Category: Uncategorized

It is summer time and lesson plans are the furthest thing from teachers and parents’ minds. However, we have a few activities that can still teach your children about financial literacy this summer. Check out these fun and simple ways to bring up the topic.

Milk Jug Pigs– Take an afternoon and make homemade piggy banks out of old milk jugs. You can use the milk jug pigs to help your child save for various things. Even make it a competition between your kids to who can save more!

Lemonade Stand- Make a lemonade stand with your kids to help them learn about buying and selling. Have your kids practice with monopoly money so you can help answer their questions before the grand opening.

Free Fun Jar- Rather than planning expensive activities for the summer, have your kids make a “free fun jar.” Decorate an old mason jar and fill it with fun activities that happen to be free. Examples include going for a bike ride, going to the local park, checking out the library, playing hide and seek, etc. Fill the jar and talk about how these activities will not only be fun when the kids are bored but how the free activities will help save your family money.

Cleaning Coins– Does your child love science? Then why not mix science and financial literacy together! Have your kids clean coins using two simple ingredients – white vinegar and salt – and also use the time to educate them on the value of the coins you clean.

For more fun and simple ways to incorporate financial literacy this summer, check out the websites below.

25 Fun Money Activities for Kids

15 Fun Financial Literacy Crafts for Kids

17 Fun Money Activities for Kids

The 17^th annual Conference for Personal Financial Literacy was held on Wednesday, June 21, at DMACC’s FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. The conference was an opportunity for teachers and other educators to gain knowledge of the resources and tools available for financial literacy in the classroom.

2017 Money Smart Kid, Kira Currier, reads her winning essay to conference attendees.

Travis Lloyd shares stories of his past to remind attendees why they chose this path and how much they matter in the lives of their students.

Stefanie Wager, Financial Literacy Consultant at the Iowa Department of Education, gives an update of the new statewide financial literacy standards.

The 2017 National Conference Scholarship winners were announced at the conference. Winners include (left to right) Linda Vanden Bosch (Clarinda Community School District), Elizabeth Martinez (North High School, Des Moines), Consuelo (Connie) Bates (North High School, Sioux City), Dione Ferguson (Brody Middle School, Des Moines), and Bryan Bjorklund (Mason City Community School District).

David Strege with Syverson Strege and Company explains the ins and outs of investing.

Joanne Kuster with Kuster LTD. is awards the Iowa Jump$tart third annual member award for her service with the coalition.

Mike Johnson, financial planner and educator at Southeast Polk High School, leads attendees through important financial concepts.

Shontrelle Johnson (middle), Poverty Reduction Specialist with Polk County, celebrates as Gen Personal Finance draws his name for a free trip to the National Educators Conference in November.

(Click to enlarge photos/ view captions.)

Welcome

Julie Ntem, project manager at Iowa College Aid, began the 17^th annual conference by welcoming all attendees, volunteers and exhibitors. Kira Currier, the 2017 Money Smart Kid from Johnston Middle School, then read her winning essay answering the question: Do you think there is a connection between financial health and physical health? What can you do to become more financially healthy? To read Currier’s essay, click here.

Opening Keynote: Just 1 Person

Travis Lloyd shared personal stories about growing up being labeled as an “at-risk” kid and how he was able to develop into a well-rounded contributing member of society with the help of others. He shared with attendees that it took just 1 person to plant seeds that guided him to the path of health, happiness and success. Lloyd’s keynote reminded attendees of why they chose this path and how much they matter in the lives of their students.

Iowa Department of Education

Stefanie Wager, Financial Literacy Consultant at the Iowa Department of Education, gave an update of the new statewide financial literacy standards and discussed the work already being done to provide resources and professional development in financial literacy. To view the new standards, click here.

Breakout Sessions

Throughout the day, nine different breakout sessions were offered. These breakout sessions included: Budget Stimulation (Erick Danielson, Iowa College Access Network), Using Online Smart Borrowing Tools in Your Classroom (Marc Hendel, Iowa Student Loan), Financial Literacy for K-12 Educators (Kyle Osborne, TS Institute), Implementing NGPF Case Studies in the Personal Finance Classroom (Amanda Volz, St. Clair, Michigan Financial Management teacher and 2016-17 Next Gen personal Finance Fellow), Evaluating Online Resources (Sandra O’Brien, Kirkwood Community College), Leading Difficult Conversations with Students on Personal Finance (Kent Johnson, Consumer Credit of Des Moines), Running a Classroom Economy Simulation for a Jr. High Classroom (Ali Thompson, Southeast Polk Schools), Demystifying Credit Reports (Adriane Moline, Horizons, A Family Service Alliance), and Financial Aid Exposed! (Julie Voss and Elizabeth Sedrel, Iowa College Student Aid Commission).

