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Career and Technical Education

Course Description

 

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CTE Update 12/5/14

Dear Parents,
 
It's been another great week in CTE.  My students have been busy working in the wood shop drilling, cutting, and sanding their CO2 cars.  It has been a lot of fun seeing the students learning how to use power tools and using their creativity to make aerodynamic dragsters.  This next week we are going to put our CO2 project on hold for a week, while we participate in a nationwide promotion on Computer programming.  We will be following curriculum provided by code.org.  I'm excited to teach my students computer programming.  It is going to be an exciting week!  Grades are all up-to-date in Aspire, please check them out:  https://reagan.usoe-dcs.org/Login.aspx  Please feel free to contact me any time with questions or concerns.
 
Thanks for having amazing kids,
 
Mr. Black 

CTE Update 11/21/14

Dear Parents,  
It has been another great week in CTE.  This week has been a little crazy with basketball games, play performances, and the science fair, but my student have been working hard finishing their CO2 Dragster designs.  Starting Monday, students will be starting to drill, cut, and sand their CO2 dragsters in my wood shop.  It is always exciting to help students learn about using power tools safely and effectively. Grades are all up-to-date, so please check student grades on Aspire: https://reagan.usoe-dcs.org/Login/?DestinationURL=%2FHome.aspx
 
Thank you for having amazing kids,
 
Mr. Black

CTE Update 11/14/14

Dear Parents,
 
It has been another great week in CTE.  This week we have been making designs for our CO2 dragsters.  We have been brainstorming and coming up with ideas to create the fastest, most aerodynamic cars.  This is one of my favorite projects that we do in class this year.  After the students finish their designs they will trace it on to a block of wood and cut it out in my wood shop.  Thank you to all that attended our Art and Basket auction, it was a lot of fun and we had a great turnout.
 
Thank you for having such great kids,
 
Mr. Black

CTE Update 11/7/14

Dear Parents,
 
Things are going great in CTE this week.  My students have finished their raps and we were able to listen to our songs on Monday.  It was a lot of fun hearing their songs.  We definitely have some budding rock and rap stars.  We have started our new unit on CO2 Dragsters this week.  We have been focusing on shop safety this week and have taken a safety test.  I'm excited for my students to learn how to operate power tools in my wood shop.  This next week I will be demonstrating how to use each power tool and the procedures for the drilling, cutting out, and sanding CO2 cars.  We will also begin designing the cars this week.
 
For updated grades please check Aspire:  https://reagan.usoe-dcs.org/Login.aspx
 
I hope to see many of you tonight for our Annual Art and Basket Auction fundraiser.
 
Thanks for having amazing kids,
 
Mr. Black

CTE Update 10/31/14

Dear Parents,
 
Happy Halloween, I hope you have a great Halloween weekend.  Things are going great in CTE this week.  My students have finished their rap project and they will be presenting their finished song during class on Monday. There are some students who have not finished and will need to take some time during lunch or after school to finish.  We will be starting a STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, and Math) project this next week.  We will be creating CO2 dragsters.  Students will build and race handmade cars that they create in my wood shop. 
 
Thanks to all your donations we were able to get a new CO2 Dragster Racetrack!  The racetrack is on the way!  Thank you Thank you for all your support and donations!
 
I enjoy teaching your amazing kids!
 
Thanks,
 
Mr. Black

CTE Update 10/23/14

Dear Parents,
 
It's been another great week in CTE.  My students have finished writing lyrics for their rap songs and many have started recording their raps.  I have been impressed with the songs that they have come up with and the creative ways that they have been teaching us about a topic from one of their classes. Grades for term 3 are all complete and you can see them by logging onto Aspire:  https://reagan.usoe-dcs.org/Login.aspx
 
I have created another project for funding on my Donors Choose page: http://www.donorschoose.org/project/help-us-apply-stem-by-racing-co2-dragste/1401700?
 
I am hoping to purchase a CO2 Dragster racetrack for us to use when we create dragsters that are propelled by CO2 cartridges.  We will be learning about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) as we plan and build.  WHEN YOU DONATE, Make sure to use the promo code: SPARK and your donation will be MATCHED dollar for dollar! (see photo below)
 
Thanks so much for having amazing kids,
 
Mr. Black

I have a new project on Donors Choose

I want to make sure my students have the materials they need to succeed, so I just created a request for my classroom at DonorsChoose.org: Help Us Apply STEM By Racing CO2 Dragsters.

Give to my classroom by October 29 and your donation will be doubled thanks to DonorsChoose.org. Just enter the code SPARK on the payment page and you'll be matched dollar for dollar (up to $100).

If you chip in to help my students, you'll get awesome photos and our heartfelt thanks.
 
LOOK AT THE PHOTO ABOVE

Thank so much,
Mr. Black

P.S. If you know anyone who may want to help my classroom, please pass this along!

CTE Update 10/14/14

Dear Parents,

It's been a great short week in CTE.  My students are still working on creating their educational raps.  It has been fun to see the progress that has been made this week.  The term ends next week and all work for my class is due on Tuesday Oct. 21st.  As far as the rap goes, the lyrics for the rap will be due on that day and we will finish recording their raps to start the new term!  You can see up-to-date grades on Aspire: https://reagan.usoe-dcs.org  Have an amazing fall break!

Thanks for having great kids,

Mr. Black

 

CTE Update 10/10/14

Dear Parents,

Things have been going great this week in CTE.  We have been continuing work this week on Educational Rap. The students are in the process of creating songs and writing lyrics that will teach us about a topic from one of their classes.  It has been fun to see the things that they are coming up with.  The term is quickly coming to an end.  All work for this term is due on Tuesday October 21st.  I will still allow late work for 50% up until that day.  I have my grades all up-to-date on Aspire.  There are still a number of students that have missing work, so check out the latest grades:  https://reagan.usoe-dcs.org

Thanks for having great kids,

Mr. Black

CTE Update 9/26/14

Dear Parents,

Things have been going great this week in CTE.  We have been working this week on Educational Rap.  The project is a research project where students will study a topic from one of their current classes and then create a rap song that they will record on the computers in my classroom.  It's been a lot of fun to see them brainstorming and coming up with ideas this week.  I really enjoyed the chance to meet with a lot of parents this week at SEP's.  It's always fun to be able to talk about the successes of your kids!  I have my grades all up-to-date on Aspire.  There are still a number of students that have missing work, so check out the latest grades:  https://reagan.usoe-dcs.org

Thanks for having great kids,

Mr. Black

CTE Update 9/19/14

Dear Parents,

It's been another great week in CTE.  We just finished our paper sandal unit. The students have finished creating their sandals and have walked around in them to test their durability.  They have done a good job and it has been fun to watch their successes and failures (see pictures below).  Some of the students have not tested their sandals and can still test them for full points on Monday. They may take the sandals home and finish completing the project over the weekend. If you would like to see if your student has completed all assignments, my grades are all up-to-date on Aspire:  https://reagan.usoe-dcs.org/Login.aspx.  

Next week we have SEP's on Wednesday (3:30-8:00) and Thursday (1:30-4:00).  I look forward to the chance to visit with as many parents as are available.

Thank you for having such great children, it is always a pleasure seeing them learn and grow each day in my class.