02/26 (SYNCH): PMB STEP 3 & 4 First Job / Apartment

 PERSONAL MONTHLY BUDGET STARTING POINT

Today you will build on the research you completed earlier this week. You are responsible for not only finding a college and major you are interested in but finding your first job after college.

YOU MAY NOT FIND A JOB IN PHILADELPHIA OR THE REGIONAL AREA. 

You must find an "ENTRY-LEVEL" job outside the Philadelphia Area (Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester, Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester Counties are off-limits).

Use the College and Major you chose on Monday and go to the following website https://www.aftercollege.com/. Look on the right side of the opening page and you will see a box that says "Explore Curated Jobs". Select a College you are interested in attending (SCHOOL). Enter a (MAJOR) you are likely to study. Set the (GRADUATION DATE) for MAY of 2021 and click SHOW ME THE JOBS.

If you chose professional training that did not require college, you must use Indeed.com, Monster.com, Careerbuilder, or other employment search sites to find your first job away from the Philadelphia area. You will have to search in a part of the country that interests you, and you still need to identify how you were trained to work in your chosen field. Ask me if you have any questions about this. 

If you joined the Military, ask me to help you identify a base to live near so you can complete the budget that way.

You may have to SIGN IN (Create A Free Account). Use your class GMAIL to sign up, and select a password you can remember.

Now you must choose a job that you are interested in. Once you find the job you must research where you will be working. Look up the company that is hiring for that position and where the office is. You will need to find an actual, accurate address to use. You must also copy the Job Title and Job Description for use later.

Next time we are in class you will find out what your salary is based on your job location and title. This will be your Gross Pay before taxes and deductions, so you can spend that money on living expenses and anything else you need to buy to survive. We will discuss your purchases in more depth next week. For now, once you know what you are doing for a living and where you are working, you are now ready to find an apartment. You need to find a place to live near where you work, or someplace that will not cost a fortune to commute from. Everyone must live outside the Philadelphia Area.

YOU MAY NOT LIVE WITH FAMILY, but if you and someone from class have chosen the same place to work (same City or Area), you may share an apartment or living arrangement. This will help your overall budget. You must still keep separate budgets, but you can share the costs. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR OWN BEDROOM FOR PRIVACY.  Depending on where you live, you will have to decide how much to spend on transportation for work. You may use any Real Estate or Apartment Finder websites to find places to live.

Once you have found all the information above and written it down on paper, please fill out and submit the following form completely (The more accurate and complete your answers are, the easier it will be to do additional tasks for your budget):

PMB START-UP SHEET TFDL2021 SURVEY

I was going to assign cities for you to find jobs in, but this is more realistic. If you take this project seriously, you will be surprised at what you will learn about how much things cost and how keeping an accurate budget will save you money, time, and aggravation. Previous students who complete this project correctly have enjoyed it and learned a lot about their future. I hope you have fun working on it too.

Good Luck!

- Mr. S

02/24 (SYNCH): PMB Day 2 - Basic Budgeting & Investing

Objective: Students should learn the basics about savings accounts and invest in the Stock Market. Students will use independent learning time to navigate through a series of videos to help them better understand basic Personal Budgets, Saving Money, Credit Card Tips, and how to Invest in Company Stocks. Students will complete a Journal Entry and sign up for our class Stock Market Challenge.

Complete the Following Steps:
1. Read the Article below and complete a Journal Entry (On the TFDL 2021 PMB Worksheet)
2. Watch the Videos Below and Complete the Class Worksheet & Vocabulary List (on the form listed above.)
3. Create an account on Investopedia.com and click the link below to join the 2021 Virtual Stock Market Game.

To begin your investing journey, please read the following article: Investing VS Gambling Article (Click Here) and write a brief (2-3 Sentences) journal entry about your feelings about the main point of the article.

Second, watch each video link below on your own. After each video, answer the questions on the worksheet for today. When you have completed the worksheet questions, please research and fill in the Vocabulary Section on the back of the sheet. Turn in the sheet for credit!

