Important Pages in Your Steck-Vaughn Textbook

Math Word Problems: Thursday night Regina identified the chart on page 481 for decoding the math processes in word problems.

Math Formulas: The same list of formulas provided on the Official GED test appears on page 715.

Essays: The criteria used to grade your GED Essays can be found as a chart on page 185.

Ten Students Get GEDs!

Success

The following alumnae of this class achieved a GED recently, congratulations!

Lawrence Robinson
Scarlet Brickhouse
Corie Gandy
Michanda Goode

Treyvon Woolridge

LaTonya Mealey
Tiffany Fisher
Marcus Pryor
David Tinsley
Loretta Kelcy

Now who's NEXT?

Don't forget to ask for me for assistance with financial aid if you plan to continue your studies post-GED.

Current students, have you tried the:

• GED Connection Math Practice Tests? www.pbs.org/literacy


• Visual Fractions website? http://www.visualfractions.com/


• Math quizzes and drills at http://www.thatquiz.org/?

Scoring Breakdown for the GED and Practice Test

total possible points: 4000 (5 sections x 800 points each)

total minimum points to pass: 2250

total possible points per section: 800

average minimum points to pass per section: 450

absolute minimum points to pass per section: 410

special scoring: Language Arts-Writing

total number correct on first half (multiple choice) is combined with second half (Essay, with score of 2 out of 4 or higher) to arrive at number out of 800

Tutoring Now Available!

Our class has three new ways you can access more help on your way to a GED.

Reading and Writing

Our volunteer tutor, who has a Master's degree in High School English, will be available by appointment for up to 60 minutes before the beginning of class. She will focus on the Reading and Writing sections of the test. Contact me if you would like to arrange a tutoring session.

GED Online

Some of you may remember Richard Sebastian, who worked with us on the blogging project last semester. Well he has also arranged for online tutors to assist learners with GED material. Call his office at 1-888-589-9003 to find out more, or visit www.elearnvirginia.com

GED On Demand

This series offers 39 separate half hour videos covering the subjects and skills needed to pass the GED. You'll hear from experts and former students, get practical test-taking advice, and increase your knowledge in each of the 5 GED test areas: Writing, Reading, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics.

For Comcast digital cable subscribers, choose the Get local folder from your ON DEMAND menu, then choose GED Connection.

For Cox digital cable subscribers, go to Channel 1 ON DEMAND and choose Free Zone. Select Education from the list of options, then choose GED.

This one is also a product of our buddy Richard's labors.

Don't forget it's Black History Month. Read all about Fannie Lou Hamer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party

If I Had $500...

Together we created an essay question in class last Thursday, so here it is. If you had $500, what would you do with it and why? Give specific details from your observations and experiences to support your answer.

If I had 500 bucks, I would pay down nmy credit cards debt. Right now the interest is at 29 percet, and the extra fees on the orginal $1000 I used to buyed a flat panel TV are just killing me. I have seen what high interest credit cards can do to a person's finances, straight out wreck it! So any opportunity I might could take to reduce the payments and eventually get out of debt will be real welocome. I've seen so many peolple just spend money like there's no tomorrow, but that's just not me. I made a little mistake by aagreeing to the terms of the credit card without sho[pping aroun for the best ratre, and now I'm paying it for it big time, like I said before. Also like I mentioned earlier, I really didn't need such a huge tv anyway. So all in all, that's my opinion of what I woild do with $500 if had the extra money to spend ther way I wnat to. It might nb0t be your choice, but that's just what makes the world go round, every one has different opiions there entitled to.

Please comment on this essay, telling what score you would give (1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, or 4), and why. Use the essay scoring chart to guide your decision.

In-class Practice Test next week!

By popular demand, we'll be taking the Official Practice Test in class next week, on Tuesday, February 5 and Thursday, February 7 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. I will grade the tests over the following weekend and return them to you on Tuesday, February 12 for review in class. This process will direct our focus to areas needing reinforcement.

