If you are a May center, this post might come as a bit of a surprise at the beginning of the academic year. You might be thinking, why is she posting about Unit 3 now?! But if you read this post about which order I teach the units, you will know that I split Unit 3 over Year 1 and Year 2. Typically, I aim to complete up to chapter 3.4 in Year 1, leaving the remaining content for Year 2. This approach allows for a slower pace and gives students time to reinforce their understanding of the important concepts before tackling the more advanced topics.
So why is timing so important? As an IB Business teacher, I've found that one of the most challenging aspects of our curriculum is effectively managing time for each unit, so that I am able to finish everything by exam time. Today, I'd like to share my approach to timing for Unit 3: Finance, a topic that often requires extra attention and practice for our students.
The Importance of Finance in IB Business
Finance can be a tricky subject for many students, but it's crucial for their success in the course. With the new 2022/24 exam structure, Section A in Paper 2 has taken on even greater significance, as all case studies are now obligatory. This change emphasizes the need for students to have a solid grasp of financial concepts and plenty of practice applying them.
Time Allocation for Unit 3: Finance
For those who have been following along, you may recall that I've previously shared my time allocations for Unit 1 and Unit 4. If you haven't seen those yet, feel free to check them out here: Unit 1 and Unit 4.
Standard Level (SL) vs. Higher Level (HL)
It's worth noting that the HL curriculum for Finance includes more content than other units. This additional material requires careful planning to ensure all topics are covered thoroughly. So, these photos show about how many classes (50-55 minute periods) I spend on each chapter.
Standard Level (SL) timing
High level (HL) timing
As you can see from these timing guides, I've allocated extra time for HL students to accommodate the additional content and ensure they have ample opportunity for practice and consolidation.
Adapting to Your Class's Needs
Remember, while these timing guidelines have worked well for my classes, every group of students is unique. Be prepared to adjust your pacing based on your students' needs and progress. The goal is to ensure a thorough understanding of the material, not just to cover it quickly.
I hope this breakdown of my approach to timing Unit 3: Finance is helpful as you plan your own lessons. How do you approach this unit in your classroom? Do you have any additional strategies for making finance more accessible to your students? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
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