1. Personal Budget Tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_GZOr4l7P0

2. How To Save Money:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxC_KaCD8KQ

3. Savings Account Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ttAaz32VU

4. Credit Card Tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en6IfLFlrJM

5. Company Investing Tips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MPtq56CT1I

Third, Use the link below to sign up for our Stock Market Challenge.  Once created, click the link below and you should automatically be forwarded to the game. Once you have created an account, follow the directions to BUY and SELL stocks.  You have $10,000 to spend.  If you make any money in the market this week, you can add it to your Final Budgets!

Use the following sites to help you pick stocks for the game:
MarketWatch (Wall Street Journal) Website (CLICK HERE)

MSN Money Top 50 Stocks (CLICK HERE)

Additional Resources: here is a link to the Stock Market Basics Presentation from Class (Click Here)

We will be reviewing the following video together in class: Investing Basics VIDEO (CLICK HERE) and discussing how you can find stocks you might be interested in investing in for the project.

MarketWatch Virtual Stock Market Game Instructions

Open this link and read the competition summary:

http://www.marketwatch.com/game/tfdl2021

Click on the 'Join Now' button to get started. The password is: TFDL2021.

If you are an existing MarketWatch member, enter your Email address and Password in the login panel and get set to trade. If you are a new user, follow the link for a Free account - it's easy!

Follow the instructions and start trading!

Once you have joined the game, view your Portfolio and do some research on stocks you are interested in.  Make sure you click Trade Stock (link) and enter the Stock Symbol for the company you are interested in.  Click BUY or SELL only.  Review the stock information to the left of the screen to see what the stock's current price is.  Calculate how many shares you want to Buy/Sell at that rate.  Enter the number in the appropriate box.  Make sure you are buying at the MARKET RATE and it is "Good Till Cancelled".  Click PREVIEW ORDER.  Once you have previewed the next page, click SUBMIT to start the action.  You can check your progress anytime, as the market is live.  Each morning, I will post the rankings on the board!

NEED HELP FINDING STOCKS TO PICK:  barchart.com

GOOD LUCK!!

- Mr. S 

02/22 (ASYNCH): Personal Monthly Budget (PMB) - Step 1 College/Major Day

Objective:  Students will use online research tools, conversation, and creativity to identify a prospective college or career path for themselves.  Based on the selection of colleges they choose, they will identify a major course of study as well.  Once identified, students will perform a number of tasks to record and explain their choices.  Students will be asked to complete the following tasks as they reflect on their choices:

1.  Constructed Response Journal Entry - Personal Monthly Budget Worksheet (PMB)
2.  Navigation and Completion of College/Major Choice Project
3.  Completion of Online Form to record choices.
4.  Completion of Google Document (SHARE) to outline information about their choice. 

Today, the first thing you will create is a Journal Entry (see PMB Worksheet) after reading the following article:

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers/college-majors/the-college-major-what-it-is-and-how-to-choose-one

Please describe what major you are interested in and why you chose it at this point in your life.  I realize college is a few years away, and I am sure your interests might change between now and when you are going to go to school, but you will use the information you develop today to research future careers tomorrow.  Eventually, you will be responsible for choosing a College, Career, and your first Job after college to complete the PERSONAL MONTHLY BUDGET PROJECT (PMB) over the next few weeks!

IF YOU CANNOT CREATE AN ACCOUNT ON COLLEGEBOARD, PLEASE GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINK:

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

If you choose not to pick a college and major, you must identify another path to a career.  You will need to identify how you will receive training and complete all the steps below based on that training choice.  I will explain what I mean in class.

After your Journal Entry is complete, please go to CollegeBoard.Org and create an account. (CLICK HERE).  You will use this site to research your College and Major and use the information tomorrow to decide what your first career might be.  You must complete the COLLEGE SEARCH and MAJOR AND CAREER SEARCH sections of the CollegeBoard.Org website prior to completing the survey below.