Please note: Tutoring and online work will be available to those not taking the test. All students should attend class next week.

What Score Would You Give This Essay?

Topic:
What is one important goal you would like to achieve in the next few years? In your essay, identify that goal. Explain how you plan to achieve it. Use your personal observations, experience and knowledge.

Response to Prompt:
I have many goals all but I never seem to realize any of them. Something always gets in the way, like money, relationships, or just plain old bad luck. So therefore though I'd like to achieve some goals, I really can't say I've had much success.

Once I tried to earn some money to buy a playstation by working part-time cutting grass. My neighbor stole all my customers away from me as soon as he found out I was making about $20 an hour doing lawns. He offered to do lawns for a flat fee of $18, and I knew I couldn't compete with that!

Another time, I wanted to try out for the football team. I was sure to make the first string as an offensive lineman. But my girlfriend said I wasn't spending enough time with her. It was either her or the team. So I chose her, and then she broke up with me a week later anyway.

Last, bad luck has come into play in the past. I had plans to start attending GED classes in fall of last year. However, the summer right before that, I was helping my brother fix the brakes on his 68 Nova Chevelle SS. The jack slipped out from under the car, and I broke my arm when the car fell. Needless to say I was not ready to write essays and do math with a cast on my arm from my knuckles to my shoulder.

So, all in all, goals have been very difficult for me to accomplish. Something bad always happens to me, and then the goals go by the wayside for a while longer. My advice to you would be to watch out for fake friends, girlfriends, and bad luck when trying to accomplish your goals.

Syllabus Winter 2008

Syllabus for GED Fast Track January 15 to March 20, 2008

Benefits of GED Fast Track:
Higher level of instruction, individualized when necessary
Option to participate in blogging to improve writing skills & employability
Access to videos, computer lab
Membership in online classroom accessible 24-7
Instruction and test taking tips using Official Practice Test
Free Official GED Test with perfect attendance and high Practice Test scores
Assistance pursuing community college enrollment after passing GED

Expectations:
Students will identify a date to take the Official GED Test within 90 days
Learners will purchase Casio calculator ($10) & GED textbook ($18).
Students will bring paper, pencil, pen, calculator & textbook to class each night.
Fast Track students will complete Practice Test before taking Official GED Test.
Students must take a Practice Test within the nine-week period

Schedule:
Tuesday, January 15: 6:30-8:30 Orientation to class & GED Test
Thursday, January 17: 6:30-7:30 GED Essay high score writing examples
7:40-8:30 Contemporary’s Algebra tips

Tuesday, January 22: 6:30-7:30 MLK discussion, GED Essay holistic scoring chart
7:40-8:30 Practice Test Math (PA) scan
Thursday, January 24: 6:30-7:30 Blog posting orientation
7:40-8:30 Math answer sheets: coordinate grids, etc.

Tuesday, January 29: 6:30-7:30 Evaluate Adam’s essay online or on paper
7:40-8:30 Area using pizza advertisements
Thursday, January 31: 6:30-7:30 Create essay prompt together
7:40-8:30 Pbs.org livelihood workplace math

Tuesday February 5: 6:30-7:30 Essay diagrams & writing workshop
7:40-8:30 Area and volume of classroom
Thursday, February 7: 6:30-7:30 Essays due
7:40-8:30 Pbs.org working world percentages

Tuesday, February 12: 6:30-7:30 Essay revision and resubmission
7:40-8:30 Percentages: car loan calculator
Thursday, February 14: 6:30-7:30 GED Connection sign-up
7:40-8:30 Math comparisons with cell phone contracts

Tuesday, February 19: 6:30-7:30 Create essay prompt together
7:40-8:30 Decimals with car tire sizing
Thursday, February 21: 6:30-7:30 Essay diagrams & writing workshop
7:40-8:30 Algebra

