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Welcome to the newest CT blog, 
Academics for the Real World!

This blog is our newest creation. Our goal is to provide a variety of online resources to you, the learner. 

At the top of the page, you will notice tabs for the three main subjects: READING, WRITING, and MATH. In each of those tabs, there will be new resources to help you meet your CT academic goals.

Explore the tabs, check out the CT calendar above, and get to know the site. Ctacademics.blogspot.com wants to be your BFF. Soon enough, you and ctacademics.blogspot.com will get a dog and go walking on the beach together...

The Key to Success

What does it really take to be successful in life?
A high IQ?
Talent?
Luck?
Angela Lee Duckworth found out.
Watch the video below and fill out this note taking guide to find out how you can apply this to your life...

First Things First...

Your first assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to fill out a self-assessment to help determine your needs as a student in the academics class. 

Step 1: open the Applied Academics Checklist.

Step 2: click "File," then "Download as," then Microsoft Word.

Step 3: open the document in Microsoft word. Save the file as "yournameAppliedAcademicsChecklist" in the "Academics" folder on your H:/ drive.

Step 4: follow the directions at the top of the page to finish the checklist.

Later in the year, you will fill out the same checklist again, and show the progress you have made!

Writing Academic Goals

Now it's time to write some Academic Goals!

To complete this section, you need to have completed the Applied Academics Checklist from the post above.




Step 1: open the AA3 Goals document.

Step 2: click "File," then "Download as," then "Microsoft Word."

Step 3: click the file in the bottom-left corner to open the file in Microsoft Word

Step 4: save the file as "yournameAA3goals" in the "Academics" folder on your H:/ drive.

Step 5: follow the directions and fill out the sheet.

GradPoint

You can use GradPoint for a number of different reasons:

• Credit retrieval
• GED practice
• Enhancing reading, writing, or math skills
• How to read for success in college
• Learning more for your current job
• Learning for a job you want to have in the future

If you would like to use GradPoint, ask Brett, Dominique, or Karen to set you up with a free account and help you enroll in the proper course.

If you already have a GradPoint account, click the link below and log-in.

GradPoint link

Preparing for College

Is college in your near future?


There are steps that potential college students need to take once you know that you want to go to college.




Step 1: Apply to the college by filling out an online application. You can save your progress if you don't finish. 
**Make sure to write down your student ID number. This number transfers to other colleges with you.**

• Bellingham Technical College (BTC)
• Whatcom Community College (WCC)

Step 2: Take the Accuplacer entrance exam. 

This test can be taken any day at BTC or WCC. You have to finish the online application first. If you want to study for the Accuplacer, you can use the white ACCUPLACER binders in the Transition Planning lab or study online.

Step 3: Student orientation.

• BTC online orientation - Click the link to watch the new student orientation video. Take notes because there is a lot to learn.
• WCC in-person orientation - Click to schedule a orientation at WCC.

Step 4: Complete Financial Aid application. This paperwork is called the FAFSA (Free Application For Student Aid).

Step 5: Contact DVR. You need to let your DVR case manager know about your plans before you start. They will be able to help you out in many ways. 

You can ask one of your teachers for assistance contacting DVR.

With time and grit, you will be on your way to college graduation.

Signing Your Name

Whether you plan on being a famous rockstar, athlete, or just an everyday person, you should have your own unique signature.




Some reasons to have a unique signature include:

• Signing legal documents (lease, DVR, DSHS)
• Signing your name at the bank
• Signing checks
• No one else can steal your signature

It takes a lot of practice to have a unique signature. To start, you will need:

• Pen (always use a pen for your signature)
• 2 sheets of scrap paper
• Print this page AND this other page

Step 1) Practice writing cursive words on the two sheets you printed. Hole punch, and put in your binder as evidence you are working to meet this goal.

Step 2) Take out the scrap paper. Practice writing your FIRST and LAST name in neat cursive by looking at this cursive sheet on your screen as a reference. Fill out the WHOLE PAGE.