When you have completed today's research, please add the name of your college and the major you have chosen to the Google Spreadsheet by answering the following questions on this link:  

COLLEGE & MAJOR SURVEY (PMB PROJECT 2021)

Next, you must open add the following information to the PMB Google Document:

College Name
College Address
Major Area of Study you would be interested in.
Sport you are interested in participating in.
Fraternity/Sorority you might belong too.
Extra-curricular activity you might be in.
What dorm you would be in during your freshman year / Where would you live?
How much the school costs (Credit Hour/$)
The name of the Sports Mascot
Name 2 places to eat.
Name 3 things to do around campus
Name 3 things to do off-campus
List the phone number for the following people:

• Dean of Students
• School Police
• Dining Facility
• Sports Complex
• Main Campus Phone Number 

You must find out all the information listed above about the college or career training program you are most interested in.  You need to SHARE this document with me for credit.  In the case of a career training program (ITT Tech, Electrical Union, etc.) you will need to fill in as much information as possible. 

Next SYNCH-day we will discuss Financial Literacy and Financial Planning, and you will see a list of entry-level positions that people could choose based on a variety of decisions.  You will be entering your college and major and choosing a career with this site.  Your choices will determine where you will live and what career you will start with.  We will also be discussing financial planning and investing later this week.

When you have completed the Journal Entry, College & Major Survey, and Google Document above, you are free to work on anything else you owe me for class.  Good Luck!

Good Luck!

Mr. S

02/18 (SYNCH): Basic Banking

Bank Accounts – Teens should know how a bank account works and the fees associated; not only the account fees and how they incur (min balance amounts, activity fees, etc.), but also the ATM fees. Young people tend to like to do things online so they can search for a low-cost, basic online checking account. And while check writing may someday be obsolete, don’t forget to show them how to write a check and explain how it works. Also, review how debit cards work, how to safeguard all their information, and how too many swipes at the checkout counter can lead to costly and embarrassing overdraft charges.

Resource: https://www.forbes.com/sites/markavallone/2016/06/07/five-financial-concepts-your-teens-should-understand-before-high-school-graduation/#54a5b6fc4eab

WEBSITES & RESOURCES

http://www.themint.org/teens/writing-a-check.html

https://message.bankofamerica.com/onlinebanking_demo/OLB_Simulator/index.html#/accounts/overview

https://message.bankofamerica.com/onlinebanking_demo/mobileApp_Simulator/

https://www.motc.gov.qa/en/ditoolkit/migrant-workers/cash-machine-simulator-atm

Each student will click the links above and follow ALL DIRECTIONS! You will be learning, if you have never done it before, how to use an ATM, Write A Check, Deposit A Check, Make A Payment, and Pay Online Bills. Each activity has a link to a resource or simulation. You may complete these steps more than once to make sure you understand how to do these simple banking transactions.

Make sure you spend some time on each resource learning how to complete basic functions of banking and personal finance.  When you are done, please send an email to Mr. S (harvey.scribner@techfriere.org) describing some of the tasks you were required to complete, and some of the things you learned by completing these requirements. 

02/15 (SYNCH): Junior Achievement Finance Park Introduction

 

JA Finance Park students build a foundation for making intelligent, lifelong personal-finance decisions. Students will use this program online through JA Finance Park virtual.

JA FINANCE PARK VIRTUAL LINK
Try To Complete All Four (4) Sections & Work On Some Of The Level EXTRA!

A student who completes activities on the JA Finance Park Virtual program should be able to:

• Identify personal interests, skills, work preferences, and values. 
• Identify career interests. 
• Evaluate the risks and benefits of saving and investing. 
• Evaluate risk and recognize insurance as a way to minimize it. 
• Define taxes; explain their purpose, and understand how they affect everyone. 
• Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using credit and debit cards. 
• Explain who uses a budget and why. 
• Identify the components of a successful budget. 
• Create a successful budget using hypothetical life situations.

During this hands-on, computer-based simulation, students are asked to manage a fictitious life situation. The details of their assigned life scenario include marital status, number of children, education background, employment, and income. 

Given their career and family situation, students use banking services; pay for housing, transportation, utilities, groceries, and health care; contribute to charities; and budget for education expenses. They work to create and balance a personal family budget. 

