Economics with Financial Literacy (Honors)
Course Guidelines
2024-2025
Mr. Sultz, iPrep Academy
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sultztonianinstitute.com
X (formerly Twitter): @Sultztonian
General Overview
Honors Economics is a survey course with an emphasis on the study of the concepts and processes of the national and international economic systems. Content includes, but is not limited to, currency, banking, and monetary policy, the fundamental concepts relevant to the major economic systems, the global market and economy, major economic theories and economists, the role and influence of the government and fiscal policies, economic measurements, tools, and methodology, financial and investment markets, and the business cycle. Various economic schools of thought are introduced as students consider solutions to economic problems. Financial Literacy themes are embedded throughout this Economics course. The course has been designed to use a blended model of instruction infusing technology, virtual resources, and a motivated teacher in the classroom to help facilitate learning. We will be using a variety of resources including Schoology, an e-book, Florida Virtual School (FLVS), Florida Council for Economic Education (FCEE) materials and others. iPrep Academy is a Global Magnet School and global themes will be infused into the curriculum throughout the entire semester. The four specific student outcomes that we are pursuing are as follows: An Appreciation for Diversity; Cultural Understanding; Global Knowledge, and Global Engagement.
Major Topics and Concepts for Honors Economics
Unit One: Economics and You
• How economics influences our daily lives
• Three basic economic questions
• Wants versus needs
• Scarcity and opportunity cost
• Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Demand and supply
• Equilibrium price
• Functions and characteristics of the money supply
• Money versus currency
• Gross versus net income
• Direct versus indirect taxes
• Progressivity of taxes
• Tax returns
• Savings and checking accounts
• Savings and investment types
• Relationship between inflation, nominal interest rate, and real interest rate
• Government's role in the investment market
• Risk and rate of return on investments
• Career planning
• Credit and debt
• Budgeting
Unit Two: Markets and You
• Circular-flow diagram
• Factors of production
• Entrepreneurship
• Contributions of entrepreneurs to the developing United States
• Different forms of business organization
• Characteristics of different market structures
• Market competition
• Productivity and marginal cost analysis
• Factors that impact the earnings of workers
• Production possibilities curves
• Capital investments
• Positive and negative externalities
• Impact of externalities on consumers and society
• Wage and price controls
• Natural monopolies and the purposes of government regulation
• Costs and benefits of various types of insurance
• Making smart choices as a consumer
Unit Three: The National and Global Economy and You
• Phases of the business cycle
• Unemployment and inflation
• Gross domestic product (GDP)
• Tools and goals of fiscal policy
• Debt, deficit, and surplus
• National budget
• Organization and functions of the Federal Reserve System
• Relationships between consumers, banks, and the Federal Reserve System
• Tools and goals of monetary policy
• Theories of prominent economists
• Traditional, market, command, and mixed economies
• Role of society and culture in economic organization
• Broad economic goals
• Indicators of national economic health
• Absolute and comparative advantage
• Free trade and barriers to trade
• Protectionism strategies
• Consumer Price Index as a measure of inflation
• Effects of inflation on different levels of society
• International exchange rates
Academic Grade Evaluation
Class Work: 10 points
Home Learning: 10 points
Digital Notebook: 25 points
Participation: 25 points
Mini-Quizzes: 25 points
Quizzes: 50 points
Mini-Projects: 50 points
Tests: 100 points
Projects/simulations: 100 points
All assignments should be turned in on time or will be penalized one letter grade per day. I will post all major assignments on the assignment calendar on my webpage so please check regularly. It is the student’s responsibility to make-up assignments if they are absent from class (assignments are posted on the calendar on my website, see the instructor if you have any questions).
Materials
1. Laptop: You must bring this to class every day.
2. Supplies: Always have a pen, pencil, paper, and an Expo Chisel Tip Dry-Erase Marker, we still need to use these!
3. Digital Notebook with four dividers labeled in this order:
Section 1) Notes
Section 2) Economic News
Section 3) Student Work
Section 4) Investment Portfolio
This notebook should only be used for Economics Honors and be brought to class every day.
