By Joan Rosenbaum, 5th Grade Social Studies and Economics Teacher, North Star Public Charter School, Idaho.

Every year I take my students through a personal financing/budgeting unit, and I try to make it as real as possible. I am fortunate to have a guest speaker come to my classroom and explain the importance of having good insurance, which is definitely an important part of one’s budget.

One year I had a student who came to me and told me he didn’t want to pay for insurance. I asked him if he was really sure he wanted go through life without insurance. He told me he thought it would be a waste of his money. Since economics has everything to do with choices, I agreed to let him not pay insurance, but asked him if he was really sure about his choice he was making. He assured me that he did not want to include that in his budget. Read more…

POSTED: April 26, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: economics, Financial Literacy, financial literacy month, insurance, Lessons, personal finance, Students, teachers

By Michael Staten, Take Charge America Endowed Chair; Director, Take Charge America Institute, University of Arizona.

Kudos to CEE for devoting their blog space this month to many different voices making the case for financial education. I share the dilemma of every end-of-program speaker struggling to find something new to say. So, in these waning days of Financial Literacy Month, let me offer a few additional thoughts in support of school-based financial education for grades K-12.

Research has shown that the largest single determinant of money attitudes in teenagers and young adults is their parents, and the home environment in which they grow up.  But, that influence can be positive or negative. If we treat financial education as solely the responsibility of parents, then we admit that young people will not start their adult lives on a level playing field. Read more…

POSTED: April 25, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: Financial Literacy, financial literacy month, higher education, parents, personal finance, Students

By Thomas Bright, Marketing and Web Content Writer, ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions.

Today, our nation’s students are faced with an increasing number of financial decisions and are given a decreasing margin for error. Without access to the right kind of information, these students may run into very serious financial problems. As the adults in the room, the parents and educators, we are left to find a solution. An education-based solution, one that teaches financial literacy as an experience and prepares students for all the firsts they will encounter, could be the answer we have been looking for. Read more…

POSTED: April 25, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: Debt, Financial Aid, Financial Literacy, financial literacy month, loans, personal finance, Student Loans, Students

The Economics Center at the University of Cincinnati is celebrating Financial Literacy Month with a photo contest!

Please WEAR GREEN and encourage your colleagues, teachers, students and friends to join you. Post a picture on their Facebook Page and the photo with the most “LIKES” will win $50 Visa Gift Card. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 30.

Contest Details:
•    Submit Photos through Friday, April 26.
•    A gallery of photos will posted on the Center’s Facebook Page on Friday.
•    Vote for your favorite photo Friday, April 26 – Monday, April 29.
•    Winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 30!

Good luck, and thanks for supporting Financial Literacy Month!

POSTED: April 24, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: Contest, Councils & Centers, Financial Literacy, financial literacy month, Students, teachers

By Leslie Sutton, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Discover

April’s designation as national financial literacy month is significant because it brings necessary attention to the fact that so many Americans today lack the training to manage their personal finances effectively. Discover is committed to addressing that and has been working with CEE to help students.

Our financial education program, Pathway to Financial Success, has helped bring related curriculum into more than 200 schools public high schools across the country since 2012. But more remains to be done. In two months, many students will be graduating. The question is: Are they prepared? Do they have the skills necessary to succeed? Read more…

POSTED: April 24, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: awkward conversations, Financial Literacy, financial literacy month, High School, personal finance, Professional Development, survey, teachers, teens and money

By Nancy Phillips, BS, EMBA, Author and Speaker; Founder & President, DollarSmartKids Enterprises, Inc.; Creator of the Zela Wela Kids. Nancy is the mother of two elementary school-aged children.

As parents, we are automatic educators, and we want our children to learn the skills they’ll need to thrive and reach their full potential in life. This is true for parents around the world. With the financial industry and global culture changing as rapidly as they are today, it’s easy to see that our children need guidance; current, effective, honest information, that has their best interest and future well-being at heart.

The Lessons Must Have These Key Elements

These core financial life lessons must involve a combination of information, beginning with inspirational and motivational messages, so children understand how the information can affect their individual lives. The messages must also be simple, and effective – so the lessons are implemented and become habit. Beneficial learning only occurs if the new information is implemented, thus creating positive decision-making skills and behavior. Read more…

POSTED: April 23, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: children, Financial Literacy, financial literacy month, give, invest, parents, personal finance, save, Saving, spend, Students