Strategic Sharing Panel

During the lunch hour, Travis Lloyd facilitated a strategic sharing panel with three young adults coming from different backgrounds. The panelists walked attendees through their backgrounds, the financial challenges they faced while growing up and what they wish they would have been taught about finances. Two educators wrapped up the panel by sharing opportunities and challenges of teaching financial literacy in the classroom.

Exhibitors

Attendees were also able to visit with exhibitors to learn about financial literacy resources available to them and their classroom.

Closing Keynote: How financial Education Needs to Change in this Era of Innovation

Amanda Volz from Next Gen Personal Finance provided an informative closing address on the most disruptive changes occurring in this era of innovation and the modernized resources Next Gen has to offer, including lesson plans, activities, case students and much more. To view Next Gen’s website, click here.

2017 National Conference Scholarship Winners

The winners of the Iowa Jump$tart scholarships to the 2017 National Educators Conference Nov. 3-5 in Washington, D.C. were announced. The scholarship recipients were: Dione Ferguson (Brody Middle School, Des Moines), Bryan Bjorklund (Mason City Community School District), Consuelo (Connie) Bates (North High School, Sioux City), Elizabeth Martinez (North High School, Des Moines), and Linda Vanden Bosch (Clarinda Community School District).

Next Gen Personal Finance also awarded a free trip to the National Educators Conference to one attendee. The winner drawn was Shontrelle Johnson (Poverty Reduction Specialist with Polk County).

Iowa Jump$tart Member Award

Joanne Kuster with Kuster Ltd. was awarded the Iowa Jump$tart third annual member award for her service with the coalition. Joanne has been a leader and has a true commitment to improving the personal financial literacy of all Iowans.  Joann was instrumental in helping grow the Money Smart Week program across the state.

Fiscal Fitness – Reaching it and Teaching it!

New this year was a bonus day two of the conference, Fiscal Fitness – Reaching it and Teaching it! Mike Johnson, financial planner and educator at Southeast Polk High School, lead attendees through important financial concepts via case studies, self-reflection and classroom lesson examples. David Strege with Syverson Strege and Company explained the ins and outs of investing. Nick Gerhart with Farm Bureau shared his expertise on insurance.

Register now for the Council for Economic Education’s 56th Annual Financial Literacy & Economic Education Conference.

The Financial Literacy & Economic Education conference is scheduled for October 6-7 in Brooklyn, New York and will include over 100 workshops where attendees will learn to integrate personal finance and economics into the classroom.

Other reasons to attend include the following.

• Outstanding networking opportunities – meet with other teachers and learn how they’re tackling the challenges of economic and financial literacy education.
• Conference sessions and workshops will provide actionable tactics that will help incorporate economics and financial literacy in classes.
• Gain valuable perspectives from the impressive line up of guest speakers.
• Earn certificates of completion that may be applied toward CEU requirements.

To register, click here. Registration includes all conference sessions, the Friday evening reception, the awards dinner, the teacher’s breakfast and the teacher’s recognition luncheon. Register before June 30 and save 10 percent when using the code: Educator at checkout.

For questions, please contact Rosalie Polanco at rpolanco@councilforeconed.org.

Junior Achievement will be offering the fourth BizTown Summer Camp for children ages 10-13 (current 4th-6th grade students). The summer camp is an indoor, academic camp that will focus on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, teamwork and, of course, fun! 

There are three sessions of camp offered at the JA Biztown Summer Camp Biztown location – 6100 Grand Avenue, Des Moines. Sessions will be from 9 am- 3 pm on June 12-16, June 26-30 and July 17-21.

With having a limit of 65 children per camp week, the sessions are filling up fast. To view availability and to register, click here. 

The camp fee is $200 and a $15 sibling discount is offered for a second camper.

For more information, contact Deb Schneider at deb@jacentraliowa.org.

The next public meeting of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC) is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, from 9 – 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The financial literacy results from the 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) will be discussed.

The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C., but individuals can join via live webcast at this link.

If you have questions in regards to the meeting, email ofe@treasury.gov.

Are you looking for educational materials to wrap up the school year with? If so, the Iowa Financial Literacy Network has compiled a list of financial literacy resources that may help – see the list below!

