Financial Literacy
What financial skills do you need for life? How can you make financial decisions while understanding the impact on yourself and others? What financial decisions are made for us by the institutions and structures that, for better or for worse, exist today? What is our role in creating a more equitable financial world in the future?
This interdisciplinary mathematics, economics, and social science course will be organized around case studies chosen from all walks of life, circumstances, and backgrounds. We will consider the mathematics of budgeting, personal banking, credit & borrowing, renting or owning a home, taxes and insurance while discussing the tough decisions people make along the way. We will keep an eye on the ways in which these discussions are shaped by the particular economic distortions we see in the Bay Area. Students will do weekly readings, engage in regular course discussions, attend field trips to gain real-life experience, and complete collaborative projects and/or presentations for each unit.
We will meet virtually as a class every Sunday evening via Zoom video conferencing for student discussions, presentations and meetings with guest experts.
Example field trip/in-person meetings:
- Welcome meeting + team building and group formation
- Walking tour of SF Financial District
- Visit to local financial institution
- In-person class using stock market simulator
Students must attend the welcome meeting and 2 out of the 3 other in-person meetings.
  UC Approved: Interdisciplinary  
About the Instructor
Megan Storti – SF University High School
Megan has been teaching at University High School since 2015, and serves as the Math Department Chair. As a math educator for 16 years, she has experience ranging from Algebra I to AP Calculus BC. In addition, Megan has taught math online to high school students through Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development. Megan has an M.A. in Mathematics from San Francisco State University and a Master’s in Educational Technology from Boise State University.
Student Testimonials
Financial Literacy is such an important topic for all to learn. It’s diving into real life everyday applications that high schoolers and college students don’t know about. It’s important to be smart with our money, as this is how we survive when we move towards the next chapter in our lives.
Senior at UHS, Fall 2022I think that overall this course has been one of the most helpful classes I have ever taken. I think that the skills I learned in this class I will take with me for the rest of my life.
Junior at Marin Academy, Fall 2021I think that this course, like many other BlendEd courses, allowed me to delve into a subject that I found interesting in an academic setting that would have otherwise not been available. The assignments helped me learn a lot about different subjects without feeling like I was getting overwhelmed by the course load.
Junior at Lick-Wilmerding, Fall 2022The entire course itself was awesome because the topic clearly provided real-life skills which are going to be very important in the near future.
Sophomore at UHS, Spring 2021I have never taken a BlendEd course before this, so it was really interesting an engaging to learn in such a different way. The assignment that was most enjoyable/worthwhile to me in this course is the budget spreadsheet— that is something I will remember and take with me when I go to college.
Junior at Marin Academy, Fall 2021I loved how relevant the topics were. The stock market game felt very real and helpful for me.
Junior at Marin Academy, Spring 2021