Mike Sheffer Directr f Educatin FlPrf Teacher Guides Intrducing FlPrf Int Yur Curriculum Thanks fr becming a FlPrf teacher! Yu ll find eighteen separate teacher guides n this website ne fr each mdule. And yu can f curse use ne r all f ur mdules. Yu can als assign mdules as hmewrk, and still mnitr students prgress in real-time. Up frnt: If I can help yu persnally in any way as yu launch FlPrf, please dn t hesitate t cntact me. I ll be glad t try t answer yur questins and wuld appreciate yur suggestins t make FlPrf even better. Here s my persnal e-mail address: mike@flprfhq.cm 2015 The FlPrf Fundatin 1
Fr ver six years, my wn classes at Crning East High Schl in Crning, New Yrk, have been invlved in the testing f FlPrf mdules. My students have lved every minute f it. S, I think yu and yur students are getting ready t becme part f smething unique and gd. Why FlPrf is Pwerful The underlying integrity f the entire FlPrf curriculum stems frm ne fact: FlPrf is a cnsumer site, nt a cmmercial site. Our bjective thrughut is t prvide infrmatin that helps yung cnsumers make wise decisins when it cmes t their financial lives decisins based n sund infrmatin, nt marketing hype. We think yu ll find this apprach refreshing, and right. Backgrund n FlPrf FlPrf gives yu a pwerful tl t use with all yur students: Yu can use the mdules either in the classrm r as hmewrk assignments. As yu ll see, students lve the diversinary teaching methd ur mdules emply. Yur students will als be engaged by FlPrf s yuth-t-yuth cncept f teaching financial literacy. Which Class Makes the Best FlPrf Class? The FlPrf curriculum fits well in any general r business class that deals with yuth and mney and with financial literacy. We have fund that Mdules 4 thrugh 7, which deal with checking accunts, debit cards, and credit cards, wrk best with students wh are ld enugh t actually anticipate using these financial tls in the near future. 2015 The FlPrf Fundatin 2
FlPrf has been taught in these classes arund the cuntry: - Intrductin t Business - Mney Management - Persnal Finance - Career and Financial Management - Business Math - Accunting - Ecnmics - Recrd keeping - Investing FlPrf and Business Classes: a recruitment aide. FlPrf can als be a gd recruitment tl fr yur business classes. At my high schl, we have seen many students cmplete the FlPrf mdules and then immediately sign up fr ur elective business curses. The FlPrf Curriculum FlPrf, as yu knw, is web-driven and turnkey. The eight cre mdules (Mdule 1 thugh Mdule 8) can be used in cnjunctin with yur current curriculum r can be used as yur sle financial literacy curriculum. The mdules wrk well as web-driven textbks and study guides. Mdules 1 thrugh 8 are designed t be used sequentially (and we recmmend that), but they can be used as standalne mdules as well. Mdules 9 thugh 18 are designed t be used as standalne mdules, but can be used sequentially, t. Suggested Class Time fr FlPrf Mdules 1 thrugh 7 require a minimum f abut eleven 45-minute sessins in ttal. Mdule 8, The Burning Mney Series, will take yur students abut fur 60 t 90-minute sessins. The remaining mdules generally take 45 minutes t cmplete, but sme mdules require lnger. We have nted the time required fr these mdules. 2015 The FlPrf Fundatin 3
These times d nt include any supplemental teaching yu may d in cnjunctin with the mdules. Times include the time needed t cmplete any test assciated with an individual mdule. Mdule 1, When it Hits the Fan, intrduces the entire FlPrf cre curriculum. Requires ne 45-60 minute sessin. Mdule 2, Breathing Withut Air, gives a detailed lk at the imprtance f credit in ur lives. Requires ne 45-60 minute sessin. Mdule 3, Kick Sme Buck, deals with credit scres, credit scring, and risk-based lending. Requires ne 45-60 minute sessin. Mdule 4, Rad Trip, requires tw 45-minute sessins. Rad Trip cvers checking and savings accunts, and deals with the pwer f these financial tls. It als teaches practical skills. Mdule 5, Junk in the Trunk is the hmewrk mdule fr Rad Trip. Junk in the Trunk takes ne 45-minute sessin. Mdule 6, Sucker Punch, requires tw 45-minute sessins. Sucker Punch presents an extensive lk at credit cards. It teaches practical skills but mre imprtantly equips students t make wise decisins cncerning credit cards and installment debt. Mdule 7, Bxing Practice, is the hmewrk mdule fr Sucker Punch. Bxing Practice takes ne 45-minute sessin. Mdule 8, Burning Mney, is divided int 4 episdes. Each episde requires 60-90 minutes. These episdes extensively cver budgeting, saving, and spending decisins. Nte: please d nt begin the Burning Mney mdule until yu have thrughly reviewed the Teaching Guide fr Mdule 8. 2015 The FlPrf Fundatin 4