EMAIL ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY

Go to your GMAIL and click COMPOSE.  Send an email to Mr. Scribner (harvey.scribner@techfriere.org) with the following information:  (SUBJECT: JA Finance Park Activity, Today's Date).   The body of the email should contain a well-written full-paragraph essay that explains the major decisions you faced in the simulation, the choices you made, and how completing this activity will help you as you navigate your personal financial health in the future (3-5 years).  Make sure to be specific about the actual major decisions you will face over the next few years, and how you will face them.  Good Luck! 

ACADEMIC/LEARNING OBJECTIVE

SWBAT to use the link provided above to create an account on the public version of the Junior Achievement Finance Park Simulation.  Students will then work through the decision-making process for completing the simulation, at their own pace in class.  For more information please click the following link:  Junior Achievement Finance Park Academic Standards

SCHOLARS WILL ENTER THE CLASS QUIETLY AND BEGIN WORKING! 

Project:  Students will READ ALL DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY for this activity.  They will proceed to the Junior Achievement Financial Park Public Simulation Link.  They should create an account with a password THEY CAN REMEMBER!  Once established, they should log in and begin the simulation.  Working independently, they should work through all the decision processes outlined in the simulation, and when complete, they should begin to craft their Email Assessment Response.  They can use scratch paper to brainstorm but should email their final response directly to Mr. Scribner (harvey.scribner@techfriere.org).

READ ALL DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY!

02/11 (SYNCH): Budgeting & Investing

GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST TO JOIN THE CLASS VIRTUAL STOCK MARKET GAME RIGHT NOW!  There will be prizes for top earners in each class!

Students should learn the basics about savings accounts and invest in the Stock Market.  Students will use independent learning time to navigate through a series of videos to help them better understand basic Personal Budgets, Saving Money, Credit Card Tips, and how to Invest in Company Stocks.  Students will complete a Worksheet, a Google Form Reflection, and sign up for our class Virtual Stock Market Game TFDL2021.  Start by watching the video below to learn about Basic Budgeting Tips:

NEXT.....Learn the Basics of the Stock Market with this video:

Make sure you spend some time reviewing the presentation from our class discussion at the link below:

BUDGETING & STOCK MARKET BASICS GSLIDES LINK

Step by Step Instructions:
1.  Watch Videos Below and Complete Class Worksheet & Vocabulary List

2.  Complete the Budgeting & Investing Worksheet using the videos below.

3.  Use the information below to join our TFDL2021 Virtual Stock Market Game and start trading stocks and funds with $10,000 in "virtual" funds.  Prizes will be awarded in April!
4.  Complete the Basic Investing & Stock Market Reflection Google Form and reflect on what you have learned about these topics.

Video Instructional Links:

Watch each video link below on your own.  After each video, answer the questions on the Budgeting & Investing worksheet linked above.  When you have completed the worksheet questions, please research and fill in the Vocabulary Section on the back of the sheet.  Turn in the sheet by clicking FILE and MAKE A COPY, Change Your Name, and Click SHARE.  Add Mr. S (harvey.scribner@techfriere.org) for credit.

1.  Personal Budget Tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_GZOr4l7P0

2.  How To Save Money:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxC_KaCD8KQ

3.  Savings Account Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ttAaz32VU

4.  Credit Card Tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en6IfLFlrJM

5.  Company Investing Tips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MPtq56CT1I

MarketWatch Virtual Stock Market Game 2021

Join now, and see if you can win our 'TFDL2021' competition. The more participants the higher the level of competition. Can you master the market?

Game created by Harvey Scribner

Use the information and directions below to join the game.

1. Open this link and read the competition summary:
   http://www.marketwatch.com/game/tfdl2021
   
   
2. Click on the 'Join Now' button to get started. The password is: TFDL2021.
   
   
3. If you are an existing MarketWatch member, enter your Email address and Password in the login panel and get set to trade. If you are a new user, follow the link for a Free account - it's easy!
   
   
4. Follow the instructions and start trading!

Essential Question(s)

What are some of the decisions I will make to have basic financial stability?

How can I invest in stocks and funds?

