Looking to bring practical life skills and real-world problems into your math class? Here are three ways you can use the Financial Algebra curriculum to create fun and meaningful math experiences for your students!

#1: Financial Algebra as a Complete Course

Financial Algebra is designed as a complete course for high school math teachers who want to infuse relevant personal finance into their curriculum. 

The course covers core algebra skills, like linear equations, systems of equations, and exponential functions, each paired with a personal finance topic, like budgeting, investing, and paying for college. 

#2: Application Problems for Real-World Practice

Each math skill includes a set of leveled Application Problems grounded in personal finance content. You can pull these into your classroom for a ready-to-go practice worksheet that is relevant and differentiated. 

Check out these popular Application Problems:

• APPLICATION: Graphing Wages and Linear Equations
• APPLICATION: Graphing Systems of Equations and Savings Goals
• APPLICATION: Analyzing Investments for Exponential Change

You can find Application Problems on the NGPF Math Activities page or the Financial Algebra course page. You’ll need to be logged into your free teacher account to access answer keys, which also include the links to any corresponding Desmos activities.

#3: Desmos Activities for Engagement (and Easy Sub Lessons!)

Desmos is a great platform for students to explore math concepts in depth through games, interactive graphs, and self-checking activities. Plus, it makes grading easy! 

NGPF’s Financial Algebra Desmos Collection includes all the Desmos activities used throughout the course. This could be a great place to start if you’re looking for a fun and mathematically rigorous activity, extra review, or a sub lesson.  

To access the complete course materials, create your free teacher account today!

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.

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