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Johnston High School's Financial Literacy Journey
Johnston CSD began a journey to provide our students with quality financial literacy learning. Financial Literacy surfaced as a focus from our community roundtable conversations, as well as the new Social Studies standards. We discussed the potential benefits of a full semester course versus an integrated approach across multiple courses. We wanted all students to have a quality experience of depth of content, fidelity of topics, and the opportunity to be taught by teacher experts.
Conversations were initiated for a full course in the fall of 2016. We agreed that a deep, authentic course was needed for all of our learners to be successful in understanding financial literacy. We determined the junior year of high school would be our target student audience. Due to the importance of the content, we implemented Financial Literacy as a graduation requirement in the Fall 2017.
Our semester-long Financial Literacy course uses Next Gen Personal Finance materials, supplemented with teacher choice materials, all of which are free to access and use. We are working toward offering Financial Literacy as a semester course in a blended learning environment. Regardless of how the information will be presented to our students, they will learn about the following topics: financial goal setting, budgeting, banking services, paying for higher education, insurance, investing, credit and debt, and buying a home and car. In learning these topics, students do a variety of activities, ranging from games and simulations to creating videos and other multimedia. We have found a way to make what could be a very dry topic, into a fun, engaging, and realistic course. From a recent in-class survey of all of our classes, 99% of students said that Financial Literacy will help them in their adult life.
We also have each student take part in the H & R Block Budget Challenge. It is a 10-week simulation where students receive and pay bills, keep a budget, contribute to their 401k, and manage a credit card. Students enjoy the challenges that come along with managing a realistic budget. 84% of our students said they felt more confident about managing their money after participating in the simulation.
Parents have told us time and time again how they are so glad this class is required for graduation. Even our students have been very appreciative of the new financial literacy graduation requirement. Here are some of their survey responses upon completion of the course:
- “This is one of the few classes that will 100% apply to your real life. It's perfect that this class is now required.”
- “I can easily say that this is one of, if not the most important class I have and will take in high school.”
- “It is one of the most helpful classes I’ve ever taken for real world application things that you need to know to be a successful adult.”
Written by Chris Bergman, Executive Director of Learning and Innovation, Ann Wiley, Instructional Technology Coordinator and Teachers Lexi Shafer and Kayla Bousum
Next Gen Personal Finance Payback Challenge
Next Gen Personal Finance recently launched a game called Payback. They are now offering a contest related to this game that could win your students and you big prizes. The deadline to register is midnight on March 23rd. Go here to register. Check out the details below.
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Step 1) Teachers Register Intent: Click this link and complete this short (1minute) form to reserve your spot. With our inaugural PAYBACK Challenge, we are limiting this contest to the first 2,500 educators who express an interest in nominating a student essay. Be sure to sign up TODAY.
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Step 2) Students Play PAYBACK: In Class Option: A single game-play takes 15-20 minutes, but you may also use a full 50-minute period by playing the game twice. Teachers: You can also use this corresponding classroom activity to support your students as they play the game. At Home Option: Your students can play the game at home, too.
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Step 3) Students Write Short Essay: Use this Essay Template to collect 250 word essays that respond to this writing prompt: How could you use the online game, PAYBACK, to have a conversation with your parent/guardian about paying for college?
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Step 4) Teacher Nominates and Submits ONE student essay: You will receive an email with instructions on how to send in nominations AFTER you register (see STEP 1).
Oh, and about the money...over $150,000 in cash prizes are available (and yes, there are Educator awards available, too!) and EACH state will be represented on the podium!
Student Awards:
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National Grand Prize Winners - 10 at $5,000 each
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Honorable Mention Awards: 150 at $500 each
- A minimum of 2 student essays from each of the 50 states + District of Columbia
Educator Awards:
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Educator Awards - The educators who nominated the Honorable Mention and National Grand Prize Winners will each receive $200 for classroom projects.
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Nominator Awards - ALL educators who nominate a student will be be entered into a drawing. 20 names will be drawn with each receiving $100 for classroom projects.
Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge and Career Exploration Event
The JA Stock Market Challenge with New Career Exploration Hour presented by CFA Society Iowa will be held on Tuesday, April 3 rd at the John Deere Financial Facility. JA will host 240 students during the day for a career exploration hour with representatives from local businesses and colleges followed by the JA Stock Market Challenge. The Stock Market Challenge is an exciting, fast-paced competition, which is centered on a software system that simulates a 60-day cycle of the stock market and its function of buying, selling, analysis and risk. Every 60 seconds represents a day of trading. The goal of each team (3-4 players) is to accumulate the highest possible net worth in their investment portfolio at the close of trading. The event is fun and exciting, where the stakes are high, and the competition is fierce. The JA Stock Market Challenge will be followed by a business leader luncheon. New for 2018! A Career Exploration hour has been added for students attending. The hour is an interactive career exploration that introduces students to businesses and universities in Central Iowa. Students will engage in thoughtful conversations about wonderful career and education opportunities in Iowa. JA will host a corporate event in the evening which will include a networking social followed by JA Stock Market Challenge. JA has a variety of sponsorships that are available. Please visit www.jacentraliowa.org or contact kelly@jacentraliowa.org for more information.
Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge Senior Scholarship
Registration is ongoing for a scholarship that offers Iowa high school seniors a chance to receive one of 30 scholarships worth $2,000 for college while learning important financial literacy skills. In addition, each recipient's high school will receive a corresponding $500 award.
High school seniors may register for the Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/SeniorScholarship between now and Feb. 16. Iowa Student Loan® will award $2,000 scholarships to 30 students who complete two online financial literacy tutorials and score highest on a related assessment. Registered students also receive emails highlighting financial literacy tips, such as the importance of early career and college planning and ways to reduce student loan indebtedness. For more information go here.