Attendance and Conduct
1. Regular and prompt attendance is required. I strictly enforce the iPrep Academy attendance policy. If you have five or more unexcused absences from Class, credit may be withheld. As an incentive to have good attendance on test and project days, I will offer a bonus of three points to all students if the entire class is present and on time to class on a test day and project presentation days.
2. Be in your seat, quiet and ready for work at the beginning of class.
3. Please follow the school rules regarding the dress code.
4. Academic integrity is priceless! Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship. Academic assignments exist to help students learn; grades exist to show how fully this goal is attained. Therefore, all work, and all grades should result from the student’s own understanding and effort.
5. Respect and Responsibility are what we are all about at iPrep. Be respectful and act responsibly!
Important Reminders
1. Parents and students are encouraged to check the parent and student portal to assess student’s grades, academic progress, and attendance. The M-DCPS portal can be found at www.dadeschools.net. Please make it your responsibility and your child’s responsibility to check the portal on a regular basis. This will help us help your child be successful at school. I also post major assignments to the assignment calendar embedded in my website so check regularly.
2. Parents are welcome to request conferences on your progress. Please call the school or e-mail me to arrange an appointment.
3. Parent conferences will be scheduled for academic, effort and conduct problems that surface during the year.
4. How to contact Mr. Sultz (He/Him/His)
Email: [email protected]
On A Personal Note
As your instructor, I will do everything possible to make this class both interesting and challenging for you. I will give my best effort, and I only ask the same from you. Please plan to come to class prepared and alert. I will try to get to know each of you personally and to be available for any problems or concerns that arise during the semester. If you need extra help, please seek me for assistance.
After reading and understanding these guidelines, students should sign below and have their parents or guardian also sign it. Then return this to Mr. Sultz.
Parents should please contact me with any questions or concerns.
I look forward to a fantastic semester!
Sincerely,
Mr. Bradley E. Sultz, MS, NBCT
iPrep Academy
************************************************************
My parents/guardian and I have read, understand, and fully agree to the elements outlined in Mr. Sultz’s 2024-2025 Honors Economics Course Guidelines.
Student Name: _________________________
Student Signature: ______________________
Course: _________________ Period: _______
Parent Name: __________________________
Parent email: _________________________
Parent Phone number: ____________________
Course Guidelines
2024-2025
Mr. Sultz, iPrep Academy
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sultztonianinstitute.com
X (formerly Twitter): @Sultztonian
General Overview
Honors Economics is a survey course with an emphasis on the study of the concepts and processes of the national and international economic systems. Content includes, but is not limited to, currency, banking, and monetary policy, the fundamental concepts relevant to the major economic systems, the global market and economy, major economic theories and economists, the role and influence of the government and fiscal policies, economic measurements, tools, and methodology, financial and investment markets, and the business cycle. Various economic schools of thought are introduced as students consider solutions to economic problems. Financial Literacy themes are embedded throughout this Economics course. The course has been designed to use a blended model of instruction infusing technology, virtual resources, and a motivated teacher in the classroom to help facilitate learning. We will be using a variety of resources including Schoology, an e-book, Florida Virtual School (FLVS), Florida Council for Economic Education (FCEE) materials and others. iPrep Academy is a Global Magnet School and global themes will be infused into the curriculum throughout the entire semester. The four specific student outcomes that we are pursuing are as follows: An Appreciation for Diversity; Cultural Understanding; Global Knowledge, and Global Engagement.
