Financial choice and Consequences - All in one package!!! Finances , earning, saving, investing while navigating through adult life scenarios in this interactive course.  Financial literacy is the ability to understand how to manage and invest money. 

In this ongoing class students participate is an interactive online virtual bank and investment simulation program that will immerse them in all things related to money. This Financial Literacy class creates an immersive experience for students to learn everything related to personal finance like savings, budgeting, paying bills, earning an income, investing and more. Students learn to navigate the ins and outs of personal finance and experience real world financial situations in a safe space, a classroom. 
Students experience real world money situations and navigate the ins and outs of everything related to personal finance like saving, budgeting, paying bills, earning income, investing and more. We live in a complicated financial system that is full of financial opportunity as well as financial traps, scams, and daily temptations to spend money. 

Students will experience actual financial situations with hands-on activities to learn how to manage virtual checking, savings and credit card accounts, invest, pay bills on time and spend wisely. Most adults, including myself, wish they had learned about managing their money in school and this program aims to do that. I'm so excited to add this interactive transformational tool to the classroom and have us all reap the benefits of a more financially literate future for our students.

FINANCIAL LITERACY UNITS
Unit 1:   Unit Introduction - Budgeting, Saving, and Spending
Unit 2:  Introduction to Investing
Unit 3:  Credit Cards and Debt
Unit 4:  Employment and Income
Unit 5:  Financial Risks and Insurance
Supplement Topic:  Starting your Own Business
Supplement Topic:  Bankrutpcy 

C L A S S  S T R U C T U R E
Welcome to Class (5 minutes)
Weekly Financial Report (5 minutes)
Weekly Class Topic (20minutes)
Financial Lab Simulation (15 minutes)


🌟S T A R T I N G     S E P T E M B E R  2 0 2 4🌟

🚩 2024 - 2025  F U L L  Y E A R  C O U R S E  T O P I C S   S C H E D U L E 🚩
Topics rotate but students may join at anytime. 

G E T T I N G   S T A R T E D (New enrolled students should complete these assignments in the simulation) 
Topic 1:  Introduction of Budget Simulation - Budget Game Actions
📝Assignment: Watch Video - Budget Game Overview
📝Assignment: Watch Video - Credit Score Tutorial
📝Assignment: Watch Video - Net Worth
📝Assignment: Watch Video - Quality of Life
📝Assignment: Watch Video - Savings Goals
📝Assignment: Watch Video - Your Weekend Choice
📝Assignment: Budget Game - Study
📝Assignment: Budget Game - Transfer Money
📝Assignment: Budget Game - Earn More Money
📝Assignment: Budget Game - Household
📝Assignment: Budget Game - Socialize
📝Assignment: Budget Game - Credit Card Purchase
📝Assignment: Budget Game - Credit Card Payment
📝Assignment: Budget Game - Complete a Full Month

Unit 1 - Budgeting and Spending Plans
Week of September 1: Introduction to Budgeting
Week of September 8: Budgeting Basics
Week of September 15: No Class
Week of September 22: Setting Financial Goals
Week of September 29: Personal Finance Apps
Week of October 1:  Personal Finance Simulation
Week of October 6: Creating a Simple Budget
Week of October 13: Understanding Money
Week of October 20: Understanding Coins and Bills
Week of October 27: Income Sources
Week of November 3: Financial Vocabulary
Week of November 10: No Class
Week of November 17: Basic Math Skills for Finance
Week of November 24: Saving Money
Week of December 1: Spending Wisely
Week of December 8: Needs vs. Wants
Week of December 15: Spending Plans
Week of December 22: Savings Goals
Week of December 29: Maintaining a Budget
Week of January 5: Budget Adjustments
Week of January 12: Tracking Expenses
Week of January 19: Emergency Funds
Week of January 26: Responsible Spending
Week of February 2: Researching Purchases
Week of February 9: Price Comparisons
Week of February 16: Shopping Wisely
Week of February 23: Understanding Discounts
Week of March 1: Long-Term Savings
Week of March 8: Simple Interest
Week of March 15: Future Planning
Week of March 22: Retirement Savings
Week of March 29: Savings vs. Spending
Week of April 5: Buying a Home
Week of April 12: Understanding Mortgages
Week of April 19: Community and Money
Week of April 26: Money and Happiness
Week of May 3: Financial Responsibility

