Reading for Life Lessons

Minnesota ABE Supplemental Services, Linda Strand, 2004-2005

And the Minnesota Literacy Council

Focus: Paying bills (Reading for Life, volume 2, unit 17: Banking, Bills and Budgets)

Objectives: Learners will be able to discuss and compare different methods of paying bills; to read and interpret different bills

Key Vocabulary: installment, service fees, balance, finance charges, minimum payment, late fees

Topics to Review: banking, writing checks and balancing a check book, utilities

Materials: a variety of bills – you can bring them or have your students bring them in

Procedure:

Real-life application:

T asks students about bills they have to pay. T makes a list on the board of bills and how often they must be paid.

T and students look at bills together to find the amount to be paid, due date, to whom the check should be directed and any special instructions (where on the check to write the account number). Students can write the information in a chart.

T and students look at a phone bill together and discuss the different parts of the bill. T may also go through the different charges on the bill and explain what they are. Students look at phone bills and see if there are any mistakes on them.

T does the same thing with a utility bill for electricity.

T and students do the same thing with a credit card bill.

T and students list different ways of paying bills on the board. In pairs, students list pros and cons of each method (check, money order, internet banking, cash). Conduct a feedback session to discuss their lists.

T and students discuss what happens if they do not pay their bills. Discuss having services disconnected and the account being sent to a collection agency. Also discuss extra fees and charges added to credit card bills.

Discuss with students responsible ways of dealing with a situation in which they cannot pay their bills, including making payment arrangements with a utility, not buying on credit, etc.

Progress to Reading for Life, v.1 competency worksheets: Applicable worksheets: RFL v.1, unit 2

Progress to multiple-choice format activities: 

Extensions: 

·        See Daily Living Activities in RFL v.2 pages 77-78

·        Information gap: cover up or erase ½ of the key information on a bill (make 2 versions). Students ask partners about the missing information and fill in the blanks.

·        Use an overhead projector to project a bill onto a whiteboard and ask for volunteer students to circle key words

·        Role play in small groups about banking and paying bills. One student can be the bank teller, another works at a utility company and another student is the bill payer. Give the students props such as play money, fake checks, a checkbook register, etc.