Objective(s)  (SWBAT)

• Participate in class discussion about investing

• Complete Google Form Survey

• Sign-Up and Play Investopedia with class

Academic Standard (PA)

PA Career Education & Work Standard 13.3.11.D

Analyze budgets and pay statements, such as, but not limited to:  Charitable contributions  Expenses  Gross pay  Net pay  Other income  Savings  Taxes

Jump$tart Standards: Financial Responsibility

• Standards 1, 2 and 4 

National Standards for Economics: 

• Standard 2: Decision Making

PA Social Studies:6.2.12.D: Evaluate changes in economic institutions over time (e.g., stock markets, non-government organizations)

02/09 (SYNCH): PAYROLL TIMECARD Project

Today you will be using Google Sheets to complete a basic timecard.  Millions of people complete these weekly to report the time they spend at their jobs.  Most of these timecards are used to calculate the paycheck that is sent to the home for the work they do.  It is critical that you learn the basics of how this document works, and how to calculate basic taxes and deductions.

PAYROLL TIMESHEET LINK:

Google Drive Spreadsheet (BLANK Template):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vddJGc9dHx_0q1k2sAINW0n-FeHebM8JwimyuiGpePw/edit?usp=sharing

Today you will be working on Google SHEETS and creating a time-card for yourself.  Please read the corresponding story to the number you are given in class to fill out your time-card for the week ending on October 16th, 2016   We will complete the Example together in class.

Example Employee:  Rate per hour is $10.55.  Monday was a vacation day for eight hours. On Tuesday you worked for eight regular hours and added two hours of overtime.  On Wednesday and Thursday you worked eight hours, and Friday you worked for seven hours until you felt sick at your stomach.  You logged an hour of sick time.  You went in Saturday to make up for the time lost and added one hour of regular time and three hours of overtime.

Here are your practice scenarios:

Anyone whose last name that starts with 

A - H will be Employee #1

I - P will be Employee #2

Q -Z will be Employee #3.  

Please use the following scenarios to fill out your timecards.

Employee #1:  You make $20.25 an hour.  You felt sick on Monday and called out sick for eight hours.  You were feeling so much better the next day that you worked eight hours and then an extra three hours overtime to make up for your absence.  On Wednesday you could not be stopped again and put in an eight hour day and one hour of overtime.  Thursday you only were able to work seven hours, and Friday you worked eight hours and an extra hour of "flex" time at the normal rate to make up for Thursday.

Employee #2:  You make $14.50 an hour.  You arrived for work on Monday ready to go.  You put in eight hours and two hours of overtime.  On Tuesday you took a vacation day for eight hours of pay.  Wednesday and Thursday were regular days of eight hours each, and Friday you arrived late after two hours of sick time.  You finished the day strong and added six hours of regular time and an additional four hours of overtime.  Saturday you added four more overtime hours as well.

Employee #3:  You make $13.25 an hour.  On Monday you worked eight regular hours and four hours of overtime.  You took Tuesday as a personal day and clocked eight hours of vacation time.  On Wednesday you worked eight hours of regular time and added an additional two hours of overtime.  Thursday you were not feeling well and used eight hours of sick time.  Friday and Saturday you worked full eight hour days and logged an additional two hours of overtime.

Overtime for everyone is time and a half so multiply your hourly rate by 1.5 and you will have the overtime rate.  Sick time and Vacation Time are the same rate as your regular rate.

Take a look at your TOTAL PAY in the bottom right hand corner.  In your email  figure out what that number would be if you took out the following deductions:

• Local Tax:  4.33%
• State Tax:  3.07%
• Federal Tax:  15%
• Social Security:  6.5%
• Medical Coverage:  1.4%
• Retirement / 401K:  2%

Once you complete your time-card, SHARE it with me (harvey.scribner@techfreire.org).  

Step By Step Instructions:

1.  Open your EXAMPLE Timecard that we completed in class.  Click FILE and MAKE A COPY, Change the Name, then click SHARE and add Mr. S gmail address  (harvey.scribner@techfreire.org) and click SEND to turn it in.  Make sure you fill out the top of the form completely.  In the real world you would make sure your name, address, phone number and other information are correct.