National Personal Finance Challenge
The National Personal Finance Challenge is sponsored by the Nebraska Council for Economic Education. Get teams of students registered between now and March 31st. This is a free and online competition for middle and high school students. Find out more information here.
National Economics Challenge
The National Economics Challenge is a program of the Council for Economic Education and is the nation's most prestigious economics competition for high school students. Go here for more information or to get started participating in the challenge.
Annual Financial Literacy and Economic Education Conference
The 57th annual Financial Literacy and Economic Education Conference, sponsored by the Council for Economic Education, will take place October 5-6, 2018 in Atlanta. Find out more information here.
Norwalk High School Requiring Career and Financial Readiness Course
Check out this article from the Des Moines Register about how Norwalk School District is now requiring a career and financial readiness course in order to graduate.
National Report Card on State Efforts to Improve Financial Literacy in High Schools Released
Champlain College has released their annual report which grades states on their efforts to improve financial literacy at the high school level. You can read the report here.
Save the Date for Money Smart Week
Money Smart Week is taking place April 21-28, 2018. During this week events will be taking place across the state for all Iowans. More information will be shared as we get closer to the dates. Check out additional information here, a list of programs here, and a list of partners here.
Money Smart Kid Essay Contest Applications Due March 16
The Iowa Bankers Association is once again sponsoring the annual Money Smart Kid Essay Contest in 2018. Iowa students in grades 7-11 are eligible to participate in the contest, in which one student will be named the 2018 Money Smart Kid and will receive a $1,000 award to put toward their college savings. This year’s essay requirements ask students to write a 400-word essay describing the potential devastating effects of a natural disaster on a family’s financial situation. The essay application is now available on line at www.iowajumpstart.org, under What We Do, and MSW (Money Smart Week). Applications are due by March 16, 2018. The winner will be announced April 18, 2018, during Money Smart Week. For more information about the essay contest, visit the Iowa Jump$tart website at www.iowajumpstart.org or email Taylor Zumbach tzumbach@iowabankers.com.
Registration is Open for America Saves Week
America Saves Week takes places from February 26-March 3, 2018. During this week groups come together to encourage and support Americans to save effectively. Resources are available during to support the concept of saving. For more information go here.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Releases Report on Preparing America's Young Workers for Success
The success of America’s young workers is critical to the strength of our economy. Millions of young people enter the workforce every year. Youth employment programs offered in local communities present a powerful opportunity to help young people develop healthy financial habits early and access services and products that can help them save, invest, and achieve their financial goals. Check out this publication which highlights how to prepare America's young workers to be financial capable.
 Iowa Teacher Starts TeacherWealth.com
Mike Johnson, a teacher from Southeast Polk who teaches economics and personal finance, has taken his interest in financial literacy to a new level. He has created a website that focuses solely on teachers and their own finances. Check it out here. Mike also serves on the Jump$tart Coalition and the Iowa Financial Literacy Network.
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Next Gen Personal Finance Resources
- Semester Course: Check out the semester course map here. The course includes diagnostic, midterm and final exams in addition to 10 unit test, 1-2 summative assessment options per unit, a final project, and more. In addition, all materials have been translated into Spanish to support Spanish-speaking students. If you don't have the ability to teach a full semester course, they offer course maps for 8 hours, 18 hours, and 8 week options.
- Case Studies:Next Gen Personal Finance has released several new case studies around key ideas within financial literacy. You can check them out here. They also have teacher and student guides to support use of the case studies.
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Playback: A game which walks students through the reality of getting in and paying for college.
Econ Ed Link
Econ Ed Link provides a multitude of resources related to the teaching of economics and financial literacy. These include lesson plans, Teaching the News, interactive tools, and professional development resources. Check out the website here.
Teaching Economics through the Lens of Sports
Check out this blog post from Angela Howdeshell, the Vice President for Programs and Administration for the Kansas Council for Economic Education. The blog discusses the economics of sports with links to lessons such as Should LeBron James Mow His Own Lawn?, Baseball Economics 201, the Economics of Ticket Scalping, etc.
Econ LowDown
Econ Lowdown is a resource from the St. Louis Federal Reserve which provides several different resources for the teaching of economics and financial literacy. These include:
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Online learning and courses for elementary, middle, and high school teachers.
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Page One Economics, which provides a short overview of a current economic event
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Webinars - Elementary teachers might want to check out this webinar about using children's literature to teach economic concepts.
Money Teach
Money Teach is a resource that includes several resources for teachers. These include lesson plans, course guides, and an "in-the-know" section. Check it out here.
Financial Pur$uit
Discovery Education has launched two self-paced modules related to financial literacy. One focuses on the college admissions process and one is a self-paced module so students can learn how to make paying for college a reality. Each module also includes an educator's guide. Check them out here.
Next Gen Personal Finance PLC and Webinars
Next Gen Personal Finance offers some virtual PLCs to help support teachers implementing financial literacy. Sign up for the winter PLC which starts March 19th and goes until April 20th here. Note: You must register by March 1st. You can also check out their list of webinars here. Upcoming webinars include Teaching Soft Skills for the 21st Century and Weaving Math and Personal Finance in the Classroom.
Council on Economic Education Webinars
The Council frequently offers webinars on a variety of economics and personal finance topics. Upcoming webinars include compound interest, understanding fiscal responsibility, understanding bias in the classroom, personal finance in AP Econ and much more. Check out all of the webinars here.
Stefanie Rosenberg Wager
Social Studies Consultant
21st Century Skills- Civic and Financial Literacy
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
400 E. 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: 515-725-7842
Email: stefanie.wager@iowa.gov
Social Studies Website, Calendar, Iowa Core Social Studies, Newsletter, Diigo, Pinterest
Financial Literacy website, newsletter, and Pinterest
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