Unit 2: Investing
Week of May 10: Introduction to Investing
Week of May 17: Understanding Financial Risks
Week of May 24: Financial Planning
Week of May 31: Investment Goals
Week of June 7: Investing Overview
Week of June 14: How the Stock Market Works
Week of June 21: Introduction to Stocks
Week of June 28: Understanding Stock Quotes
Week of July 5: Stock Market Terms
Week of July 12: Stock Market Games
Week of July 19: Researching Stocks
Week of July 26: Company Research
Week of August 2: Financial News
Week of August 9: Using Financial Reports
Week of August 16: Evaluating Investment Strategies
Week of August 23: Types of Securities
Week of August 30: Mutual Funds
Week of September 6: Bonds
Week of September 13: ETFs
Week of September 20: Real Estate Investments
Week of September 27: Managing a Portfolio
Week of October 4: Diversification
Week of October 11: Risk Management
Week of October 18: Portfolio Review
Week of October 25: Investment Tools
Week of November 1: Business Cycle
Week of November 8: Economic Indicators
Week of November 15: Impact on Investments
Week of November 22: Market Trends
Week of November 29: Economic Forecasting
Week of December 6: Investment Overview
Week of December 13: Investment Strategies
Week of December 20: Financial Goals
Week of December 27: Introduction to Wealth Building
Week of January 3: Ethical Investing
Week of January 10: Investment Supplements
Week of January 17: Financial Literacy Games
Week of January 24: Libraries and Finance
Week of January 31: Online Financial Courses

Unit 3: Credit Cards and Debt
Week of February 7: Introduction to Credit
Week of February 14: Credit Cards vs. Debit Cards
Week of February 21: Credit Reports
Week of February 28: Credit Scores
Week of March 7: Building Credit
Week of March 14: Buying a Car
Week of March 21: Car Loans
Week of March 28: Loan Terms
Week of April 4: Comparing Car Prices
Week of April 11: Budgeting for a Car
Week of April 18: Types of Loans
Week of April 25: Loan Application Process
Week of May 2: Interest Rates
Week of May 9: Repayment Plans
Week of May 16: Loan Management
Week of May 23: Using Credit Cards
Week of May 30: Credit Card Fees
Week of June 6: Credit Card Rewards
Week of June 13: Credit Report Monitoring
Week of June 20: Credit Card Applications
Week of June 27: Managing Debt
Week of July 4: Debt Consolidation
Week of July 11: Debt Payment Plans
Week of July 18: Debt and Mental Health
Week of July 25: Avoiding Debt Traps

Unit 4: Employment and Income
Week of August 1: Career Planning
Week of August 8: Income Types
Week of August 15: Employment Rights
Week of August 22: Job Opportunities
Week of August 29: Earning Money
Week of September 5: Using a Bank
Week of September 12: Opening a Savings Account
Week of September 19: Bank Statements
Week of September 26: Understanding Bank Fees
Week of October 3: Online Banking
Week of October 10: Introduction to Taxes
Week of October 17: Income Tax
Week of October 24: Tax Deductions
Week of October 31: Filing Taxes
Week of November 7: No Class
Week of November 14: Tax Refunds
Week of November 21: Starting a Career
Week of November 28: Job Applications
Week of December 5: Resume Writing
Week of December 12: Job Interviews
Week of December 19: Career Advancement
Week of December 26: Building Wealth
Week of January 2: Financial Independence
Week of January 9: Wealth Management
Week of January 16: Charitable Giving
Week of January 23: Family Budgeting
Week of January 30: Income and Expenses
Week of February 6: Financial Responsibility
Week of February 13: Impulse Buying
Week of February 20: Money and Relationships

Unit 5: Financial Risks and Insurance
Week of February 27: Introduction to Insurance
Week of March 6: Health Insurance
Week of March 13: Life Insurance
Week of March 20: Property Insurance
Week of March 27: Insurance Terms
Week of April 3: Liability Insurance
Week of April 10: Auto Insurance
Week of April 17: Homeowners Insurance
Week of April 24: Renters Insurance
Week of May 1: Insurance Claims
Week of May 8: Health Insurance Plans
Week of May 15: Life Insurance Policies
Week of May 22: Disability Insurance
Week of May 29: Long-Term Care Insurance
Week of June 5: Beneficiaries
Week of June 12: Financial Decision Making
Week of June 19: Avoiding Scams
Week of June 26: Financial Ethics
Week of July 3: Protecting Personal Information
Week of July 10: Financial Safety Nets
Week of July 17: Financial Records
Week of July 24: Budgeting Tools
Week of July 31: Financial Apps
Week of August 7: Document Organization
Week of August 14: Digital Record Keeping
Week of August 21: Post-Graduation Finances
Week of August 28: First Job Finances

U N I T  C O U R S E  D E S C R I P I T I O N 

UNIT 1:   Budgeting and Spending Plans
In this lesson we will be learning about both budgets and spending plans.  
We will be able to tell what the different parts of each are and when to use either.  
We will be looking at other peoples’ budgets and saving plans to evaluate how to create one.  
We will leave with the tools and the skills to create our own personal budget and spending plan.

