My Top Financial Literacy Finds of 2024: Level Up Your Teaching (and Learning!)
It's been an exciting year for personal finance education! I've had the chance to explore some incredible new tools and resources that are transforming how we teach and learn about money. Here are a few of my top finds for 2024:
1. FoolProof Foundation: (www.foolproofme.org)
This non-profit organization is dedicated to providing free, unbiased financial education resources. Their website is a treasure trove of engaging lessons, videos, and activities that cover everything from budgeting and saving to credit and investing. I especially appreciate their emphasis on critical thinking and consumer awareness, empowering students to make informed financial decisions.
Why I love it: FoolProof tackles real-world issues like predatory lending and advertising, helping students develop a healthy skepticism and avoid common financial pitfalls.
2. Troutwood App: (https://www.troutwood.com/)
This innovative app allows students to build their first financial plan based on real-world data. They can explore different career paths, estimate their future income, and make choices about housing, transportation, and other expenses. It's an engaging way to help students visualize the long-term impact of their financial decisions.
Why I love it: Troutwood brings personal finance to life, allowing students to experiment with different scenarios and see how their choices affect their future financial well-being.
3. Take Charge Today: (https://takechargetoday.arizona.edu/)
This website from the University of Arizona offers a comprehensive collection of free personal finance resources for educators and students. They have a wide range of interactive modules, worksheets, and articles covering topics like budgeting, credit, debt, investing, and retirement planning.
Why I love it: Take Charge Today provides a wealth of well-researched and unbiased information, making it a valuable resource for both classroom instruction and independent learning. They also have some awesome plug and play lessons that you can pull in a pinch for those last minute sub days!
4. MyClassroom Economy: (https://myclassroomeconomy.org/)
This platform brings real-world economics into the classroom through a simulated economy. Students earn "class cash" by completing assignments and demonstrating good behavior, and they can use this currency to pay for classroom privileges and participate in auctions. It's a fun and engaging way to teach students about financial responsibility, work ethic, and the value of money.
Why I love it: MyClassroom Economy provides a hands-on learning experience that makes abstract economic concepts tangible and relevant to students' lives.
Bonus Tip: Combine these resources! Use FoolProof's lessons to introduce key concepts, then have students explore career options and build a financial plan in Troutwood. Reinforce learning with Take Charge Today's interactive modules, and create a classroom economy with MyClassroom Economy to bring it all to life.
These are just a few of the amazing resources I've discovered this year. I'm constantly amazed by the innovative ways technology is being used to enhance financial literacy education. I encourage you to explore these tools and find what works best for you and your students. Here's to empowering the next generation to make informed financial choices!
