5 Quick Steps to Getting Started with HSFPP

Step 1: Create a free account.

Each instructor needs to create an account to access the online instructor materials and to order printed student guide books.

Step 2: Become familiar with the program.

To learn about the HSFPP program learning outcomes, format and materials, instructors can do the following:

• Read about the program.
• Download the HSFPP Curriculum Overview to preview a showcase of the curriculum components.

Step 3: Plan what you will teach.

The HSFPP is a flexible curriculum comprised of 27 independent lessons. The suggested minimum time for each HSFPP lesson is 45 minutes. But you may decide to spend more time on particular lessons or activities depending on your situation.

Instructors can pick which lessons to use and choose the sequence of lessons based on their audience, purpose and time frame. The My Intentional Financial Education Game Plan planning guide is designed to help instructors decide which lessons to teach.

After completing the planning guide, instructors can use the Lesson Competency outline to select the topics and lessons that best meet the needs of their learners.

Step 4: Prepare to teach.

Once you have determined which lessons you are going to teach, it is time to gather the materials.

All HSFPP curriculum components can be downloaded online, but you also request free printed materials to supplement your program. Deliveries take a minimum of 10 business days to arrive.

• Share Student Learning Plans in advance with instructor partners, teacher aides, and/or special education teachers to plan for any modifications.
• Prepare Student Learning Plans and handouts to share with learners.
• Gather any props needed for learning activities.
• Determine in advance how learners will be assessed. Use the Performance Assessment (aka Challenge Activity) recommended with each lesson, or create your own assessment.
• Customize the Parent/Guardian Letter (available in English and Spanish) to introduce parents to the program as you get started on the lesson.

Tip: To refresh your knowledge, or to learn about specific financial topics, take an online course at Smart About Money. Each course is self-paced and takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Step 5: Teach teens about personal finance.

Once you have created your free account, learned about the program structure, decided what to teach and gathered the instructional materials, it is time for the final (and most rewarding) step: teaching!

• Use the teacher lesson notes or PowerPoint notes to facilitate the learning experience.
• Guide learners as they process and practice personal finance skills.
• Assess learning and provide feedback to steer learners on the path to mindful money management behaviors.
• Assign the suggested Take it Home action to encourage students to share or apply at home what they have learned in class.

At the conclusion of the learning experience, present each learner with a Certificate of Participation. You can order printed certificates, or registered instructors can log onto HSFPP to download an editable copy.