Mdule 9, Mving Out, immerses the student in the thught prcesses needed t make mving ut a successful experience. Mdule 9 takes students 45-60 minutes t cmplete. Mdule 10, "Buying a Hme," lks at the reasns yung peple shuld understand the hme buying prcess many years befre they actually buy their first hme. This mdule takes 45-60 minutes t cmplete. The mdule teaches the skills necessary t prepare fr the best and least- expensive hme buying experience dwn the rad. Mdule 11, Gambling," presents a detailed lk at the scietal csts and ptential benefits f rganized gambling. This mdule takes students 45-60 minutes t cmplete. Mdule 12, "Tax Me," reviews the impact f taxes n ur lives and explains t the student the respnsibilities required f all taxpayers. This mdule takes students 45-60 minutes t cmplete. Mdule 13, "Giving Versus Getting," illustrates the value f giving back t the cmmunity, and demnstrates the rle f charities and nt-fr-prfits. This mdule als teaches the student hw t respnsibly becme a cntributr t charitable causes and rganizatins. This mdule takes students 45-60 minutes t cmplete including the mdule test. Mdule 14, "Wh Needs Mney?" fcuses in great detail n the enrmus impact f even a minimal cllege educatin n the lifetime incme f any yung persn. This mdule takes students 45-60 minutes t cmplete. Mdule 15, "Dn't Frget the Parachute," fcuses n insurance: why we at times need it, and hw d we find the best insurance at the lwest cst? This mdule takes students 45-60 minutes t cmplete. 2015 The FlPrf Fundatin 5
Mdule 16, "Brke!" explres the causes and cnsequences f bankruptcy. It explres in detail the alternatives t bankruptcy, and discusses the different types f bankruptcy remedies available t a cnsumer. This mdule takes students 45-60 minutes t cmplete. Mdule 17, "Pay Me While I Sleep." Mdule 17 and 18 shuld be dne in rder. Bth mdules shuld be cmpleted. The mdule shws students than an investment accunt can put their mney t wrk fr them while they d ther things, such as sleep. It illustrates the imprtance f building an investment accunt frm a yung age. This mdule takes students 45-60 minutes t cmplete. Mdule 18, "Time Travel." This mdule is designed t be dne directly after the investment mdule, Mdule 17. Time Travel fcuses n this message: yu are respnsible fr making sure yu have funds t lead an independent life when yu retire. This mdule takes students 45-60 minutes t cmplete. If yur schl has sixty-minute r eighty-minute blck scheduling, yu can plan accrdingly. A Nice Feature with All FlPrf Mdules: Stp and Start Sme f yur students will mve quickly thrugh the mdules. Other students may require a lt mre time. All the mdules allw students t stp at any pint and then pick up at that same pint at anther time. Students can even cmplete mdules at hme. Using the FlPrf Curriculum As a Cmplete Financial Literacy Prject We hpe that yu will cnsider expanding the FlPrf teaching cycle int a twelve t sixteen day curriculum, using ur eight cre mdules and supplemental materials. We prvide links and articles t help yu build ut these classes. 2015 The FlPrf Fundatin 6