Tuesday, February 26: 6:30-7:30 Essays due
8-8:30 Algebra
Thursday, February 28: 6:30-7:30 Essay revision and resubmission
8-8:30 Algebra

Tuesday, March 4: 6:30-7:30 Test taking tips/reading directions
7:40-8:30 Working world Geometry
Thursday, March 6: 6:30-7:30 Science Practice Test: graphs & charts
7:40-8:30 Geometry

Tuesday, March 11: 6:30-7:50 JSRCC/GED graduate guest speaker
8-8:30 Geometry
Thursday, March 13: 6:30-7:30 Write review of speaker’s presentation
8-8:30 Teacher evaluations, sign up for Practice Test

Tuesday, March 18: 6:30-7:30 Social Studies Practice Test: maps, images
7:40-8:30 Beyond GED job market discussion
Thursday, March 20: 6:30-830 reserved for review


YOU CAN DO THIS. GOOD LUCK!

Thursday, December 13 Assignments

Writing: If you have written an essay, revise it based on my comments. All others please write your essays in response to the question posted last week on improving Richmond.

Math: Geometry-Right Triangles-do p.618 #5-10

Homework:

• Writing-comment on other's blog postings using holistic scoring chart, stay in touch with each other via your blogs over winter break


• Math-self directed use of math websites in the right column of this blog under Resources over winter break

Tuesday, December 11 Assignments

Writing: Answer this question that we created as a class-

• What would you do to improve Richmond? Why? How? Use your own knowledge, observations and personal experiences to support your answer. Give specific details.

Test-Taking Strategies: Class discussion of handout

Math: Geometry-Right Triangles-read p.616, do p.617 #1-4

Homework:

• Geometry-Right Triangles-p.618 #5-10


• Writing-Finish essay above, post to blog. Comment on others' writing.

What I Would Do to Improve Richmond

I would improve Richmond in several ways because this city does not live up to its potential. By honestly addressing racism, as well as public school teachers' and parents' attitudes towards children, our town could make significant progress.

First, we must deal with white racism. I realized this when I helped a neighbor kid bring his dog to the vet. Steven was black, and only nine years old, and I am white. When we walked across the parking lot of the vet's office, a white man and his young son stared at us. The father grabbed his child by the arm and the two of them seemed to look at us in disgust. I felt that they were stereotyping a kid whose life was just starting out without knowing anything about him. To solve this problem, people of different backgrounds need to get to know each other in order to break down prejudices. A more economically and racially integrated community would help to achieve this.

Second, teachers' attitudes towards kids in the City school system must improve. I have seen teachers tell middle schoolers they're stupid, and offer high schoolers coloring handouts instead of real work. Teachers with this kind of approach should be warned, then fired if they don't shape-up. Then, they can be replaced with better paid, more skilled teachers with better attitudes. This will help to turn out students who have better outlooks themselves, and who are more likely to succeed.

Lastly, parents need an attitude check too. If kids are ever to fix the mess we've made, parents can't keep threatening them with physical violence as a solution. Children who learn that only reason not to break the rules is because they'll be beaten don't necessarily understand the underlying reasons for controlling their behavior. My wife went to get a flu shot the other day, and she heard a mom say to her 2 year old kid, "If you don't shut up, I'll have them stick you with that needle!" Parents need to respect their kids and do better parenting by reading up on child development, and talking to each other about their concerns. Then, we'll raise a new generation of Richmonders with more positive views than many of the adults causing problems.

So to sum up, I would improve Richmond in three ways: deal with racism by helping people to get to know each other, hire better teachers to replace the negative ones, and encourage parents to stop using threats and start using respect as a way to raise children. I believe those points would go a long way towards fixing our problems.

Thursday, December 6 Assignments

click here to see proposed improvements for Richmond

Writing: Post comments to my essay response to this question on your blogs:

• What would you do to improve Richmond? Why? How? Use your own knowledge, observations and personal experiences to support your answer. Give specific details.

