Personal Finance Course Description

This course is designed to match standards set by the South Dakota Department of Education which include:

Indicator 1: Analyze elements that affect personal income.

Indicator 2: Implement the processes involved in managing personal finances.

Indicator 3: Use an informed decision-making process to manage credit and debt.

Indicator 4: Evaluate savings and investment options to meet short- and long-term goals.

Indicator 5: Use appropriate and cost-effective risk management strategies.

To meet these standards, the course is organized into units of study:

Unit 1: Foundations of Personal Finance

Unit 2: Education and Careers

Unit 3: Paychecks and Taxes

Unit 4: Financial Statements

Unit 5: Saving and Investing

Unit 6: Major Expenditures

Unit 7: Understanding Credit

Unit 8: Risk Management

As you progress through the semester you will learn how to:

· Analyze needs versus wants

· Set financial goals

· Interpret the lifecycle of financial planning

· Recognize the correlation between education and income

· Read paychecks and tax forms

· Identify the importance of developing a spending plan

· Distinguish between the services offered by banks

· Identify the importance of saving and investing money

· Assess the dangers of identity theft

· Interpret credit offers, statements, and credit reports

· Describe the different types of insurance

· Explore major expenditure categories

Curriculum/Textbook Information

I primarily use the Take Charge Today curriculum developed by The University of Arizona.  This is a research-based curriculum, relying on current research to design lesson plans and instructional materials that empower youth to make better financial choices. In addition, we will be going through the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program® (HSFPP), a nationally known money management program for teens that has been used with millions of students since it was created in 1984. In addition to the Take Charge and NEFE programs, the students will use a variety of resources and tools to practice the skills necessary for each of the topics mentioned above.  The course materials are available by accessing Moodle.

Student Performance Objectives and Course Requirements

Daily Assignments:  Daily assignments include journal writing, “warm up” activities, participation in classroom discussions, and worksheets designed to help practice skills and concepts in each unit.

Assessments:  Students will be assessed through the completion of projects and a unit quiz.  There is also a midterm exam at the end of the quarter and a final exam at the end of the semester.

Class Procedures and Rules

The rules for my classroom are simple but address a wide range of behaviors. 

1. Respect all people and all property. 

2. Please be on time and bring your laptop, charger, paper, and a writing utensil to class every day.

Laptop and Internet Procedures

The students will use their laptops every day in class to access course materials.  Please make sure you have your laptop and charger with you for each class.

Grades

  Letter grades for the course are determined by the school wide-grading scale outlined below:

96-100 A

92-95 A-

89-91 B+

86-88 B

83-85 B-

79-82 C+

76-78 C

73-75 C-

69-72 D+

65-68 D

60-64 D-

Grade Rounding Policy:

The percent grade as shown is Campus/Parent Portal is the percent is use to determine the student’s grade for my course.  I do not round the percent up or down.

Earning Your Grade:

There are 540* points to earn that are comprised of the daily work grades, unit quizzes, projects, and two assessments; midterm and final exams.

Daily work: 80 points

Unit Quizzes: 250 points

Projects: 92 points

Midterm Exam: 53 points

Final Exam: 65 points

*Please note: exam and quiz point total may change slightly depending upon changes to the schedule or curriculum throughout the semester.

Make Up Work

Work is due on the assigned date at the beginning of class.  If you miss an assignment due to an excused absence you have two calendar days to hand in the missing assignment.  Exams and quizzes should be completed prior to known absences.  If you anticipate a class absence please see me in advance and remember—you are responsible to make sure you are aware of all assignments, due dates, missing notes and other class information.

State Standards

https://doe.sd.gov/contentstandards/