Teaching Financial Literacy with Technology

The subject of teaching financial literacy is one that has been bandied about for decades in America's schools.  How many times have you heard someone say, "Algebra?  I never use Algebra!  But I was never taught how to balance my check book -- that I need to know!"  Well, some areas are starting to inject this into their curriculum -- and there are some great digital resources to help!

Some states, such as Ohio, have an economic and financial literacy requirement in their Ohio Core state standards to be taught within social studies or another class. In their state, teachers certified in social studies, business education, marketing education, and family and consumer science are all licensed to teach financial literacy. These teachers can help develop a curriculum starting in the earliest grades to make sure these literacies are woven seamlessly throughout the curriculum at all grade levels.

The Council for Economic Education has developed a set of standards for financial literacy that start in grade three.  
These Standards Include:

• Earning Income
• Buying Goods and Services
• Using Credit
• Saving
• Financial Investment
• Protecting and Insuring

Of course, financial literacy standards are also found in the National Business Association’s standards, the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences standards,  and state standards, such as the ones in Ohio, Oklahoma (7-12), Nebraska (K-12) and New Jersey (4-12). There are even sets of standards, such as the Jump$tart Coalition’s National Standards in K-12 Personal Finance Education that can serve to help you embed economic and financial literacy across the curriculum.

As a great tie-in to these standards, Discovery Education has built a great series of streaming videos that can augment your financial readiness curriculum called, "Financial LIteracy: Teach It!"  Below, I've included some links and descriptions of these videos.  They do require that your school or district be subscribed to Discovery Education in order to view them.

Financial Literacy for Students: K-2

• The Meaning of Money
• Counting Bills and Coins
• Writing Out Money: Decimals and Dollar Signs

Financial Literacy for Students: 3-5

• Earning Power
• Needs Versus Wants
• Saving for a Goal
• What Do Banks Do?

Financial Literacy for Students: 6-8

• Creating a Budget
• Savings Accounts
• Checking Accounts
• How to Use a Debit Card and ATM

Financial Literacy for Students: 9-12

• Security and Banking Online
• Calculating Interest
• Risks and Rewards of Credit Cards
• Loans: Car, School and Home
• Long-term Savings and Investing

Other great resources:

• Money As You Learn: Common Core aligned math lessons that teach financial concepts.
• United States Federal Reserve Bank: Worksheets and lesson plans for K-12.
• Federal Financial Literacy and Education Commission: Information, games, fun facts, curricula, lesson plans and more to aid in teaching financial literacy.
• Your Life, Your Money, What is Financial Literacy? by PBS.

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Bruce has worked in educational technology for over 18 years and has implemented several 1:1/BYOD programs.  He also a lifelong baseball fan who has served as a classroom teacher in Computer Science, History and English classes.  Bruce is the author of five books: Sands of Time, Towering Pines Volume One:Room 509, The Star of Christmas, Philadelphia Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel and The Insider's Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel.  Follow Bruce's Novel releases by subscribing to his FREE newsletter!

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