property of mmcclurg & jbrinkman 2008 differentiated personal finance for all levels of learners...

Property of MMcClurg & JBrinkman 2008

Differentiated Personal FinanceDifferentiated Personal Finance For all Levels of LearnersFor all Levels of Learners

Feb 6, 2008 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Feb 6, 2008 9:00 AM-1:00 PM


Personal Finance Statistics in America today.Of the 4,000 students who took the Jump$tart personal finance survey in 2004, 65.5% received failing scores.

People in the 18 to 24 age bracket spend nearly 30% of their monthly income just on debt repayment - 10% of net income is a recommended amount for debt obligation

40% of Americans say they live beyond their means.

The average household with debt carries approximately $10,000 to $12,000 in total revolving debt and has 9 credit cards.

In 2005, savings rates dipped to minus 0.5 percent, something that hasn't happened since the Great Depression in 1932 and 1933. A

negative savings rate means that Americans spent all their disposable income and dipped into past savings or increased their borrowing.

The number of 18 to 24-year-olds declaring bankruptcy has increased 96% in 10 years.

In 2002, more people filed for bankruptcy than graduated from college.

Source: Young Americans Center for Financial Education


In 2010, personal finance In 2010, personal finance education will be mandated education will be mandated

for all Ohio high school for all Ohio high school students. students.

The average graduating The average graduating senior lacks basic skills in senior lacks basic skills in

financial management. Many financial management. Many students are unable to students are unable to

balance a checkbook and balance a checkbook and have no insight into the have no insight into the basic survival principles basic survival principles

involved with earning, involved with earning, spending, saving and spending, saving and

investing. investing.


Personal finance and basic financial skills are even Personal finance and basic financial skills are even more crucial for students with disabilities. more crucial for students with disabilities.

Most parents of students with disabilities site money Most parents of students with disabilities site money management skills as one of the most important life management skills as one of the most important life

skills their child needs. skills their child needs.

Realistic financial materials for students with Realistic financial materials for students with disabilities are hard to find. Personal finance can be disabilities are hard to find. Personal finance can be

a complex subject and students with disabilities a complex subject and students with disabilities need to be taught with materials from the real world, need to be taught with materials from the real world, rather than worksheet versions of banking math that rather than worksheet versions of banking math that

a student would never see in their everyday life.a student would never see in their everyday life.


Free Curriculum Resources:

Create Your Personal Budget WebquestThis is one of the first projects my students do. It introduces them to topics we will be talking about and how important it is to have a budget. Some find this

out at the end when they have no money left. They will refer back to this several times a year when we do checking account reconciliations, taxes, loans, etc.

With permission from Susan Cowan, I took her webquest from Canada, adjusted for the United States and added details such as student loans, insurance,

mortgage down payments, PMI, etc.


National Endowment for Financial Education High School Planning ProgramStart your planning here, they will send you an instructor’s manual, workbooks and

certificates of completion for your students, etc. This program is a great starting point with PowerPoints for every unit, exercises and activities. Some sections may be difficult for

students with disabilities, however provides a solid core to build your program.


FDIC Money Smart Training ProgramI received 10 CD’s of this computer based program, covering topics from paying yourself first to

owning your home. Each CD includes a scripted guide for instructors, interactive class exercises, overheads, in Word and PowerPoint format, and a take-home guide for participants.


Money Skill Modules This site is fabulous!!! There are 34 modules. Each module is divided into short

sections that are read to the students and have quizzes that are read as well. Teachers set up their classes and can easily print out grades. You can also

choose only the modules you would like and change the order. Check it out!!


Wells Fargo Hands on BankingI really like this site. My students enter the young adults section and follow the online tutorials. There are also worksheets for each section. Note – I made worksheets for my students that ask questions as

they follow along with the tutorials, you can find them on my website under the files page.


It All Adds UpPlay online games and simulations to learn about credit management, buying a car, paying

for college, etc.


Insurance in a Box CurriculumVideo clips, PowerPoints, and worksheets covering auto, home, life, and

health insurance as well as careers in insurance


ABC’s of Financial PlanningCitigroup’s online tutorials, cartoon like walk through and explanations from basic

banking services to maintaining good credit.


Citibank's Credit Ed Challenge Students can work online or teachers can send for their free resources. Includes

videos, activities, and quizzes.


Federal Reserve Education Tons of resources like DVD's, games, lesson plans, etc. on the Federal Reserve, Banking & Money


IRS Understanding Taxes Online modules, Powerpoints & activities so students can understand everything from why they pay taxes to filling out their own return. The IRS also has a VITA-e program where a school can become a host site where the IRS helps train students and they in return can electronically file returns for low income families or those with disabilities.


Merrill Lynch Global Philanthrophy Investing Pays Off Curriculum Curriculum and Worksheets covering many financial and life skills.


Practical Money Skills for Life

Great site covering many different life skills topic from personal finance to consumer

awareness, includes overheads, interactive quiz,

and student worksheet activities. Includes resources

for students with special needs!


Financial Games:

Escape from Knab Use your financial skills to escape an alien planet!


FTC's Grand Scam Finance Games 3 fun games including Spot that Scan, Welcome to Bargainville, and Fact or Fiction


Financial Football


Fun Finance Games Bank it or Bust, Rags to Riches, & It Costs What?


Reality CheckShort little online activity to give students a reality check based on what they would like to spend

how much they are likely to make and how much they could make based on different degrees.


Show me the Future Math Game


Sense & Dollars Games Dream Prom and other financial games


The Mint Try it Games, Budgeting, Banking, Spending & Entrepreneur -


Do not forget your local financial Do not forget your local financial institutions. Many banks have financial institutions. Many banks have financial

literacy materials for teachers to keep or literacy materials for teachers to keep or loan. Many banking associates are eager loan. Many banking associates are eager

to talk to students about banking to talk to students about banking services in your own classroom or on a services in your own classroom or on a

field trip.field trip.

property of mmcclurg & jbrinkman 2008 differentiated personal finance for all levels of learners...

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