Major Topics and Concepts for Honors Economics
Unit One: Economics and You
• How economics influences our daily lives
• Three basic economic questions
• Wants versus needs
• Scarcity and opportunity cost
• Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Demand and supply
• Equilibrium price
• Functions and characteristics of the money supply
• Money versus currency
• Gross versus net income
• Direct versus indirect taxes
• Progressivity of taxes
• Tax returns
• Savings and checking accounts
• Savings and investment types
• Relationship between inflation, nominal interest rate, and real interest rate
• Government's role in the investment market
• Risk and rate of return on investments
• Career planning
• Credit and debt
• Budgeting
Unit Two: Markets and You
• Circular-flow diagram
• Factors of production
• Entrepreneurship
• Contributions of entrepreneurs to the developing United States
• Different forms of business organization
• Characteristics of different market structures
• Market competition
• Productivity and marginal cost analysis
• Factors that impact the earnings of workers
• Production possibilities curves
• Capital investments
• Positive and negative externalities
• Impact of externalities on consumers and society
• Wage and price controls
• Natural monopolies and the purposes of government regulation
• Costs and benefits of various types of insurance
• Making smart choices as a consumer
Unit Three: The National and Global Economy and You
• Phases of the business cycle
• Unemployment and inflation
• Gross domestic product (GDP)
• Tools and goals of fiscal policy
• Debt, deficit, and surplus
• National budget
• Organization and functions of the Federal Reserve System
• Relationships between consumers, banks, and the Federal Reserve System
• Tools and goals of monetary policy
• Theories of prominent economists
• Traditional, market, command, and mixed economies
• Role of society and culture in economic organization
• Broad economic goals
• Indicators of national economic health
• Absolute and comparative advantage
• Free trade and barriers to trade
• Protectionism strategies
• Consumer Price Index as a measure of inflation
• Effects of inflation on different levels of society
• International exchange rates
Academic Grade Evaluation
Class Work: 10 points
Home Learning: 10 points
Digital Notebook: 25 points
Participation: 25 points
Mini-Quizzes: 25 points
Quizzes: 50 points
Mini-Projects: 50 points
Tests: 100 points
Projects/simulations: 100 points
All assignments should be turned in on time or will be penalized one letter grade per day. I will post all major assignments on the assignment calendar on my webpage so please check regularly. It is the student’s responsibility to make-up assignments if they are absent from class (assignments are posted on the calendar on my website, see the instructor if you have any questions).
Materials
1. Laptop: You must bring this to class every day.
2. Supplies: Always have a pen, pencil, paper, and an Expo Chisel Tip Dry-Erase Marker, we still need to use these!
3. Digital Notebook with four dividers labeled in this order:
Section 1) Notes
Section 2) Economic News
Section 3) Student Work
Section 4) Investment Portfolio
This notebook should only be used for Economics Honors and be brought to class every day.
Attendance and Conduct
1. Regular and prompt attendance is required. I strictly enforce the iPrep Academy attendance policy. If you have five or more unexcused absences from Class, credit may be withheld. As an incentive to have good attendance on test and project days, I will offer a bonus of three points to all students if the entire class is present and on time to class on a test day and project presentation days.
2. Be in your seat, quiet and ready for work at the beginning of class.
3. Please follow the school rules regarding the dress code.
4. Academic integrity is priceless! Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship. Academic assignments exist to help students learn; grades exist to show how fully this goal is attained. Therefore, all work, and all grades should result from the student’s own understanding and effort.
5. Respect and Responsibility are what we are all about at iPrep. Be respectful and act responsibly!
Important Reminders
1. Parents and students are encouraged to check the parent and student portal to assess student’s grades, academic progress, and attendance. The M-DCPS portal can be found at www.dadeschools.net. Please make it your responsibility and your child’s responsibility to check the portal on a regular basis. This will help us help your child be successful at school. I also post major assignments to the assignment calendar embedded in my website so check regularly.
2. Parents are welcome to request conferences on your progress. Please call the school or e-mail me to arrange an appointment.
3. Parent conferences will be scheduled for academic, effort and conduct problems that surface during the year.
4. How to contact Mr. Sultz (He/Him/His)
Email: [email protected]
On A Personal Note
As your instructor, I will do everything possible to make this class both interesting and challenging for you. I will give my best effort, and I only ask the same from you. Please plan to come to class prepared and alert. I will try to get to know each of you personally and to be available for any problems or concerns that arise during the semester. If you need extra help, please seek me for assistance.
After reading and understanding these guidelines, students should sign below and have their parents or guardian also sign it. Then return this to Mr. Sultz.
Parents should please contact me with any questions or concerns.
I look forward to a fantastic semester!
Sincerely,
Mr. Bradley E. Sultz, MS, NBCT
iPrep Academy
************************************************************
My parents/guardian and I have read, understand, and fully agree to the elements outlined in Mr. Sultz’s 2024-2025 Honors Economics Course Guidelines.
Student Name: _________________________
Student Signature: ______________________
Course: _________________ Period: _______
Parent Name: __________________________
Parent email: _________________________
Parent Phone number: ____________________