Personal Finance Syllabus

Academy of Finance 

Personal Finance Syllabus



Mrs. Gandy
Business Teacher / FBLA Advisor/Academy of Finance Director

Contact Info:

Demopolis High School
701 Hwy 80 West
Demopolis, AL 36732
School: (334) 289-0294
Email address:  kgandy@dcsedu.com

Planning Time: 1st Period (7:55– 8:48)

After School Lab Hours: By Appointment ONLY

DHS MISSION
The mission of Demopolis High School is to promote excellence in academic and extra-curricular activities, to develop productive citizens in a safe environment, and to employ a team of highly-qualified personnel who will implement the latest support materials and strategies.

Course Title:  Personal Finance
Instructor: Kelly Gandy
Text: Business & Personal Finance
Prerequisite: None
Course Fee: $20.00
FBLA Fee: $30.00
Program: Finance Academy

INSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHY
Employees are expected to meet all company goals and apply knowledge through real life situation.  A variety of training methods are employed to teach decision-making, problem solving, communication, and employability and technological skills to employees of Tiger, Inc.  Techniques include the use of small and large group discussions, lecture, independent study, simulations, gaming, demonstration, peer teaching, project-based and cooperative learning methodology.  Hands on and problem solving experiences are utilized to allow employees to become engaged in the learning activities, learn appropriate business protocol, and to practice desired behaviors and attitudes.  Employees are expected to become actively involved in activities, experiences, and assessment that deal with applying, synthesizing, and evaluating knowledge and skills.  Tests, performance assessment, laboratory work, project reports, assignment completion and project presentation are used in assessing employee learning and progress throughout the course. 



COURSE DESCRIPTION 
Personal Finance provides students with opportunities to develop skills for solving real-world problems. This course focuses on addressing personal financial planning, financial services, budgeting, investments, insurance protection, credit management, consumer purchases, and consumer rights and responsibilities. 

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
FBLA is a co-curricular component of the Business/Marketing program.  This student organization will enhance classroom instruction, develop leadership skills, and provide opportunities for professional growth and service.  The fee to join is $30.00

PROGRAM GOALS 
To provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for economic success in the twenty-first century and to provide employers an adequately prepared workforce that meets labor market demands.
  • To encourage critical thinking skills.
  • To promote educational values including economic understanding and consumer competencies.
  • To promote character growth and development including human relations, good work habits, positive attitudes, and ethical standards.
  • To provide a realistic understanding of the work environment.
  • To enhance employability skills
  • To reinforce basic skills in such areas as communication, mathematics, and technology.
  • To simulate interest in career development.
  • To foster an appreciation of the free enterprise system.

COURSE GOALS
The student will be able to:
  1. Manage limited personal financial resources and recognize that more of the wants and needs of members of a society can be satisfied if wise consumer decisions are made.
  2. Learn the steps in the financial planning process giving the student a solid foundation for making all financial decisions.
  3. Develop a marketing plan for an entrepreneurial venture.
  4. Manage a payroll system.
  5. Prepare tax reports.
  6. Maintain personal budget records.
  7. Understand banking and financial terms related to the industry.
  8. Prepare bank deposits, savings deposits and maintain checking accounts.
  9. Calculate simple and compound interest.
  10. Determine the principal components of spending.
  11. Explore the loan process.
  12. Identify types of risks and risk management methods.
  13. Evaluate housing alternatives.
  14. Examine factors affecting differences in interest rates.
  15. Describe desirable work characteristics.
  16. Calculate payments for purchases on credit.
  17. Understand investment strategies and financial planning.
  18. Actively participate in the Future Business Leaders of America student organization.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
  1. What should students know in order to make educational and lifestyle decisions today to ensure they are employable tomorrow?
  2. What information do students need in order to create a financial budget?
  3. How should young people invest their money?
  4. How can organization skills be applied to complete and manage financial operations?
  5. How can agencies that regulate national and international financial markets in order to protect investors?
  6. How can a business develop and maintain a financially stable business plan?
  7. What information do students need in order to evaluate, analyze, and apply before making financial decisions?

CULMINATING PRODUCT(S)
Students will:
  1. Create a basic financial plan of how the student imagine themselves at the age of 25
  2. Create a trifold display that provides highlights from the pamphlet; the goal of the trifold display is to convince visitors to the Financial Literacy Fair to read the pamphlet.

RESOURCES FOR INSTRUCTION
Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF)
Canvas
Google Classroom
Microsoft Office 2016
Windows 10
Internet Access
SmartBoard
Computer Access

MATERIALS
Bring the following to class every day:

·         2” 3-ring binder
·         Pen
·         Pencil
·         Ear Phones or buds
**Each student is responsible for all books, papers, pens, etc. necessary for the day’s lesson.  Hall passes will not be used to get materials.

ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
Employees will receive a bi-weekly softskill assessment.  The softskill assessment will be counted within the 30% portion of your grade each 9 week period.  Each employee will be assessed 4 times of each 9 weeks.  Employees will be given a rubric and assessments will be available to employees at all times.  The following:
  1. Disrespect of peer or teacher.
  2. Destruction or abuse of school property/equipment.
  3. Tardiness.
  4. Not being on task.
  5. Not following safe work practices.

COURSE EVALUATION
Homework
10%
Daily Assignments/SoftSkills
30%
Written/Performance Based Tests
60%
Total 100% pre-exam grade
*A minimum of 4 or more written/performance based test grades will be taken per nine weeks.
 *A minimum of 4 or more daily assignments & softskills grades will be taken per nine weeks.
 * A minimum of 2 or more homework assignment grades will be taken per nine weeks.


