Integrating Financial Literacy With Math: Frontpage of a Mini-Course (by Angela Ruggieri)
Overview and Purpose
This mini-course is about integrating basic mathematical skills with financial literacy and an introduction to money management. In the ever-changing world, it is imperative that we teach young people about money management, as it's not as focused on in schools as it should be. There are endless circumstances where financial literacy is important in order to survive independently- as well as endless circumstances where lack of this literacy can result in lifelong monetary hardships.
This course is aimed at young adolescents to young adults- preferably ages 14 and up. Young people who are looking at colleges, looking at entering the workforce, that just want a brief introduction to money management. This course is to improve money management mindsets and empower learners to make informed decisions regarding finances, as well as looking forward towards the future with positivity and feelings of self-efficacy. This course requires some mathematical skills- along with some research skills- which can be developed as the course continues.
Course Units
This mini-course includes the following units. Click the title of a unit to go to its page.
(Objectives are included within each lesson of each unit.)
Learning, calculations, materials, and discussions will occur within our Google Classroom page (class code = etnwrxd) : https://classroom.google.com/c/NzM1MDQzMzAzNTYw?cjc=etnwrxd
Unit 1: What is Money and Why Do We Need It?
This is the course introduction and includes an introduction to the basics of budgeting, saving money, avoiding unnecessary debts, and how to become a wise consumer.
Unit 2: Debit, Credit, Checks, Oh My! How Do We Pay?
In this unit we are sorting out the differences between methods of payment, and what goes into purchasing items. This includes a brief introduction to debit vs credit cards, sales taxes, credit scores, writing checks, and how to balance a checkbook.
Unit 3: Interest- the Good and the Bad.
Here we learn a bit about interest. What is it, what does it mean for you, and both positive/negative contexts. This unit also includes scenarios where we have to use a simple interest formula for cost calculations.
Unit 4: Labor Market Research. What Kind Of Life and Career Would You Like To Pursue?
This unit contains our final discussion, along with some research. We are using our financial skills learned during this course, and looking towards the future. This unit contains information on how to search the labor market, the housing market, an introduction to income tax, and retirement.
