If you have some ideas about a trip you'd like to go on, send me a destination and a budget and I'll see if I can arrange to have students personalize a trip for you!

Have a great weekend!

~Mr. Grieve

Week Five - Personal Finance Continued

This Week

This was a short week with Plan E today and no school tomorrow! This week we learned about what APR means, why it matters, and what places don't have to tell you APR: Rent-to-Own stores. Students learned about the dangers of doing Rent to Own and why it's almost always a better idea to save up for something instead or (if that's not feasible) to put something on a credit card, where you know the APR and it's (hopefully) much lower. Finally, we began our study of stocks and investments as we started playing the investment game http://www.genirevolution.org/, where students can engage in personal finance scenarios and get to play games while learning along the way.

Upcoming Week

Next week is all about investments, as well will continue learning about stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Students will be introduced to the Ohio Stock Market Challenge simulation they will be participating in this year, where they will be "given" $100,000 to invest in real stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. This is a fun simulation where students get to compete with other students around the state, and the winners get a lunch that is not free, but is paid for by the Wright State University College of Business as well as a field trip to visit. Learn more about this competition at http://ohiosmc.stocktrak.com/.

Check out the simulation here

Have a great weekend!

~Mr. Grieve