CAREER PLANNING/PERSONAL FINANCE SYLLABUS
JoAnn Jackley Instructor joann.jackley@meade.k12.sd.us Website: jj024@k12.sd.us Career Development Core Personal Finance Core 1 Credit 2006-2007
COURSE DESCRIPTION Career Planning/Personal Finance is a Career/Technical Course that is a required business class for graduation. This course will develop an awareness of career clusters, work readiness skills, employment opportunities, and interview skills. Students will also study personal finance for successful management of their personal finances. It is a course that addresses the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors associated with the management of family economics and financial education. The course will include budgeting, financial records, checking accounts, investments, responsible use of credit, and personal decision making. Students will develop a notebook of career and personal finance resources and an employment portfolio to include application, resume and samples of own work. A project-based approach will be utilized. This course is a prerequisite to the STC Youth Internship Program. A grade of C or higher is required for entrance to the STC Youth Internship program. It is designed for grades 10-12. Prerequisite: Beginning Computers/Computer 1 Materials from the Take Charge of America Curriculum developed at Montana State University will be utilized. COURSE OVERVIEW Topics included in this course: Analyzing needs versus wants Researching careers Setting financial goals Researching the lifecycle of financial planning Investigating human capital Reading paychecks and tax forms Managing cash, credit and bank accounts Examining the time value of money and savings Identifying major expenditure categories Developing personal spending plan Investigating the stock market Examining economic systems and consumer decisions
INSTRUCTION Instruction will focus on hands-on activities as well as lecture, group discussion, guest speakers, use of technology, and other methods. Students will have the opportunity to work both individually and as part of a small group to complete assignments. Projects will require students to use academic skills in language arts, math, social sciences, and science. Community resources will be accessed through speakers and field trips. COURSE ASSESSMENT Various assessment tools including worksheets, learning activities, refection writing assignments, and quizzes will be utilized to assess student knowledge. “Life In…” is a family spending plan simulation that emulates the constraints typical American households encounter when managing their finances which will be used as a final assessment of all course content.
Career Planning/Personal Finance Syllabus Assessment Daily Assignments Description Daily assignments include but are not limited to notebook activities, guest speaker evaluations, written summaries, computer activities, etc. Completion of the Career Notebook and Employment Portfolio according to the assessment rubric Quizzes, Computerized Unit Tests and Life In Simulation
2
Percentage 60% of final grade
Career Notebook and Employment Portfolio
20% of final grade
Tests and Simulation
20% of final grade
LATE and/or MISSING WORK—Points will be deducted as follows: Late Work o Next Day ....................................................... 80% o Within One Week ......................................... 50% o After One Week ....................................... 0 Points Work Missed While Absent o Within One Day upon Return ............. Full Credit o After Two Days ............................ See Late Work It is each student’s responsibility to obtain missed work while absent. Homework partners will be assigned to help facilitate this process.
SUPPLIES NEEDED
Black pen (Erasable for Applications) Assignment notebook Three-ring binder for notebook (2-3 inch) Three-ring binder with clear front cover for employment portfolio (1-2 inch) Divider pages for binder Package of plastic pocket inserts Rewriteable CD or flash drive
It is expected that students will: 1. Follow the rules of the Sturgis Brown High School handbook 2. Be mature, respectful, and responsible 3. Use appropriate language 4. Be prepared for class and meet all deadlines 5. Hand in own work 6. Keep hands and feet in own work area 7. Stay in assigned seat until bell rings 8. Bring only bottled water to class 9. Ask to use the restroom only in an emergency 10. Ask if you have a question 11. Read when all work is complete 12. Enjoy this class