713-256-8643 info@deckerusa.com

Real Life Financial Mathematics

FAQs
Which students should be encouraged to take RLFM?

Alan Greenspan, retired Federal Reserve chairman, encouraged educational institutions and parents to require financial education. He stated, “The number one problem in today’s generation and in the economy is the lack of financial literacy.” Therefore every student should take a quality personal financial education course unless there is a good reason why they will not be able to use this information.

Which teachers should be encouraged to teach RLFM?

Unlike other high school courses where the instructor has deep knowledge of the subject matter, in personal finance, no one is an expert. What D&A looks desires in a teacher is a person who is a student of personal finance and is willing to learn from the publisher, from friends and from students. The instructor should want to be increasingly more comfortable with a Socratic method of teaching – loves to ask relevant questions and have the students derive the answers and will not lecture. Finally, we want a teacher who believes this course can teach all students how to think and change their future.

Why select RLFM for Personal Finance? 7 Reasons
  1. RLFM is written by award-winning financial professionals with forty years of experience in financial education.
  2. RLFM is updated annually. This saves teachers hundreds of hours of additional work trying to identify objective, updated reference material, changing assignments and videos.
  3. With CTE funding, paying for this course is easier than funding a regular math course.
  4. It is the only financial math course approved by the TEA.
  5. In addition to acquiring a deep-level of understanding of the subject matter, they are also challenged to think, problem-solve, work in teams, make presentations and communicate with adults.
  6. Students develop a plan for their future and make changes now to secure postsecondary education and a financially secure future. This translates into outcomes for the district with more students graduating career and college ready, more attending PSE and more graduating from PSE.
  7. Students master Canvas Learning Management Systems. This LMS is frequently licensed by colleges and universities. Using it now is an excellent foundation for online learning.

If your district plans on developing your own course, please recognize the time, energy, professional knowledge needed. If a teacher or department head truly had the knowledge, passion, and understanding to write this course, a career change should be recommended. The average income ao a financial planner is about $150,000 a year.  D&A developed this course because we are social impact entity with a mission – for students to achieve their goals and be financially secure.

How is RLFM offered?

The course provides a blended online structure which is “flipped” with students working independently to acquire information and then teachers leading discussions and asking questions. We have named this the Thinking Instructional Methodology.

Alternatively, RLFM serves as an excellent reference source for complying with the 102 break-out TEKS. If there is a specific content question, professors are encouraged to contact D&A by email or phone.

Does RLFM cover 100% of the TEKS and ELPS?

YES. When the course was reviewed by the TEA, a miscommunication resulted in the committee only evaluating 70.59% of the TEKS. They stopped when they reached the percentage of TEKS we were said definitely met the TEKS. (As planners, we were cautious in our projections.) They never reviewed the 30% balance of the material. Had we stated that RLFM met 100%, the evaluators would have reviewed the entire course. We believe the course would have officially met 100% of the TEKS with 102 breakouts.

If your district is intent on developing its own financial math course, it too must meet 100% of the TEKS with 102 Breakouts, 00% of the Teacher ELPS, 100% of the student ELPS and be accessible by hearing, sight and color-blind impaired students.

How do I license RLFM?

View the Pricing link. Then contact Ken Decker, President of Decker & Associates, Inc., the publisher.  You may complete the Contact Us form on this website or call 713-927-9300.

  • Which students should be encouraged to take RLFM?

Any student who has successfully completed Algebra I. Alan Greenspan, retired Federal Reserve chairman, encouraged educational institutions and parents to require financial education. He stated, “The number one problem in today’s generation and in the economy is the lack of financial literacy.” Therefore, every student should take a quality personal financial education course unless there is a good reason why they will not be able to use this information. Why?

Real Life is expensive, and unless parents are prepared to support their children forever, students need to understand personal finances and apply the principles to be financially secure and ultimately independent.

  • Which teachers should be encouraged to teach RLFM?

Teachers of RLFM do not have to be financial gurus. They do, though, need to encourage problem-solving and critical thinking. Memorizing information will not serve the student in the future because of how quickly finances, taxes, inflation, and benefits change. The instructor should want to be increasingly more comfortable with Bloom’s highest level of instruction and encourage students to ask questions and answer questions. Finally, we want a teacher who believes this course can change each student’s future.

  • Why select RLFM? 6 Reasons
  1. RLFM is written by award-winning financial professionals with forty years of practical counseling and experience in financial education.
  2. RLFM is updated annually. This saves teachers hundreds of hours of additional work trying to identify objective, updated reference material, and having to change assignments and videos.
  3. With CTE funding, paying for this course is easier
  4. It is the only financial math course approved by the TEA.
  5. In addition to acquiring a deep level of understanding of the subject matter, students are challenged to think, problem-solve, work in teams, make presentations, and communicate with adults and especially parents.
  6. Students develop goals and a ten-year academic, personal, career, and financial plan for their future. As they complete the course, they modify their goals and plans so that they are realistic.

If you or your district plan on developing your own course, please review current legislation on compensation for instructors asked to create instructional materials. D&A spends about 1,000 hours each year updating the curriculum.  D&A developed this course because we are a social impact entity with a mission – for students to achieve their goals, be financially secure, and actively contribute to society.

  • How is RLFM offered?

The course provides a blended online structure consisting of more than 900 “pages” of instructional materials and assignments.

  • Does RLFM cover 100% of the TEKS and ELPS?

YES. When the course was reviewed by the TEA, a miscommunication resulted in the committee only evaluating 70.59% of the TEKS. The State Review Panel stopped the review when they reached 70.59% of TEKS. They never reviewed the 30% balance of the material. Had we stated that RLFM met 100%, the evaluators would have reviewed the entire course. We believe the course would have officially met 100% of the TEKS with 102 breakouts.

If your district is intent on developing its own financial math course, it too must meet 100% of the TEKS with 102 Breakouts, 00% of the Teacher ELPS, 100% of the student ELPS, and be accessible by students with hearing, sight, or color-blind impairments.

  • How do I license RLFM?

View the Pricing link. Then contact Decker & Associates, Inc., the publisher.  You may complete the Contact Us form on this website or call 713-256-8643.

RLFM is about real life. It is developed by Decker & Associates – award winning experienced financial professionals.

Click on the topics for more information - Table of Contents, Frequently Asked Questions and Pricing. If you have more questions or wish to preview RLFM, please complete the CONTACT US form.