Monday, August 29, 2016

Day 1 Agenda (Monday 08/29/16)

Mr. C's SMART Lunch Availability This Week
LunchMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
ACLOSEDBy AppointmentCLOSEDBy AppointmentCLOSED
BCLOSEDOpen TUTORIALCLOSEDCLOSEDCLOSED
Motivation for the Week:
"Transformation is more about unlearning than learning. The challenge is using what we have learned and experienced to then transform."
- Mr. C

Agenda
All Classes
1) Welcome!
Complete Basic Information Sheet. Watch the video below to complete the last part of the document.


2) Rules and Expectations
We quickly went over some of the rules and expectations for the class. View the PowerPoint below that corresponds the Rules and Expectations.


You must also complete each item on the sign off list. Use the links below to accomplish each. If you need your WCPSS Google login, see me tomorrow. I will make time to give those out to anyone who needs it.
Sign up For Remind
Sign up for Google Classroom
WCPSS Student/Parent Handbook
LRHS Honor Code
LRHS Handbook for "Integrity" (pp 25-26), "Student Code of Conduct" (pp 18-23), and "Senior Final Exam Exemption Policy" (pp. 16-17)
Caggia Social Studies on twitter (@caggiasocstud)
Caggia Econ on twitter (@caggiaecon)
Visit and Browse CaggiaSocialStudies.com

Homework
All Classes
1) Complete (as much of) the sign off list as possible.
2) Read and Note Chapter 1 (pages 3-12).

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Week of 10/13 - 10/17

This week we will be wrapping up our unit on National Income Accounting. We will be getting into how all the factors we looked at in this unit can be influenced to try and produce the desired results of Economic Growth and Stability. First we will build up the older model of the Keynesian Approach (Aggregate Expenditures) before we get into the composite Aggregate Supply and Aggregate Demand of the following unit.

This is our tentative plan for the week. Keep in mind our scheduled quiz for Thursday.


Day Plan Homework
Monday
1) Economic Growth and Stability
Chapter 8 Problems
Tuesday
Activity 18: Test Your Understanding of Macroeconomic Indicators
Wednesday
1) PSAT Time
  • Practice Problems from Mankiw Book
Study for Tomorrow's Quiz
Thursday
1) QUIZ - Unemployment & Inflation
  • Including Nominal & Real GDP Conversion
2) Introduction to Aggregate Expenditures
Read and Note Chapter 9 pages 159-166
Friday
1) Consumption Function
  • Consumption (C) and Savings (S)
  • APC, APS
  • MPC, MPS
  • OLD Activity 24: What Is an MPC?

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Week of 09/29 - 10/03

This week we will be wrapping up international trade (for now). We will finally be getting into the US government and the way it is able to measure the economy and eventually influence the domestic economy.

Well, we did not get 1st place in the JDRF drive but we have earned two consolation prizes: 1) LRHS has raised more money for JDRF this year than any other year; 2) 2nd place still gets us a breakfast sponsored by Executive Council. We should also thank Connor for bringing in donuts last week - who doesn't love donuts?

This is our tentative plan for the week. Keep in mind out scheduled quiz for Tuesday.


Day Plan Homework
Monday
1) International Trade
  • Go Over Chapter 37 & 38 T/F & MC
  • Chapter 37 & 38 Problems
2) GDP
Study for Tomorrow's Quiz
Tuesday
1) QUIZ
  • Exchange Rates & International Trade
2) GDP
Read & Note pp. 116 - 131 (chapter 7)
Wednesday
1) Unemployment
2) GDP: Constructing & Deconstructing
  • View online PPT on Income Approach to GDP
  • Take Notes
Thursday
1) GDP: Income Approach
  • Practice Constructing & Deconstructing - Chapter 7 Problems #1&3
2) Economic Goals
Friday
1) GDP
  • Go Over Chapter 7 Problems #1&3
2) Inflation
Price Indexes
  • pp 134-135 #11&12

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Week of 09/22/14

This week is a little different with a day off on Thursday (at least for the students). Seems we are beginning to get a little behind so from now I am going to try and make sure that I have a definitive plan that we will try to stick to. To help, I will be posting that plan here for all to see. It will also help in getting ahead with assignments as I will be able to post them over the weekend for the week ahead. This should aid you in planning your week with your busy schedules from academics to extra curricular.


It also seems that some people could be dedicating more time to preparing for the course. I know that everyone in the class is capable of outstanding success but not everyone is demonstrating it. My guess is that my attempt at creating a comfortable and easy-going atmosphere in the classroom has become the approach to student preparation for the course, also comfortable and easy-going. Please be sure to put your best foot forward, you will see the rewards.

Day Plan Homework
Monday
1) Comparative Advantage
  • Go Over Friday's Problem
2) QUIZ
  • Comparative Advantage & Gains from Trade
3) Exchange Rates
Read & Note 752-768 (Chapter 38)
Tuesday
1) Exchange Rates
2) International Trade
  • Entertain Student Questions
  • Dealing with domestic surpluses and shortages in an open economy
Wednesday
1) Trade Barriers
Thursday
Teacher Workday

Friday
1) International Trade
Finish Problems for HW if Necessary

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Week of August 25

Welcome back for another year at Leesville! I am excited about this year, I am excited about teaching AP Macroeconomics. As you know, the course if offered every other year, so that one semester in four that affords me the opportunity to teach it is a welcome change and challenge.

