Money Smarts 101: Building Your Financial Foundation

This course is Part 1 of a 3-part Financial Literacy series. Students must complete 101 before enrolling in 102 (Intermediate Financial Skills) and 103 (Advanced Financial Strategies). Each course builds on the previous one, ensuring a scaffolded learning experience that grows with the student's understanding and application of financial principles. 

What will be taught?
This course will teach the foundational principles of financial literacy, emphasizing critical thinking and practical application. Students will learn how to manage money effectively, develop budgeting skills, understand saving and investing, and explore real-world financial systems.

What topics will you cover?
This four-week course builds financial literacy one step at a time, teaching students the fundamentals of money, budgeting, saving, and economic systems while equipping them with skills to handle real-world financial challenges.


Engagement (Hook): Start with a question or scenario that sparks curiosity.
Explanation: Teach concepts using multimedia tools.
Exploration: Hands-on activities like budgeting exercises or financial simulations.
Evaluation: Reflect and assess understanding through quizzes, discussions, or journaling.
Elaboration: Apply the learned concepts to real-world scenarios or problems.
How will you teach?
I will employ science-based learning strategies:

Inquiry-Based Learning:

Encourage students to ask big questions like, “Why do people save money instead of spending it?” or “How does inflation affect me?”
Use real-life problems to guide exploration.
Active Learning:

Use interactive tools, group discussions, and simulations to help students explore concepts hands-on.
Example: Simulate a classroom marketplace to understand earning and spending.
Multimodal Teaching:

Combine visual aids (slides, videos), auditory tools (discussions, lectures), and kinesthetic activities (budgeting on apps or paper).
Align activities with how students best process information, using tools like Practical Money Skills Games.
Scaffolded Learning:

Start simple and layer complexity as students gain confidence (e.g., move from identifying expenses to creating a budget).
What's your teaching style?
My teaching style is:

Facilitative and Collaborative:

Students are co-creators of their learning journey. I guide rather than dictate, promoting ownership of their financial understanding.
Exploratory and Experimental:

I encourage experimentation (e.g., mock investments) and reflection on outcomes to solidify learning.
Interactive and Dynamic:

By integrating diverse teaching methods like games, role-playing, and digital tools, I keep lessons engaging and relatable.