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.

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.