We have already jumped right in discussing the basic concepts and thought processes involved in economics. It is important to remember that economics tries to apply science to human behavior claiming that people behave in predictable ways. The truth is, when taken as a whole, the mass of people will behave predictably, but there will be those who will behave contrarily. Of course that is acceptable, people make rational choices and do what they believe is best for them at any given moment, ergo, what is best for one person may not be what is best for someone else. So when we try to discuss what choices people make or I make a generalization, there will be exceptions. To get a better grasp on the course we must try to focus on the rule and not try to come up with exceptions (unless specifically asked to do so).

I also apologize at present, I am presently having issues scanning some of the course documents and am not able to put them all online. Once I have these issues resolved (most likely by acquiring a new scanner) I will get the documents up and available to you. I thank you in advance for your patience.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Week of 12/03/12

This week I am not going to give as much detail. We will begin a new part of the unit later this week: How Banks & Thrifts Create Money. We will be challenging some of your conceptions about banking and will begin to see how the Federal Reserve can get banks to control the supply of Money. Please note, we will have a Quiz Wednesday on Chapter 13.

Monday
The Federal Reserve System is the glue that makes the our banking system run and makes our banks safer than before the Great Depression.
  1. Federal Reserve System
    • Diagram the structure of the Federal Reserve System

  2. Chapter 13 Short Answer Questions
Homework: Chapter 13 Problems
Tuesday
We will look at the mathematical equation of how the money supply balances with the price level.

  1. Discuss Chapter 13 Problems
  2. Activity 36: The Monetary Equation of Exchange
Homework: Chapter 13 Multiple Choice Questions

Wednesday
Last wraps on Chapter 13 before the Quiz today.
  1. Discuss Chapter 13 Multiple Choice Questions
  2. Quiz: Chapter 13
Homework: Read & Note from Chapter 14 pp. 265-271

Thursday
We will begin looking at the banking system and the role it plays over the commercial banks thrifts.
  1. How Banks & Thrifts Make Money
  2. Chapter 14 Short Answer Questions
Homework: Read & Note from Chapter 14 pp. 271-279, and complete the Fill-In Questions (to be collected Friday)

Friday
More on the Banking System.
  1. Activity 37: The Multiple Expansion of Checkable Deposits
  2. Economics U$A: (Unit 21) The Federal Reserve
Homework: Chapter 14 True/False Questions (justify your answers)

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Week of 11/26

Trying something new this week, of course it all depends on how well I can maintain this... I am going to try and update each weekend what we will be doing in class this week. It may be able to give you some advanced notice of upcoming work so you can get ahead of your busy schedule. This week we will transition from discussing the Long-Run Aggregate Supply and turn our attention to the discussion and understanding of money as we move toward Monetary Supply. Make sure you are aware of a Quiz this week, Wednesday - Long Run Aggregate Supply.

Monday
More Long-Run Aggregate Supply (LRAS). After responding to your questions we will work on a few activities to sharpen your acumen on LRAS.

  1. Activity 28: Short-Run to Long-Run
  2. Activity 29: LRAS and the PPC
  3. Activity 33: Analyzing the Macroeconomy
Homework: Chapter 16 Problems and page 321 #1-4

Tuesday
Finishing up with LRAS and putting it all together. We will go over the activities from the day before and the homework.

  1. Sample Free-Response Questions
Homework: Study for the Quiz Wednesday and finish the Free Response Questions

Wednesday
Quiz today on LRAS (first part of Chapter 16)! Afterwards we will begin discussing MONEY! As much as we like the idea of money in it's basest sense as necessary to acquire our needs and wants in our society, it is more important for us to understand the economic definitions of money and why we can use it as a medium of exchange.
  1. Quiz: LRAS
  2. Discussion about Money, the functions, definitions, and what "backs" money.
Homework: Read and Note about Monetary Supply (pp. 244-250) use the Chapter 13 Overview and Fill-In Questions (I will collect Friday after you get to complete noting the rest of the chapter Thursday)

Thursday
More about Money. Assessing understanding about Money and the Ms.
  1. Discussion about Money Supply from your questions
  2. Activity 34: Money
  3. Activity 35: What's All This About the Ms?
  4. Chapter 13 True/False Questions (About Money Supply)
  5. Chapter 13 Short Answer Questions (About Money Supply)
Homework: Read and Notes about Money Demand and the Money Market (pp. 251-260) use the Chapter 13 Overview and Fill-In Questions I assigned on Wednesday. I will collect the Fill-Ins Friday.

Friday
Money Market and the Price of Money, also known as the Interest Rate. Putting together both sides of the equation and some earlier ideas about interest rates.
  1. Discussion about the Money Market from your questions
  2. Activity 39: The Money Market
  3. Chapter 13 True/False Questions (about Money Demand and Money Market)
  4. Chapter 13 Short Answer Questions (about Money Demand and Money Market)
  5. Activity 36: The Monetary Equation of Exchange

It is likely we will have a quiz on Chapter 13 either Tuesday or Wednesday next week.