Making the Most of the Budget Exercise

Chapter 4 of Career Choices

The Budget

OThe first half of Chapter 4 (pp. 74-96)

OAn expanded version is available in the optional Lifestyle Math workbook

O“Money talks” and this is the point at which the attitudinal shift happens for many students

The Premise

OStudents are asked to outline a budget for the lifestyle they envision for themselves at a defined point in the future

OFor secondary students – project to age 29

Method to the Money Madness

O Idealized budgeting process – starts with what they want

O Fear not, for reality will rear its startling head before too longO Budget figures provide a quantitative

checkpoint when students are asked to determine how big a commitment they are willing to make to education and/or training

Your New Best Friend

Locate your Instructor’s

Guide,then hold it

close & never let it go.

Review Section 4breaks down each chapter,

activity by activity, for a walk-thru of the entire

Career Choices process.

Allow Ample Time

It may take longer than you expect to get through the budget exercise, especially the first time through.

Gather Your ResourcesOChecklist

O Instructor’s Guide, p. 4/52

OOpportunities for guest speakersO Instructor’s Guide, pp. 11/21-11/22

OIdeas shared by other instructorsO Throughout the Instructor’s Guide

OCareerChoices.comO Instructor’s Guide, p. 4/51

Model the ProcessReview the entire budget as a class first and complete a budget by consensus.

Instructor’s Guide, p. 4/48

Let the Dreams BeginOThe process needs to be personalOGive students the latitude to

include [insert insanely expensive luxury item here] in their budgets

ORemember, they will eventually reconcile budget and education or training needed

Expanded Budget

Same process

More depth

More math practice

Instructor’s Guide, pp. 4/49-

4/50

Reinforcing Rigor

“This class has helped me in realizing that school is actually important. The section that helped me the most is the budget one. At first I was like, ‘It’s okay I can pay whatever.’ Then when we add the totals I was like ‘Dang! This is going to cost a lot.’ That’s when I noticed that school is really important.”

- Juan, Student at Indio High School