Course Syllabus

 Course Description: How money smart are you? Step into this course specifically designed for high schools students to understand the importance of the financial world, including planning and managing money wisely. Areas of study taught through application in personal finance include sources of income, budgeting, banking, consumer credit, credit laws and rights, personal bankruptcy, insurance, spending, taxes, investment strategies, savings accounts, mutual funds and the stock market, buying a vehicle, and living independently. Based on hands-on skills and knowledge applied in this course, students will develop financial goals, and create realistic and measurable objectives to be MONEY SMART! Through project-based learning activities and tasks, students will apply mathematical concepts in realistic scenarios and will actively engage by applying the mathematics necessary to make informed decisions related to personal finance. Financial Literacy places great emphasis on problem solving, reasoning, representing, connecting and communicating financial data.

Instructional Materials and Supplies
Published Materials
• Managing Your Personal Finances Thomson Learning Southwestern
• Dave Ramsey’s Course Materials
• Junior Achievement Finance Park
• Various Websites

Instructional Supplies

1. Flashdrive/thumbdrive
2. 1 inch 3 ring binder
3. Pen, Pencil and Caluclator

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA): Competencies for the co-curricular student organization (FBLA) are integral components of both the core employability skills standards and the technical skills standards. FBLA activities will be incorporated throughout the course. FBLA is a co-curricular student organization in Business and Computer Science that promotes leadership, career planning, community service, and social networking. Membership is strongly encouraged for all students enrolled in this course. Dues are $15 for local, state, and national dues and a chapter t-shirt is $10.

Internet Use: Students are expected to follow all guidelines stated in the Muscogee County Schools Terms and Conditions for Internet Use. Failure to follow the county guidelines will result in punishment that ranges from loss of Internet privileges to administrative referral. All students and parents are required to sign acknowledgement of Internet guidelines prior to a student using the Internet.

Instructional Methods: Students will be expected to meet all the course goals and demonstrate the understanding of the course concepts through project-based activities. The teacher will perform lecture demonstrations along with group discussions and projects. Some assignments will require student research through the Internet. Students will work both independently and in teams to complete various assignments. Students will be required to draw upon academic skills in math, science, social studies, and language arts. Students will be given the opportunity to confer with business professionals from the community to gain information for some course content.

End-of-Pathway Assessment: After completing three courses in a pathway, students will take an End-of-Pathway assessment, which is similar to an End-of-Course exam. Student assessment will be one area of the Microsoft Office Specialist Exam (MOS).

Course Curriculum Content:  Please see the link to the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) for Financial Literacy located below:

Topics Covered in Class:Having knowledge of how money works at a young age will help you make better decisions when the time comes in the future. The more you know of money now, the less risk there is of experiencing financial disaster or bankruptcy in the future. In this course we will cover the following topics:

How Will We Learn Topics?

Most days we will have lecture/discussion at the beginning of class. Quizzes and Tests will be based on this information. After we discuss the vocabulary and textbook information we will use the internet to look up and research financial topics and practice what we learned ~  you will fill out forms, complete bank reconciliations, do tax returns, prepare a budget and more!  We will practice investing in the stock market and complete a computer simulation project where you "live" day to day and take care of your necessary needs.

Financial-Literacy GPS.pdf

Financial Literacy Policies & Procedures.pdf