Math: Geometry - Irregular Shapes, p.615 #1,3,4

Homework:

• Geometry - Right Triangles, read p.616, do p.617 #1-4
• Writing: Repsond to essay above, comment on others' blogs

Tuesday, December 4 Assignments

Get ready for fun with right triangles on Thursday!

Writing: As a class, we will create a GED Essay formatted writing prompt to which we will all respond. The question will focus on a matter of general knowledge, and support will come from the writers' knowledge, personal experiences, and observations.

Math: Congruent Figures and Proportions in Geometry, pp.610-611, do p.612, #1-6

Homework:

1. Writing: If you finish all the assigned essays and recommended revisions, please post blog comments on others' writing using the scoring chart. Look for Felecia's and Jamisha's postings to fellow students' blogs as examples.


2. Math: If you complete all the assigned Geometry, continue on to read Irregular Figures, p.613-614 in your textbook. Then complete p.615, #1-4.

Thursday, November 29 Assignments

This Day in Black History: 11/28 Richard Wright, author of Native Son, dies,1960

Writing: Make revisions to your blog posts as noted in my comments. Post a comment to a classmate's blog about his or her writing using the holistic scoring chart as a basis for your comments.

Math: Triangle area cont'd., review textbook p.599 problems #4&6

Homework:

1. Writing- Using the holistic chart as a basis for your comments, post a comment to a fellow student's blog.


2. Math- Lines and angles, read textbook p.606. Try #1-6, p.607

Tuesday, November 27 Assignments

All in class and homework assignments same as Tuesday, November 20

Here is a real 4 (Perfect Score) Essay

Sample GED Essay Writing Prompt Topic

What is one important goal you would like to achieve in the next few years? In your essay, identify that goal. Explain how you plan to achieve it. Use your personal observations, experience, and knowledge to support your essay.

Reprinted with the permission of the GED Testing Service

Over the next few years, my main goal is to obtain a college degree from St. Johns University in Collegville. This goal will be very difficult to obtain and I will need to work hard at it. Three things that will affect the outcome of my goal are; how much money I can raise to pay for it, how much time I am willing to spend studying, and my dedication in training for football.

Before you can register at a college, you must consider how it is going to be paid for. This is especially an issue at St. Johns, because the tuition is around $22,000 a year. This is a huge sum of money. It is not made easier by the fact that my parents will be able to contribute very little towards my education. Thus I am forced to rely on scholarships, grants, and loans from the government and other agencies. I have already taken some action by applying for scholarships, but I will have to apply again next year. I received a $7,500 scholarship from St. Johns and they have also given me some grants. The rest of the money will have to come from student loans and an on
campus job.

The next area that will affect my goal is the classroom. This is important because the main point of college is to prepare meself for a successful career. In college, I will need to apply myself and take time to study every night. Sometimes, I may be forced to give up things that I would rather do, but I must if I am going to achieve my goal. I must create a relationship with my professors because they will help me obtain the information that is needed to be successful.

The third thing is my dedication in training for football. Football is my favorite sport and St. Johns has an excellent football tradition. They have150 players out for football each year. If I am going to be successful and contribute to the team, I am going to have to be dedicated to training. I must spend tireless hours in the weight room gaining strength and quickness.

I believe all of the hard work will pay off. If I can do these three things, I will successfully complete my goal of graduation from college. If this goal is achieved, I believe I will be well on
my way to a successful life

Reprinted with permission of the GED Testing Service

Tuesday, November 20 Assignments

The Indian Nation that first celebrated Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims still exists today!

