Mount Olive High School
Course Syllabus
Accounting I
2015-16
Important Note: This syllabus is tentative and is subject to change at the
instructor’s discretion.
Instructor: Dave Silverstein
Office Hours:
After school upon request. Please provide me with at least
one-day notice. Note that there will be no after school help
during soccer season.
Number: (973) 927-2208 ext: 7642
Phone
E-mail:
Dsilverstein@mtoliveboe.org
Room Number: B115
My Teaching Philosophy:
My teaching philosophy is to add value to EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY. In
Corporate America, companies talk about adding value to their products and
services. Companies are well aware of the importance of continuous progress.
I feel that this approach should be applied in education as well.
I teach each class with the objective of adding value to every student. Of
course, each student has his or her own capabilities, interest and learning style.
I feel that it is my role to tailor classes so that each student will benefit in some
way. One way that I accomplish this is to gather each student’s objectives and
other information . I then incorporate this information in my lesson plans.
During the semester, I gather feedback from the students, and if necessary,
adjust my plans immediately.
I feel that this “student value added” approach will help both my students reach
their full potential.
REQUIRED TEXTS: Glencoe Accounting, First-Year Course 4th Ed. Students
are to bring this text to class each day.
Mount Olive High School
Course Syllabus
COURSE DESCRIPTION/COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course serves as an introduction to basic bookkeeping and accounting
principles. As such, it is designed for anyone wanting to better understand how
money, personal finance and business work.
A major goal of this class is to enlighten students to the powerful financial
advantage their accounting education will afford them- now and in the future!
When students appreciate how a worthwhile subject can improve their lives,
comprehension is dramatically increased, as desire to learn becomes a driving
force. Therefore, below is a partial list of course topics that are intended to
motivate students to excel in accounting:
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Teach students how to use accounting strategies to manage
their allowances and/or earnings
Teach students how the basic workings of the federal tax
system. Thereafter, students will learn to employ tax
minimization and/or deferment strategies
Inform students that the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) is used to measure financial need for college.
Thereafter, students will learn how each FAFSA line item is
used in the Federal Needs Formula. Finally, students will learn
legal strategies that can reduce their Expected Family
Contribution (EFC) so to qualify for more financial aid.
Students will learn many investment options that are tailored to
teenagers.
Students will explore accounting techniques that will help them
to choose a college that offers the best Return on Investment
(ROI).
Students will learn the “real” accounting behind credit cards.
Since most people receive credit card offers soon after their
eighteenth birthday, it is essential that Mount Olive’s student
body is exposed to the advantages and dangers of credit card
use; especially with the new bankruptcy laws .
Students will learn how accounting can be used to manage and
expand any type of business venture.
This course will also teach students how to utilize computer technology in order
to expedite and simplify financial calculations.
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Mount Olive High School
Course Syllabus
TEACHING METHODOLOGIES:
1. Lectures
2. Assigned Reading
3. Hands on cooperative or individual problems
4. Class Discussions
5. Computer Simulations
6. Real life Business and Personal Finance Simulations
7. Homework Assignments
8. Exams
Advice on learning Accounting:
Accounting is difficult to learn solely from a textbook. It is extremely
important that you attend class in order to master the concepts and
practices. Of course, if a student misses a class, (s)he is expected to submit
any past due assignments. See the rules and procedures handout.
If you want to succeed in this course, remember that Accounting is not
spectator sport. Many students are able to ace other classes by memorizing
facts and restating them on an exam. This strategy will not work with
Accounting.
Think of Accounting as a system that compiles business events. The system
then goes to work by applying generally accepted accounting principles to
these events. The end result is relevant financial information. No two
businesses have the exact same events. It would be impossible to memorize
how to account for every single business event. The only way to learn
Accounting is to work with and master the system. When you understand the
system, you can handle any event, and you will do well in this class.
You Can’t expect to learn Accounting without doing Accounting, any more
than you could learn to swim without getting in the water. You have to take an
active role, making use of your chief resources: Your instructor, your fellow
students, your textbooks, your financial calculators, and the Internet.
I wish you well with your venture into Accounting.
EVALUATION:
Exams
Business Simulations
And Computer Projects
Homework
40%
45%
15%
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Mount Olive High School
Course Syllabus
Although I do not grade on attendance, excessive unexcused absences will
have a negative impact on a student’s class participation grade.
Students who are absent the day a homework is due are expected to hand
in the assignment the day they return to school or e-mail it to me. Barring
excused absences, late homework will not be accepted, resulting in a grade
of zero for that assignment.
COURSE CONTENT/TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE:
Note: Computer Activities, Practice Sets, Business Simulations,
Accounting Games, and Related Reading will be infused throughout the
curriculum the year.
Topic
1
Topic
Class Introduction
Assessing Student Needs and Lifestyle Goals
How Accounting Can Help you to reach your goals
Accounting Career Opportunities
2
Introduction to Business and Accounting
3
Reflecting business transactions in the Accounting
Equation
4
Transactions that affect assets, liabilities and
owner’s equity
5
Transactions that affect Revenues, Expenses and
Withdrawals
6
Recording Transactions in the General Journal
7
The General Ledger Posting Process
8
Preparing a Preliminary Trial Balance
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Mount Olive High School
Course Syllabus
Preparing a Six-Column Worksheet
10
Financial Statements for a Sole Proprietorship
11
Completing the Accounting Cycle for a Sole
Proprietorship
12
Introduction to the Special Journals
13
Cash Control and Banking Activities
14
Taxes and YOU!
15
Investing for a comfortable future
16
The Time Value of Money
17
The accounting behind credit card interest and
penalty calculations
18
Using Accounting to start and run your own
Business
19
Selected Personal Finance Topics that stem from
Accounting
20
Review for Final Exam
21
Final Exam
Class Assessment- Did this class meet your
expectations?
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