Step 3) On a new page, practice signing your name faster. TRY TO MAKE IT LOOK THE SAME EVERY TIME. Pretty soon, you will have your own unique signature that no one can copy!

Budgeting Your Money

So you want to learn how to BUDGET YOUR MONEY?

Here is a good place to start. 



1) How will you keep track of everything you buy in one month?

• Cell phone list? Talk to Brett (he loves this stuff)
• Or you could print out this budgeting sheet and keep it in your wallet/purse
• Use it to write down everything you buy in TWO WEEKS
• You can use this to make a monthly budget for yourself
• OR, use this sample budget

2) Now categorize the stuff you bought.

• Use your list from Step 1 to fill out this sheet for Step 2

3) Set a budget!

• Print out this sheet from American Student Assistance and use Step 2 worksheet to complete it.

* Make sure to hole punch all of these and put them in your binder

Understanding Your Paycheck

You have a job? Or are you pursuing one? Then you definitely need to know how to read the information on your paycheck.

Being able to understand a paycheck is a skill anyone with a job needs to have.



In this section, you will read and learn about the various parts of your pay stub. 

To know you are successful at reading and understanding a pay stub, you should be able to:

• Talk about what each section on the pay stub is
• Talk about how each section on the pay stub effects how much money you make

Step 1) check out credit.com to read about the different sections of a pay stub

Step 2) Open this worksheet, print it, neatly hole punch it, then fill it out (don't do #5).

Step 3) Put the worksheet in your binder as evidence that you are working to meet your AA3 goals.

Step 4) Ask Brett for one more worksheet. This is another one you will put in your binder as evidence that you are working to meet your AA3 goals.

Applying for a Bank Account

Every adult needs a bank account. There are lots of banks to choose from in Bellingham. The first thing to know about these is that some are called banks and some are called credit unions.

To see some of the differences between banks and credit unions, click here. Here is an article explaining why the author believes credit unions are better than banks.

Credit unions include:

• WECU
• North Coast Credit Union
• Industrial Credit Union
• Pacific Northwest Credit Union

Banks include:

• Peoples Bank
• Bank of America
• Washington Federal
• Banner Bank

There are a lot of reasons for having a bank. A few reasons include:

• A secure place to keep your money
• Earning interest on the money you keep there (you earn money by keeping your money at the bank/credit union)
• Getting a debit card or credit card
• Getting a checking account to pay bills 

To join a credit union or a bank, you will probably need:

• To be 18 or over
• Government ID
• Social security number
• Money (usually between $5 - $50 to open a savings account)

If you would like to apply online to open a bank account, click on one of the credit union or bank links above and look for information on how to join.

If you do not feel comfortable having your own bank account, there is an option called JOINT ACCOUNT. This is one you would split with your parent or guardian. Ask your family about opening a joint bank account.

Applying for a Debit Card or a Credit Card

Debit cards and credit cards make paying for items easy. They are also safer than carrying around cash. Watch this short video from Bellco and write down some of the differences between a debit cards and credit cards.

If you want to have a debit card or credit card, you will need to have a bank account first (see the previous post about applying for a bank account).

DEBIT CARDS

• If you have a checking account, you can get a debit card.
• Debit cards are connected to your checking account. When you pay for something with your debit card, it automatically takes the money out of your checking account.
• You can get money out of an ATM with your debit card. You get to pick if this money is taken out of your savings account or checking account.
• Using an ATM to get cash may cost you. Generally, credit unions have no fees or very small fees for using an ATM. Banks generally have larger fees. Especially if you do not use their ATM.
• Practice using a debit card before you get a credit card.
• Watch this video about debit cards and checking accounts

CREDIT CARDS

• After you have used a debit card for a while, you may feel ready to get a credit card.
• Unlike debit cards, credit cards are not just given to you because you have a checking account. You need to fill out an application for a credit card.
• Unlike debit cards, buying something with a credit card is like borrowing money to buy it. Make sure what you buy is in your budget.
• BE CAREFUL WITH CREDIT CARDS! If overspend or forget to pay back the money you spent, you will have to pay penalties. This also gives you a bad grade on your credit score.
• Watch this video from Bellco on credit cards
• For your first credit card, start at your bank.
• Practice filling out a credit card application from WECU

Write a Check/Balance Your Checkbook

Writing a check is not used today as much as debit cards are. It is still important though. 