Using the frty-five minute class perid as ur mdel, here s a suggested class breakdwn: Mdule 1, When It Hits The Fan - 2 classes r sixty minutes. Pre-teach using ur guide; allw a cmplete class fr the mdule, with pst teach fr summary and cnclusin. Mdule 2, Breathing Withut Air - 2 classes r ninety minutes. Pre-teach using ur guide; allw a cmplete class fr the mdule, with pst teach fr summary and cnclusin. Mdule 3, Kick Sme Buck - 2 classes r ninety minutes. Pre-teach using ur guide; at least ne cmplete class fr the mdule, with pst-teach fr summary and cnclusin. Mdule 4, Rad Trip - 2 classes r ninety minutes. Pre-teach using ur guides; and at least ne cmplete class fr the mdule with pst-teach fr summary and cnclusin. Nte: Mdule 4 has a separate nline skills mdule called Junk In The Trunk that requires anther full class day. Mdule 6, Sucker Punch - 2 classes r ninety minutes. Pre-teach using ur guides; at least ne cmplete class fr the mdules, with pst-teach fr summary and cnclusin. Nte: Mdule 6 has a separate nline skills mdule, Bxing Practice, that requires anther full class day. Mdule 8, Burning Mney Series - 6 classes r 180 minutes. Pre-teach using ur guides; at least ne cmplete class fr the mdules, with pst-teach fr summary and cnclusin. 2015 The FlPrf Fundatin 7
Building Business Classes Arund FlPrf: What we did at Crning East High Schl I have been teaching business fr twenty-six years and have been at Crning East High Schl fr eighteen. I have als been the Department Chairpersn fr Business and Technlgy at East High fr furteen f my eighteen years. We are an Internatinal Baccalaureate schl, and ffer a tw-year Business and Management class alng with ur regular business curriculum. We have three business teachers that have an average f 280 students per year. Crning East has apprximately 890 students. Here s a quick summary abut tw f the classes we have develped arund FlPrf. Business and Yu Business and Yu is a ne-half credit curse that meets every day fr frty-five minutes fr a semester. Business and Yu is divided int fur sectins with five weeks spent n each tpic. a) The first tpic studies the ecnmics f mney and the reasn why peple wrk t make mney. b) The secnd tpic is devted t individual realistic lifestyle gals, analyzing their interests, values, skill and abilities. c) The third sectin is persnal finance. Students are taught hw t create realistic budgets, hw t use checking accunts, debit cards, mney management skills and hw t use credit wisely. d) The furth sectin is n careers in business: hw t prepare fr thse careers and the curses we ffer at East High in ur business curriculum. 2015 The FlPrf Fundatin 8
We ffer this class t tenth graders and use it as a recruiting tl fr ur future business classes. As yu can see, FlPrf is a perfect fit fr the third sectin. We use it as ur curriculum fr the entire five weeks and supplement the mdules with articles and current issues in business. Our enrllment in Business and Yu has averaged 65 students per year with an 80% retentin rate in ur Business Department fr ne r mre years. Investing in Yur Future Investing in yur Future is a ne-half credit curse that meets everyday fr frty-five minutes fr a semester. Investing in yur Future is designed t help students develp slid financial gals as well as the skills necessary t achieve thse gals. Grading fr the curse is prtfli based, with a cncentratin n a career and financial plan. The gal f the curse is t help the students develp slid mney and investing skills. Mney tpics include credit, credit scres, brrwing mney, budgets and advanced mney management skills. Investing tpics include taxatin, Scial Security, basic investing strategies, certificates f depsit, mutual funds, stcks, bnds, IRA accunts, estate planning, and lngterm investment strategies fr their future. We ffer this class t eleventh and twelfth graders and use it as a capstne curse fr ur business majrs. FlPrf is used as ur curriculum fr the mney skills sectin f Investing in yur Future and is an integral part f ur teaching when it cmes t credit and hw t establish gd credit and mney skills. We ffer Investing in yur Future tw r three times a year t abut 80 students per year. It is ne f ur mst ppular upper level business curses. 2015 The FlPrf Fundatin 9
Will Yu Help Us? Student feedback: I wuld persnally appreciate it if yu wuld encurage all f yur students t evaluate ur prgram. Student feedback is critical as we expand FlPrf t ther tpics and imprve ur existing mdules. Student evaluatin takes place after the Burning Mney series, mdule 8. Yur feedback: And after yu ve used FlPrf a bit yurself, please e-mail me with yur candid cmments and suggestins. Hey, I hpe this intrductin helped! I think yu re getting ready t start a very rewarding teacher experience. T educatin, Mike 2015 The FlPrf Fundatin 10