Curriculum

Curriculum

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: A CHECK LIST OF IMPORTANT SKILLS FOR THOSE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL

  1. Understands the value of items:
    1. Start with concrete experiences (buy gum, etc.)
    2. Access a newspaper for prices of different items
    3. Comparison shop (identical brands/quantity); different brands/quality
    4. Understands store sales; coupons; discount cards (such as Safeway club card)
    5. Understands that there are typical household bills (demand for payment for goods or services; due date; late fees and consequences of not paying)
    6. Receives a weekly allowance; practices budgeting
  2. Money handling:
    1. Making change (next dollar up)
    2. Money folding or reliable system for arranging bills in all lighting (can have all ones)
    3. Wallet/hip pack organization (show different types of wallets; labeling in wallets) Velcro wallets with diagonal flap are easiest; wallets that chain to pants for boys are good
    4. Coin identification (remove pennies if they are a problem)
    5. Has a method of efficiently handling money in public
      • Asks for total
      • Removes money from wallet in a timely manner
      • Counts it; hands it (says “out of $20″)
      • Receives change (asks denomination of bills, checks amount of change)
      • Moves to side to put change away (arranges money to easily determine denomination)
  3. Has a signature (not an X if possible); carries a signature guide/pen
  4. Phone skills- can independently call a business for information
  5. Has a California ID- need for almost everything
  6. Can do simple calculations on a calculator
  7. Has an accessible, portable method of taking notes (slate & stylus, pen & paper, electronic note-taker, Voice Mate or other type of voice recorder, etc.)
  8. Can use a tape recorder (tone indexing)-for school, for gathering information on the phone, keeping track of things, etc.
  9. Keyboarding skills- for use in printing checks, letter writing, grocery lists, school, printing envelopes and labels, ordering groceries on-line, etc.
  10. Memorizes social security number (or carries in wallet in accessible format)
  11. Alphabetizes- for staying organized with a file box; address book, etc.
  12. Time management- for schedules, being on time, using a calendar, etc.
  13. Organization methods: Basis of success at all levels of curriculum
  14. Medical information: Knows pertinent medical information; has medical insurance card or information and knows how it works; keeps emergency information in his/her wallet; can describe etiology, prognosis & genetic implications of visual impairment; can describe functional vision
  15. Has a list of emergency numbers in accessible format
  16. Can fold and place a letter in an envelope; put a stamp on a letter
  17. Can operate coin-operated machines
  18. Understands basic bank services (checking and savings accounts)
  19. Understands Supplemental Security Income (SSI), if appropriate