Writing: See Thursday, November 15

Math: Intro to Geometry based on PA Practice Test Math questions

Homework:

1. Writing: Comment on a classmate's blog post, complete essay revisions.


2. Math: GED Steck-Vaughn textbook p.599 #1-6 or find lessons online from the linklist on this blog about triangle area & perimeter

Thursday, November 15 Assignments

For Thanksgiving Social Studies info on the image above click here

Writing: Continue with Tuesday's essay question in one of three ways

1. If you haven't done so already, begin writing a response to the prompt.


2. If you have already written a repsonse, do revisions based on my comments.


3. If you finish with your corrections and improvements, comment on others' writing directly on their blogs.


4. For homework, finish 1-3 above by Tuesday.
   

Math: Finishing up with Algebra basic concepts

1. Knowledge share: Students recommend math websites or online lessons to each other.


2. Geometry essay to introduce next week's topic


3. Equation word problems #1-6, page 572 of Steck-Vaughn GED textbook


4. For homework, finish any problems from page 572 that we do not cover in class.

Tuesday, November 13 Assignments

Writing - Revise and republish your response to Thursday's Essay question based on my comments. If you have not already published an initial response, please do so tonight in class.

homework: Answer this GED Essay question as a post on your blog:

What do you consider to be your best personal attributes and/or characteristics? Why? Give specific examples of what they are, and why you and/or others like those qualities.

Math - Review equations homework from GED-Steck Vaughn textbook:
page 566, problems 1-20 (substitution and the distributive property)
page 572, problems 1-6 (translating word problems into equations)

homework: balance of questions from the textbook not covered in class tonight.

Thursday, November 8 Assignments

Math - Equations from McGraw-Hill Top 50 Math Skills Handout
Review last few problems on page 99. Identify homework in GED Steck-Vaughn book and/or online as a class.

Writing Discussion - What's Going On?

At least 15 students have set-up blogs, but no one's really posting much writing there. Let's talk about how we can increase the level of participation in class tonight. Feel free to post your response to this question here on my blog too.

Writing - Answer This GED Essay Prompt on Your Blog by Tuesday

What one experience has significantly changed your life for the better? Why? Use specific examples from your personal knowledge, experiences and observations to support your answer. Try to respond in about 250 words and/or five paragraphs, including an introduction, body and conclusion. Use the chart from my October 30 post to this blog for structural guidelines if you find them helpful. Remember, your writing will be scored holistically, not exclusively focused on punctuation or grammar.

Tuesday, November 6 Assignments

Math - Identify Practice Test Problems
We will continue to pick out and solve problems from the PA Practice Test as a class. Reinforcement work can be done at the links on this blog, and in the Steck-Vaughn GED textbook. Together, we will note the pages in the text that cover the material we choose in class tonight. Math homework will be assigned each period by student-driven requests from focus subject areas. The most common in the past have been: Algebra, Geometry, and fractions/percents/decimals.

Starting tonight, the math homework will always be selected from the Steck-Vaughn GED textbook, or from the math links under Resources on the right hand column of this blog.

Writing - Critique & Correct My Analysis Below as a Posted Comment:
Lyrics selection-
I don't mind leavin' here to show the world we have no fear 'Cause we're a winner and everybody knows it too, we'll just keep on pushin', like your leaders tell you to, at last that blessed day has come and I don't care where you come from, we're just go move on up (movin' on up)

-Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions "We're a Winner"

My analysis:
My song lyric about doing what u feel u should do when the time is right. Sometime other people might come around and to put you down. But you believe in yourself so they can't change you. You're one and only tru love will help you find a way in life, and that's to follow your own path to success! Keep goals in mind everyday and you will overcome the problems that life throw at you.

Corrected analysis:
This selection talks about the Civil Rights Movement, and the challenge of maintaing group self-esteem against huge odds. Curtis Mayfield says in the song that the cause is even worth the cost of his own life if it will "show the world we have no fear." It must have been a time of great inspiration, with the message to keep on pushing coming from leaders like Martin Luther King and Ralph Abernathy. The spirit of the movement expressed in the song reminds me of justice movements that I've participated in, like the Free Mumia and Anti-globalization movements and marches I've worked on.