Things people still write checks for are:

• Rent
• Bills
• Paying a friend or family member back money you owe

Video: the steps to write a check.

After you have watched the video, ask a teacher for some blank checks to practice writing your own checks.


Next Step: BALANCING YOUR CHECKBOOK

Now that you know how to write a check, you need to be able to keep track of how much money is in your checking account. Your checking account is where the money used for writing a check is kept.

It is super important to make sure you have enough money in your checking account when you write a check. If you write a check for more money than is in your bank account, than the check will "bounce" and you will also get a penalty. Look at the example below:

Checking account = $250

You write a check for rent = $400

$250 - $400 = -$150 
AND
Add $30 penalty for "non-sufficient funds" (NSF) 
-$150 - $30 = - $180

Oh no! Not only are you way out of money, but now you also owe the bank an extra $30 for your mistake. 

So that you don't make the same mistake, practice balancing your checkbook now.

Filling Out All Types of Applications

There will be a lot of applications you need to fill out as an adult. This could be an application for:

• Jobs
• Bank account
• Credit card
• An apartment
• DVR
• DDD
• Car loan

Most people dread filling out applications, but it is a necessary task in order to have access to things in the list above.

Most applications are different, but they usually all have the following pieces:

• Name
• Birthday
• Home address (street, city, state, zip code)
• Phone (home, cell)
• Social Security number
• Email
• Work (business name, address, phone, when you started working there, supervisor's name)
• Education (high school, years attended, any post-secondary schooling)

Since almost all applications have the items above, you need to have them MEMORIZED! If there are any of the above items you do not have memorized yet, try coming up with a strategy to remember them (Brett can help here).

Practice filling out an application by grabbing a job application from the Transition Planning lab.

Filling out a Lease Agreement

Lease agreements are kind of a big deal. After all, you do not want to get kicked out of your apartment for breaking your lease agreement. 

Before you get to the lease agreement, you first need to fill out a rental application. Print the form and fill it out for step one. Turn the application into a teacher. If it is correct, they will approve you to move onto the lease agreement.

After you have been approved to rent an apartment, the rental company will hand you a lease agreement. THIS IS A CONTRACT. The contact explains the expectations for you if you move into the rental property.

Before reading and signing this CONTRACT, read the "nine things you should know before signing a lease agreement."

Then print, hole punch and fill out a pre-existing damage sheet. It is very important to record anything that is not in perfect condition in your new apartment/house. Practice by filling out as much as you can using CT an example.

Print, hole punch, and staple the lease agreement. Then you need to:

• Read and highlight the important parts for every section of the lease agreement
• Helpful hint: The language in this is hard to understand ("legal jargon"). Find a teacher or another adult to help you with what you do not know.
• Initial and sign the necessary pages
• Turn your lease agreement into a teacher. 

Paying Bills

Paying your bills on time is a very important part of independent living. 

If you routinely pay bills late or do not pay the full amount, you will have to pay a penalty, and your credit score will be impacted.


Bills today come in one of two ways: email or mail. Sometimes, you will get an email and a bill in the mail. If you get an email, it means you have an account with the company and can pay the bill online with a debit or credit card.

If the bill comes in the mail, it means you need to write a check to the bill company.

All bills include a "Payment Due By" date. This is the date you must pay the bill by before it is considered late.