GRADING SCALE
A             100-90%
                B             89-80%
                C             79-70%
                D             69-60%
                F              59-0%

COMPUTER USAGE
The employee is expected to abide by the Demopolis City School’s computer usage agreement.  Any employee caught misusing the equipment and software will be referred to the administration, appropriate action will be taken.  If any financial loss is incurred, the employee will be responsible to pay. 

CELL PHONE USAGE
Cell phone use is prohibited in the classroom unless instructed by the teacher.  Students will deposit their cell phone into the designated storage bin at the beginning of class and will collect it on the way out the door AFTER the bell rings.  The office manager will account for each bin and if the students deposits their phone daily then softskills will not be deducted from their grade.  If a student does not abide by the cell phone rule and is caught using their phone then 1st offence will result in "cell jail" for the day and can be picked up after school.  2nd offense will result in it being turned into the office.  Lose of softskills will occur in both instances.  

BASIC COMPANY RULES
  1. Be On Time
  2. Be Respectful (to others and equipment)
  3. Be Prepared
  4. Be Resourceful
  5. No Food, Drink, Candy, or Beauty Products
  6. No cell phone

Tiger, Inc. Policy Manual

OFFICE RULES (in addition to basic company rules)
  1. Place backpack under work station (safety issue).
  2. Speak at appropriate times, using appropriate voice and language.
  3. Respect other people’s and the school’s property.
  4. Keep your hands to yourself.
  5. Do not prevent other students from learning.
  6. Come to class prepared to learn. 
  7. Do not access the Internet (unless instructed by the teacher) or play games on the computer during class time.
  8. Do not mark on the computers screen, mouse, keyboard, or desktop for ANY reason with a pen or pencil.
  9. Do not mark with pen or pencil on the desk/work area.
  10. Do not attempt access restricted sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
  11. Do not place a personalized screen saver or change the display properties of a computer.
  12. No “rough housing” or playing allowed in the computer lab.
  13. All rules in the DHS handbook will be enforced.

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR
Professional behavior and attire will be expected from all company employees.  Those choosing to wear inappropriate clothing will be referred to the administration.

A company’s success depends on the ethical behavior of its employees.  Our company will not tolerate unethical employee behavior.  Examples of unethical behavior include but are not limited to cheating, stealing, disrespectful behavior towards directors, managers, or other employees, inappropriate language, sexual harassment, misuse of technology, misuse of company resources, playing computer games, visiting non-academy related websites, and wasting academy time (unproductivity).

Students will abide by the terms set forth in Tiger Tiers.  Any breach of policy by employee will be noted in the employees’ file and will be taken into consideration during quarterly evaluations. 

ATTENDANCE POLICY
An employee should always be at work unless he/she has an extreme illness or family emergency.  Tiger, Inc. is a company and each employee has daily responsibilities which make attendance important.  Appointments and personal commitments should not be scheduled during “company” time.  Employees will be expected to be at work daily unless prior notification is given. A memo must be addressed to the company director 5 days prior to any scheduled absences.  The Office Manager and Vice President must call in to Tiger, Inc. before any anticipated absence or lateness just as he/she would for a job.  The phone number is (334) 289-0294 ext. 5208

Punctuality as well as attendance is important.  It is imperative, therefore, that employees develop the habit of arriving to work on time and being prepared to start work immediately.  A bonus of one point will be given at the end of each grading period for any employee with NO tardies for that grading period.  If an employee has 3 or more tardies per grading period his/her performance evaluation will be affected.





HALL PASSES
                Each employee will be provided with 2 Hall Passes per 9 week period.  These passes are to provide employees with the opportunity to use the restroom when they have not had time.  If the employee is tardy to class due to restroom use, they may turn in a hall pass to prevent them from receiving a tardy.  If the employee does not use any of the Hall Passes throughout the 9 weeks, the passes will turn into extra credit at the end of the 9 weeks.

AFTER SCHOOL LAB HOURS
                If you need extra time to finish your work for the day, you may come to the office that same day and finish your work in Tiger Period.  No extra time (beyond the current day) will be given for work unless it is from an excused absence.  Students who miss work AND have an approved excuse may sign the weekly appointment book to schedule a time to complete make-up work.  Absolutely no make-up work will be completed during regular business hours unless the employee has completed the day’s work and is able to complete the make-up work before the office hour ends.  Otherwise, all make-up work will be completed during Tiger Period or by appointment. 

*** If an employee signs the appointment book and does not show up for their appointment to make up their work, the employee will earn a zero for that assignment.  The employee should not sign the appointment book and have a conflict with another scheduled appointment. ***

CHEATING
                Cheating will not be tolerated.  If an employee is caught typing on another employee’s computer, using a document produced by another employee, printing off a paper for another employee, talking during a test, or doing anything else that would have the director believe the work turned in or used was not the sole product of that employee, all employees involved will receive a zero on the assignment, and will not be allowed to make it up. 

SUBSTITUTES
                If a substitute is in the classroom, the employee is expected to show the utmost respect for the individual.  Employees are to refrain from using the computers when a substitute is present.  Any employee that is a problem for a substitute may be required to come in before or after school and type a memo of apology to the individual.  This will count as an assignment.  Employees may be referred to the administration.

QUESTIONS
                If your employee is having any problems or concerns for this class, please contact me at the school.  If I am not available to answer your call, please leave a message and a time it is convenient to return your call.  I check e-mail regularly so please don’t hesitate to contact me. 

This program is a great opportunity.  Your success and the number of competencies you achieve are totally up to you.

I look forward to having a wonderful year!

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