CLASS DESCRIPTION
This six week personal finance class is designed to educate young students on the importance of having comprehensive knowledge of and positive behavior surrounding money management. Students will learn the fundamental skills of saving, budgeting, and investing, as well as gain an understanding of the basics of global economics, taxes, insurance, debt and credit, as well as investing and retirement planning. The main objective of this course is to help students gain a more comprehensive understanding of financial relationships and what to expect after high school. Students will leave the course with more confidence in their ability to manage their own finances, plan for their future, and to enter the world as prepared adults.
CLASS FORMAT
No live classes—view lessons on YOUR schedule. In general, expect 1.5-2.5 hours to work through the lesson plan each week, and an additional 2-5 hours working on assignments (it really depends what assignment your child chooses to do and how they manage their time). For classes with two levels, the material is the same for both—the depth of the assignments differs. Younger students should usually be placed in Level 1. Older students, or younger students who want more of a challenge, should be placed in Level 2.
Each lesson consists of a fully narrated PowerPoint presentation with images and videos to enhance the topics. Students will have access to our learning management system, Canvas, for viewing their lesson, printing worksheets, taking quizzes, viewing/submitting assignments, participating in discussions, and viewing grades/feedback.
Week 1 – Introduction to Personal Finance
The class begins with an introduction to the topic of personal finance. This lesson also includes an introduction to banking, including how a checking account works, balancing a checkbook, and reconciling receipts.
Week 2 – Saving and Budgeting
Students will learn the importance of financial planning and goal setting. Students will learn how a savings account works, and the lesson teaches the importance of both the knowledge and behavior surrounding budgeting and financial planning practices.
Week 3 – Credit and Debt
Students will gain a better understanding of what credit is, how credit cards work, financial loans, and managing debt. This lesson also covers the topic of paying for college, including student loans, grants, scholarships, and paying off student debt.
Week 4 – Investing, and Retirement
This lesson introduces students to long-term financial planning, including investing to build wealth and planning for retirement. Students will have the opportunity to play a virtual stock market game with their classmates!
Week 5 – Insurance
Students will learn the importance of financial risk management, including how insurance works and the importance of appropriate, cost-effective strategies of risk management with insurance.
Week 6 – Careers, Taxes, and Life After High School
The last week of the course focuses on the student’s future–what to expect financially once they become an adult. This lesson examines pursuing a career, types of incomes, and how taxes work. This lesson aims to leave the student prepared to enter the professional world from a financial perspective.
