He believes that kids need to know how to combine their skills and knowledge in order to succeed in the world. That's what the students get all semester from Dacker. All students bring a calculator, ruler and colored pencils to class the first day. Dacker first uses overheads to show the class what an SSG looks like as well as to describe its function and meaning. Using the NAIC Investors Manual as a textbook, students learn the difference between authorized and outstanding stock, the three reasons a corporation would issue new stocks, three sources of revenue for a bank and how to interpret the meaning of the different lines of the SSG graph.
Students often work in groups of four or five.
Students have plenty of time to practice, analyze and understand each concept and calculation. Some class periods are held in the library where different groups work on different projects. Dacker wants his students to really understand the stock market and to know that it is not speculation. He encourages his students to invest in themselves. Other portfolio projects include writing newspaper articles, resume writing and, of course, all of their paper SSGs, calculations and other organizational sheets.