2.  Change the WEEK ENDING date to the Sunday at the end of this work week.  Make sure, at other employers, you are following the prescribed work week. (Does it start or stop on a specific day)  Make sure you are reporting hours for the correct days and times.  This is a LEGAL Document.and must be correct prior to you signing it.

3.  Using the specific example (based on the initial of your last name) and enter the RATE OF PAY in the correct box at the bottom of the sheet.  Make sure to enter formulas to make the Overtime, Sick, and Vacation times work automatically.

4.  Once your Rate Of Pay entries are correct, Enter the appropriate times for each day into the cells that correspond with when you worked Regular Hours, Overtime Hours, Sick Hours, or Vacation Hours according to your example.

5.  Double Check your entries.

6.  Enter each of the rates of tax accord ng to the example.  You must change the percentage rates into decimal point values to use them in the equations.  Make sure the entries are correct.  Below the tax rates enter an equation that multiplies the total amount of pay by the tax rate (decimal) and you will get the amount of the specific deduction for each item.  You will see that these totals are deducted from your total pay and the amount of your check for the week appears at the bottom.

7.  When it is complete, make sure you have shared a copy with Mr. S using GMAIL for credit.

Good Luck!!

- Mr. S

ACADEMIC/LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Students will learn to use electronic spreadsheets for basic calculations, data storage and evaluation, and other tasks.  Students will complete basic spreadsheet tasks, simple functions, and basic formatting.  Students will be able to create, work with, collaborate on and share spreadsheets for classwork and basic applications

STUDENTS MUST START BY READING ALL DIRECTIONS ON CLASS WEBSITE!

Students will view instructional videos in class, followed by practical lessons.  Students will create, work with, store, and collaborate on basic spreadsheets using Google Sheets.  Students will be introduced to basic math, functions, formatting, and organizational features of the spreadsheets.  Students will prepare to complete a basic QUIZ at the end of the lesson next week!

READ ALL DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE TODAY!

Standards Covered In This Class  

PA 3.7.7 & 11 Section C / ISTE 2019

CSTA Tied With Common Core ELA/Math rev. 2018

02/05 (SYNCH): PAYBACK - Next Gen Personal Finance

 

Featured in the New York Times, our paying-for-college game PAYBACK has been played by over 150,000 students in just 3 months since launch! Teachers are saying, “It was an amazing game. All of my students were so highly engaged that it was time to go to lunch and none of them wanted to leave," AND "They loved that the game made them confront the money challenges of college but also helped them build the skills to survive and thrive.”  

Here is how to play (Yes, This is a class assignment as well):

PAYBACK STUDENT WORKSHEET (CLICK HERE)

Students Play PAYBACK (Click Here)

A single game-play takes 15-20 minutes, but you may also use a full 50-minute period by playing the game more than once.  Make sure when you start you vary the GPA, ExtraCurriculars, and State to see if you get different choices.  This can be more realistic than you think.

DISCUSSION AT HOME:

"How could you use the online game, PAYBACK, to have a conversation with your parent/guardian about paying for college?"

Think about the following ideas and talk to your family about what you learned while you completed this simulation:

• Have an understanding of key concepts learned by playing the game PAYBACK.
• Address concerns their parents/guardians may have about this sensitive topic. 
• Take a creative approach to engaging parents/guardians in a conversation about college. 

Make sure you click FILE and MAKE A COPY of your Worksheet.   You need to SHARE it with Mr. S for credit using harvey.scribner@techfreire.org

ACADEMIC/LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Scholars will use the online simulation "PAYBACK" to begin learning about the basics of how the choices they make for higher education can affect them financially.  This simulation, and associated standards for this assignment, will help them meet PA CEW Academic Standards, and also help students hone their skills for writing and information retention after participating in the simulation.  Students should reflect on this simulation, and use it as a prompt for conversation at home about the real costs associated with higher education, careers, and their future choices.

Scholars will follow all directions log into their Google Account and then begin working on the NexGen Personal Finance Simulator (PAYBACK).  Scholars will spend 15-20 minutes completing the simulation.  When complete, scholars will make a copy of the completed worksheet and share it with Mr. S for credit.