• High school students in Arlington (NE) created skits to teach personal finance concepts to elementary school students (Pilot Tribune and Enterprise):

Students in Shawna Koger’s macroeconomics class created and performed skits for elementary and middle school students. “They had to create a lesson plan that met the economic standards we talked about in class,” Koger said. The students then had to develop a presentation based on the grade level they were assigned. In one skit, student Hannah Marquardt had $20 on her “money tree,” played by Hayden Penny. Marquardt wanted to spend her money to buy a volleyball, but student Brad Ernesti convinced her it was better to save that money.

• Jill Lucero of East High School (WY) recently received teaching award (Casper Star Tribune):

Just last week, Jill Lucero from East High School was awarded the Practical Money Skills (VISA) Innovative Educator Award for the month of November.  She is the only person from Wyoming to ever receive this award. Also, Ms. Lucero was chosen to receive the Practical Money Skills Innovative Educator Sponsorship to attend the annual Jump$tart Coalition National Educator Conference this last weekend National Harbor, Maryland. There were 450 applicants nationwide and only six were chosen for this award.

• La Salle-Peru Township High School (IL) weaves personal finance lessons into all of its business courses (News Tribune):

“We just did 15-year versus 30-year loans,” said L-P business teacher Tiara Bedenko. “That was an eye-opener for a lot of students because the interest payments were like quadruple for a 30-year loan. And they said, ‘Well, why would anyone do a 30-year?’ You’re either buying a house that’s too big or you can’t afford it or you don’t have a big enough down payment.”

• Branham Area High School (MN) math teacher, Beth Stone receives award for innovative lesson (Isanti County News):

Stone received recognition for an activity she created for her technical math class, where seniors study real-world math skills, such as managing their personal finances and making sound financial decisions. The activity begins by choosing a career path they are interested in and comparing beginning salaries for the job in various cities around the country.

A few months later, students return to their job comparison results and use them to study other personal finance questions. They determine the cost of a home they can afford with the job they chose, considering different neighborhoods, cities, prices and affordability. They also must acknowledge extra costs, such as mortgage insurance and taxes.

“I want them to see that the decisions they made before will have consequences. They can’t just pick a nice job to have a fancy house,” Stone said.

• Milton High School (WI) to make personal finance a graduation requirement (Gazette Extra):

The school board recently approved a financial literacy and employability course high school students will have to pass before graduating. The class will be tied to the academic and career plan Wisconsin students soon must draft as a graduation requirement.

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.