By the end of the unit, students should be able to...
• Define budget and spending plan
• Identify parts of a budget and spending plan
• Create a personal and family budget
• Allocate funds into different sub categories

UNIT 2:  Investing
In this lesson we will be learning about the basics of investing. 
We will learn about different types of investments such as stocks, mutual funds and bonds.  
We will assess the different risks that come with each type of investment and determine when it is a good idea to invest.  
We will learn the importance of researching companies and investing based on what we know. 
We will learn how to identify our financial goals and how to create an investment portfolio that works toward them.

Students will progress through Assignments and Assessments as part of the PersonalFinanceLab curriculum library,  and begin building their portfolio in the PersonalFinanceLab Stock Game. Students will continue to progress through the PersonalFinanceLab Budgeting Game.

By the end of the lesson, students will:
● Understand the basics of how to grow their wealth
● Identify various scams
● Understand the importance of not falling victim to a scam
● Protect themselves from financial scams


UNIT 3:  Credit Cards and Debt
In this lesson we will learn about the basics of what a credit card is and the different responsibilities that come with owning a credit card. 
We will learn about what both a credit report and credit score are and the impact they have on someone's finances.  
We will be able to define key terms such as credit score and credit report. 
We will be able to determine different events that either improve or harm someone's credit. 
We will understand the purpose of a credit card and the responsibilities that come with owning a credit card.

By the end of the lesson, students will:
● Define key terms such as credit score and credit report.
● Determine different events that either improve or harm someone's credit.
● Understand the purpose of a credit card.
● Understand the responsibilities that come with owning a credit card.
● Be able to implicitly and explicitly think about situations that will either improve
or harm their credit and explain why.


UNIT 4:  Employment and Income
In this lesson we will be learning about both income, compensation and employment.  
We will learn about the difference between direct and indirect compensation. 
We will have a basic understanding of income tax and the different ways of filing their taxes. 
We will learn some best practices for starting their career. 
We will learn about the importance of saving for retirement.


By the end of the lesson, students will:
● Define different types of income
● Understand consumer and employment rights and responsibilities
● Understand debit cards and bank accounts
● Have a basic understanding of income tax
● Know how to develop a career plan that supports their long-term financial goals


UNIT  5:  Financial Risks and Insurance
In this lesson we will be learning about financial decision making. 
● We will learn how to protect ourselves against fraud and financial scams. 
● We will learn the importance of mitigating financial  risks. 
● We will be able to identify common types of risks and basic risk management methods. 
● We will learn the basics of insurance. 


By the end of the lesson, students will:
● Understand the concept of opportunity cost when making financial decisions
● Understand the financial risks of investing their money
● Understand the importance of insurance to mitigate risk


Bankruptcy
If you are severely behind on your bills and all other debt management plans have failed, the last option available is declaring bankruptcy.

Starting a Business
Building the next “big thing”. Being your own boss. Getting the full rewards for your work. There are a lot of reasons to start a business, but taking the plunge is a step entrepreneurs have to face if they plan on striking out on their own

NOTE TO PARENTS:  This is an interactive classroom, with guidance from teacher.  Students will have the opportunity to interact, socialize while learning to becoming financial responsible with their choices.  
Topic schedule is subject to change, awaiting Outschool's update lesson plan to the platform. 

Students will each start the simulation as a part-time employee, goiong to college full-time.  Then the students will have to pay bills, like adults do in real life. With your left over money, you can purchase experiences or items.  This class is highly interactive simulating real life as adults making financial decisions.  Students will learn they are free to choose what to with the money they earn but not free from the consequences of their choice, whether it is positive or negative result.


How is your class structured?
My class is structure to be a stress free, fun, and interactive learning environment to accommodate different learning styles and abilities.  

How will you teach?
I will teach using slide presentation, interactive games and discussion for question and answer sessions. This is a student led hands on interactive class.  

What's your teaching style?
I believe that every child learns differently.  I do my best to accommodate individual learning styles.  

How much will learners get to interact with you and each other (mention specifics like: lecture, games, slides, video clips, discussion)? This class is highly interactive simulating real life as adults making financial decisions.  Students will learn they are free to choose what to with the money they earn but not free from the consequences of their choice, whether it is positive or negative result.  I  teach with lecture format, visual aids and hands on activity. I will be available for questions and feedback through the classroom and direct messages.

Any required experience or knowledge learners need? 
No prior knowledge is needed.