Realife™ Electives

Please note: If you purchase this course guide you will need to purchase the books listed below separately. See books listed under Materials for both 1st and 2nd Semesters.

A 36-Week, 10 Unit High School Course Guide
Semester 1: Economics, 18 weeks, 5 units
Semester 2: Money Management, 18 weeks, 5 units

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Please note: You are purchasing a downloadable ebook. You will not receive a bound printed book by mail.

1st Semester: Economics

Materials
For this course you will need (at book stores or on amazon.com):
1. Book: Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens by Robert Kiyosaki
2. Book or Audio: Nickel & Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich

Grades
If you are taking this course for high school credit, here is a suggested grading formula to discuss with your teacher / parent:
     C = get the basic information:
     read Rich Dad Poor Dad or ask someone to read it to you
     read Nickel & Dimed or listen to it on tape
     each week answer the questions in this guide in writing or discuss with
          parent/teacher
     B = get the basic information plus get involved:
     do everything under C above PLUS complete the DO sections in this guide
     A = get the basic information, get involved, go deeper
     do everything under B above PLUS do a project:
     make a scrapbook, chart, or poster of the important points in each chapter of
          Rich Dad Poor Dad and Nickel & Dimed
     OR
     choose another book from the optional book list on the next page and
     • read or listen to it
     • summarize the most important points in each chapter by writing a paper, making
         a poster, drawing a chart/diagram, giving a talk (presentation) to a group, tape
         recording yourself, or making a booklet
     OR
     if you have an idea for a project present it to your teacher for approval

Learning Style Options
When doing your assignments choose the format that works best for you. You may write, draw, or verbalize your answers by talking with someone or recording yourself.

Timeline
This is an 18-week, 1 semester course, divided into weekly lessons.
With your teacher's approval you may speed up the course and finish sooner.

Strategies
Study smart instead of hard!
For better understanding and retention, look at the questions you will be answering before you read a section. That way you will be alerted to the important points and it will be easier for your brain to notice them. Also, make sure you refer to your books when answering the questions. This is not cheating! The point of this course is to make learning this material as easy as possible so that you will really get it!

Note for teachers / parents
Your input and availability for discussion could enrich this course.

Sample page

WEEK 6: Chapter 4— Rich Dad's Money Secret: “My Money Works for Me”

READ (or have someone read to you)

ANSWER (write, draw, or discuss)

1. Why was Robert willing to work for nothing?

2. Why did the boys turn down offers of being paid as much as $5.00 per hour?

3. What was supposed to happen while the boys worked for free?

4. Once they started the comic book business, was it worth it to keep working at the store for free?

5. What were the 2 things the boys kept (see page 52)?

6. What was the best part of their business?

For a B also do:
1. This week look for “opportunities.”
2. Brainstorm business possibilities and put them in your journal.
Include anything you think of even if it sounds wacky, impossible, or boring. Include things you wouldn't like.
3. Any time you hear someone say, I wish I had... write it down in your journal.

For an A also work on:
your project or third book you chose

2nd Semester: Money Management

Materials
For this course you will need (available at book stores or on amazon.com):
1. Book: I Want To Be Rich!...A Teenager's Modem To Money© by Karen Humbolt

2. If you follow the grading suggestions below and are going for a B you will also need:
     a. How To Use Money Wisely Workbook (available at
          www.walch.com, # 025928-906)
     OR
     b. Money Matters for Teens Workbook Age 15-18 Edition (bookstores or online)
         by Larry Burkett
         (this is the best book I have seen on this topic; it does have a Biblical
         emphasis; if you are of a different faith you can use this one if you are
         comfortable substituting the Biblical references and concepts for your own)

3. Bonus Book: Julie & Debbie's Guide To Getting Rich On Just $10 A Week , by
         Deborah Rosen Barker & Julie Behr Zimmerman
         (this book is no longer available everywhere; you can still get it online or
         at some bookstores)

         this is the best book I've found on investing; when I read this book I
         finally understood investing and was able to start!

        if you can get this book use it in place of #2 to get a B
         or use it as your bonus book to go for an A)

Grades
If you are taking this course for high school credit, here is a suggested grading formula to discuss with your teacher / parent:
     C = get the basic information:
     read I Want To Be Rich!
     each week answer the questions in this guide in writing or discuss with parent/teacher
     B = get the basic information plus get involved:
     do everything under C above PLUS complete
          Julie & Debbie's Guide To Getting Rich On Just $10 A Week OR
          How To Use Money Wisely Workbook OR
          Money Matters for Teens Workbook
     A = get the basic information, get involved, go deeper
     do everything under B above PLUS do a project:
     make a scrapbook, chart, or poster of the important points in each chapter of
          I Want To Be Rich!
     OR
     choose another book from the optional book list below (if you did a workbook for
          the B you can use Julie & Debbie's Guide for the A or another book) and
          • read or listen to it
          • summarize the most important points in each chapter by writing a paper, making
          a poster, drawing a chart/diagram, giving a talk (presentation) to a group, tape
          recording yourself, or making a booklet
     OR
     if you have an idea for a project present it to your teacher for approval

Sample page

WEEK 4: Chapter 4— Making A Budget

READ (or have someone read to you)

ANSWER (discuss, write, or draw)

1. What do we usually call a financial roadmap?

2. Do the budget exercises in this chapter.

For a B also do:
How To Use Money Wisely Workbook - “Take Charge of Your Spending” and
       “A Spending Plan”
OR
Money Matters for Teens Workbook - Chapter 6: Controlling Bigger Budgets
OR
Julie & Debbie's Guide - Chapter 2

For an A also work on:
your project or third book you chose

Purchase Now!
Please note: You are purchasing a downloadable ebook. You will not receive a bound printed book by mail.