Online Learning Opportunity 1

EQ - How does the recent stimulus package impact personal finances?

1. Watch the first 2 minutes of the video below:
2. Summarize the major elements of this bill.
3. Describe how you believe this will impact your family's personal finances.

Unit Map

Unit 3 Map

Completing Your Tax Return

EQ - How do I file my tax return?

1. Activator - The cost of tax returns
2. Tax Timeline
3. Form Identification
4. Together - Complete a 1040
5. Collaborative Pairs - Complete a 1040
6. Muddy Points
7. Individual Practice
8. Create a study guide for Unit 3 Exam

Minimum Wage Debate

1. Calculating Pay Quiz

EQ - How do current minimum wage laws impact an individual's personal finances?

1. Activator - Minimum Wage "List" & "Inqure" 
2. Developmental Activity - Can You Survive?
1. TPS - Before you begin
1. Explain your opinion of a job that will pay your $9/hr.
2. Would you be able to provide for yourself at this hourly rate?
2. The Experience - Can You Survive?
3. TPS - What was this experience like for you?
4. Has your perception changed?  Why or why not?
3. Homework 
1. Know -  Write a short explanation (140 characters or less) of what you now know about minimum wage.
2. Discussion - How has your understanding of minimum wage changed as a result of the reading and discussion?
3. Muddy Points - What elements of minimum wage are you still working to understand
4. Reading & Resources 
1. A Glimpse at 2013's Debate
2. Federal Minimum Wage Law
3. The Dream of a $15 Minimum Wage
4. A Case Against Minimum Wage
5. 4 Reasons Not to Increase Minimum Wage
5. Continuation: LINK
1. Note - Actively Read the articles listed above (You may print them if you'd like)
1. Make Notes about your discussion.  
2. Look for answers to our inquiry questions, connections to what you already know or heard about in our discussion.
3. Write new questions that arose as you read.
2. Know - Summarize what you have learned from these readings
1. Write a short explanation of what you now know about minimum wage.

1. Activator: Row Discussion: What have you learned?
1. Share your notes
2. Finalize the "Know" box on the organizer
2. Class Split
1. Left Side - Yes, increase it.
2. Right Side - No, keep it the same.
3. Partner Discuss: Present your side of the issue and your rationale
4. Assessment - Compose a letter to your state representative
1. Minimum Wage Pay Calculations
1. Calculate the Annual Gross Pay for a person earning minimum wage.
2. Identify your state rep. - CLICK HERE
3. Write a letter to your state rep. that includes the following:
1. Discuss the minimum wage debate: What is the issue, why does it matter, etc.
1. Use evidence from your readings and use appropriate citations.
2. Discuss both sides of the issue using and provide evidence with citations.
2. Propose a recommendation for how your rep should vote on minimum wage law changes
1. Provide evidence to support your recommendation
5. Discussion - How has your understanding of minimum wage changed as a result of the reading and discussion?
6. Muddy Points - What elements of minimum wage are you still working to understand?

Coming Soon

EQ - How do I prepare a tax return?

1. Activator: Costs of doing taxes - Answer as a comment to this post (select anonymous, type your first name and then your response)
2. Vocabulary Preview - The Language of Taxes - Take notes in your class notebook
3. Start Here - Complete Modules 1-13

Calculating Pay

EQ - How do I calculate my net pay?

1. Team Quiz
1. List & Describe the 4 way most people get paid at work.
2. Define Gross Pay
3. Define Net Pay
4. Use terminology to describe the mathematical differences between Gross and Net Pay
5. Calculate: Christina worked 75 hours last week and she makes $12.50 per hour.  She gets paid weekly.  What is her gross pay?
2. Unit Map Review
1. What we've covered
2. Today's Goals
1. What are the different pay periods in which employees may be paid?
2. How can I know how much my paycheck will be if I earn a salary?
3. What are the manditory and voluntary deductions from gross pay?
4. What taxes are withheld from my pay?
5. Dollars per hour perspective
6. Calculate Gross & Net Pay
3. Quiz Next Class