Personal Finance

Course Syllabus

Mrs. Heskin

636-851-4653

Plan Period 4th Hour (10:10—11:00)

Welcome to my class. I am looking forward to working with you and your child this semester. This course is designed to promote financial success for students. Students will study the following topics throughout the semester: goals and decision making, career planning, banking, saving and investing, credit, budgeting, insurance, income taxes, insurance and other consumer skills.

Course Objectives:

  • Explain financial literacy and how sound financial decisions can increase a person’s standard of living.
  • Develop a career path based on rational decision making, appropriate research and self-reflection.
  • Apply decision-making to personal financial choices throughout various stages of financial status
  • Evaluate the sources and resources of financial institutions that are available throughout various stages of financial status.
  • Evaluate sources of credit, as well as the rights and responsibilities of credit, and be able to apply a decision-making process to ensure appropriate purchases
  • Evaluate investments and create a plan for the future
  • Apply the rights and responsibilities of consumers to personal living and financial choices.

Evaluation:

Daily work, quizzes, and test will make up the quarter grade. The quarter grades will be based on the total number of points possible. The semester grade will be 40% for each of the two quarters, and 20% final exam.

Daily Assignments:

Daily class attendance is vital to your success in this course. Many of the assignments will include group work as well as work that will be completed using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Excel. Assignments are due on the date specified. Work one day late may be accepted at a reduced point value of 20% off for each day the assignment is late.

Homework Policy:

No homework is necessary if attendance and work speed is sufficient. Since all work is completed in class, excellent attendance is essential for success in this course. Any work not completed by the due date may be completed outside of class.

Grading Scale:

90-100 A

80-89 B

70-79 C

60-69 D

Below 60 F

Grades will be posted by student number weekly. Parents are encouraged to monitor their student’s academic progress through the Parent Portal system. You will need a userID and password. You may contact the office for assistance. Student assignments will be posted on the Schoology website. Students may share their ID and password information with their parents for information on current assignments and due dates.

Make-up Policy:

Work may be made up for all excused absences and due within a reasonable time after the student returns to school. Students must ask for the missed work and arrange to make-up tests or quizzes before or after school or during a study hall. All tests and quizzes must be made up within one week of your return to school. After that you will receive a zero. Make-up tests may differ in format from the original test.

Supplies:

Students are expected to be prepared for class each day. Students will need paper, folder, pen or pencil and a flash drive to save their work to.

Classroom Expectations:

To promote a conducive learning environment for all students, the following expectations are required of all students:

  1. Students will respect their teacher, peers and our classroom.
  2. Students should be in their assigned seats during class until the bell rings. You will be dismissed by the teacher, NOT the bell.
  3. Students will refrain from talking when a guest speaker is talking, during the announcements, class lectures, videos, tests and quizzes.
  4. No food or drink is permitted near the computers. No exceptions.
  5. Students are expected to arrive to class on time and have all needed supplies. All tardies will count. You will not be allowed to return to your locker for missing items.
  6. Any tampering with computer equipment can result in suspension. There are no warnings. If you experience problems with your computer notify me immediately (within the first 2 minutes of class) so that I can assist you with it. You will not be held responsible. Otherwise, you will be responsible for the equipment.
  7. If you finish your work early you may read, do research on the internet for another class, do homework for another class, or finish make-up work. Sleeping or playing games on the computer are not permitted. You will receive a warning for the first offense. Each subsequent occurrence will result in a detention. If a guest speaker is present you will not receive a warning, but you will be issued a detention.

Student Success:

To help all students achieve academic excellence I will employ the following interventions to help all students succeed:

  1. Students will be offered before or after school help. Students need to let me know if they wish to come in for additional help.
  2. Parents will be contacted if students are struggling academically or with their behavior.
  3. Students will set goals to improve either their grade or their behavior.

Contact Information:

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. I am in various rooms throughout the day therefore it is more efficient to contact me via e-mail at . You may also contact my voicemail at 636-851-4653.

Information about class assignments and events will be posted on Schoology. Other basic information will be posted on my school website. You may access the website through the school website under the staff directory.