Once you get a bill, you should:
 1) Look at your checking account balance. Do you have enough money to pay your bill? 
Sample checkbook and checks.
 2) Pay it right away if you have the money. IF NOT...
 - Put the bill in a place where you put all your unpaid bills. If you do this, it is because you are waiting for your payday.
 3) Balance your checkbook

Worksheet: Practice paying your bills.

If you don't have "bills" from your Independent Living class (rent, cell phone, cable, etc.) then look at this sample budget and write a check for anything that would be considered a bill.

Find a Recipe, Make a Shopping List, and Cook It

Everyone likes food. But not everyone has the skills to cook themselves a meal. If you have an independent living goal, you will need to learn how to cook.






Cooking requires multiple skills:

1) Find a recipe you want to cook. kraftrecipes.com is a good place to find a basic recipe. Click on a recipe you think sounds good, and read the ingredients list to make sure you like the foods listed.

2) Next, read the directions for how to cook the recipe. As you read, make sure you have all of the necessary items to cook the meal (i.e. oven, skillet, mixing bowls, spatulas).

If you are not sure what a word in the directions means, look it up here.

3) Save the website to your favorites so that you can look it up later.

4) Once you decide on a recipe, the and paste the ingredients into the single meal planner, or just write them on a piece of paper. Make sure you know how much of each item you need to buy. 

5) Before you go shopping, check your home to make sure you don't already have some of the items on your list. If you do have an item already, just cross it off.

6) Go shopping (and record how much you spend for your budget).

7) Before you cook the meal, you will want to read over the directions again to refresh your memory. 

8) Cook the meal!

To master this life skill, print the Weekly Meal Planner and plan food for the whole week (less trips to the grocery store).

Food Worker Card

If you want a job working around food, you first need to study and pass the food worker test. 

Go to the Whatcom County Health Department website and read about how to get your food worker card.

DVR

DVR believes employment contributes to a person’s ability to live independently and everyone has a right to work. Their purpose is to empower people with disabilities to achieve a greater quality of life by obtaining and maintaining employment.

SERVICES PROVIDED

Counseling and Guidance
Counselors for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Assessment Services
Benefit Planning
Independent Living
Assistive Technology
Training and Education
Job Related Services

WEBSITE

www.dshs.wa.gov/dvr/

TRANSITION COUNSELOR

Nick Harris
360-714-4136


DVR Application

Finding a Job

"AHHHH! I need a job!!!"

If this is how you feel, chill out and use the links below to search for a job.

craigslist.org - a good local, up-to-date list of available jobs.

bellinghamherald.com - the classified ads are another good place to find current job listings. Use the "Employment" section to find jobs in or close to Bellingham.

If you can't find a job, it helps to add some volunteer experience to your résumé. Use the resources at the Volunteer Center of Whatcom County to find a volunteer experience that fits you.

1. Enroll as a volunteer. This will allow you to track your hours, and find volunteer opportunities that fit you.
2. Search for volunteer opportunities. There are a lot of them, so use the links on the right side to make your search more specific.

Driver's License

Getting a driver's license is a goal for most young adults. 

Read up and study what it takes to be a legal driver in Washington state.



www.dol.wa.gov

Take the PRACTICE TEST

Public Transportation

Obviously, you need to be able to get around the city you live in. Whether you need to get to your job, the grocery store, or someplace to hang out, being able to plan your trip around the city bus schedule is a necessary. 

Get some more practice by going to the CT Job Skills website.

Typing

Some jobs will require you to be a skilled typer on the keyboard.

Need to practice your keyboarding skills? Click on the link below to practice your typing with some online games.

Dividing Fractions

Khan Academy is a great online resource for learning math.

Here is a video explaining how to DIVIDE FRACTIONS.

Now, practice your skills:

1) Open this worksheet

2) Print the document and hole punch it

3) Fill it out with a calculator to help with the multiplication

4) Put the document in your binder as evidence that you have worked toward meeting this goal