Personal Finance 101– Short videos on many key financial concepts

High School Financial Planning Program– Focuses on basic personal finance skills that are relevant to high school teens

My Classroom Economy- Helps stimulate a real economy in the confines of a classroom

Chair the Fed- Policy game by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco that helps students understand the role of monetary policy in the economy

We the Economy- A collection of short films that explain economic concepts

How the Market Works- Simulation that allows students to practice playing the marketing in real time

Major Financial Decisions- Tools and resources that can help with life’s major financial decisions

Fish Economics- Free economics lesson plans, lectures and a 10-part series on building an economy

Who: YOU!

What: Junior Achievement of Central Iowa Lunch & Learn

Where: Junior Achievement of Central Iowa, 6100 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA

When: Monday, May 8 from 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Why: To learn about the programs of JA and experience JA BIZ TOWN through the eyes of one of the West Side schools, Hillis Elementary.

How: Register here!

Kira Currier, an eighth-grader at Johnston Middle School, has won the statewide financial literacy essay contest for Money Smart Week Iowa and has been named Iowa’s 2017 Money Smart Kid. Currier also received $1,000 from the Iowa Bankers Association to put towards her college education. 

“Knowing how financial health and physical health relate to one another is an important aspect of financial education, and it is exciting to see these students learn about that relationship through this essay contest,” said Lori Ristau, vice president of marketing and communications at the Iowa Bankers Association. “Iowa banks are committed to helping Iowans reach their financial goals, and providing access to financial education resources through programs like the Money Smart Week Kid essay contest is just one of the many ways banks are helping their communities. We are pleased to sponsor this fun and educational opportunity for Iowa students on behalf of our member banks.”

Approximately 102 students from across the state participated in the essay contest. To be eligible, students had to be in grades seventh through eleventh and submit a 400-word essay. The essay asked students to describe the connection between financial health and physical health and what they can do to become more financially healthy.

The top five essay finalists also participated in an interview with contest judges. From those finalists, Kira Currier was selected to be the 2017 Money Smart Kid.

“There is a larger connection between your workouts and paychecks than you might once have thought,” Currier stated in her award-winning essay. “Educating yourself on healthy financial decisions will help lift weight off your shoulders AND your wallet.”

Currier is the daughter of Larry and Vona Currier and attends Johnston Middle School. In addition to Currier, the four essay finalists were: Caleb Kehrli (Manchester), Derrick Wiemerslage (Waukon), Faith Johnson (Altoona), and Sydney Ross (Waukon).

More information about Money Smart Week is available at www.moneysmartweek.org.

Today, April 21, Governor Terry Branstad signed proclamations promoting financial literacy awareness in Iowa. The proclamations declared April 22-29 Money Smart Week in Iowa and declared the month of April as Financial Literacy Awareness Month in Iowa.

Looking for ways to get involved in financial literacy during Financial Literacy Month or during Money Smart Week? Visit the Money Smart Week website for more information about Money Smart Week.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) released a report last week outlining the results of its Youth Savings Pilot. The pilot consisted of 21 participating banks carrying out different financial literacy programs to identify the most effective approaches to financial education. The report is essentially a blueprint for creating a successful financial education program.

The participating banks were successful in creating more than 4,500 youth savings accounts and identified several key benefits to providing financial education programs to local schools. A few of those benefits include the fact that financial education helps children build a foundation to improve their financial future while helping banks achieve their goals of supporting their communities. The report also indicates that financial literacy programs help individuals throughout the community build trust with their bank as they see the bank’s commitment to future generations.

Participating banks also offered advice on how to create successful programs. Following are some of the top comments from the report.

Quote: “The program needs to be relevant to kids’ lives. Kids like to see how the skills they are learning have real life value. One way to do that is role-playing.”

Who said it: Richard Martinez, Young Americans Bank, Denver, Colorado.

Why it’s important: For information to stick with a large number of children, they need to know how it applies to their lives. Showing real-world applications to financial education can ensure that children will retain that knowledge into adulthood.

Quote: “Kids [are] talking about spending. Students are having conversations about college debt. They are thinking about saving.”

Who said it: Kimberly Vaughn, Muscle Shoals High School, a partner of First Metro Bank, Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Why it’s important: This shows that the children who went through this program are motivated to start saving. Getting kids to understand early in their lives what it will cost to achieve their goals can spark a stronger interest in saving.

Quote: “By the end of the school year, the student is more outgoing and has gained confidence.”

Who said it: Kim Drudi, Athol Savings Bank, Athol, Massachusetts.

Why it’s important: Financial education provides much more than knowledge. When that knowledge helps children become more outgoing and confident, they become better equipped to function in the real world.

Quote: “Using students as the educators makes the material relatable.”

Who said it: LaKia Williams, Capital One Financial Corporation, McLean, Virginia.

Why it’s important: When financial education is interactive, it creates stronger engagement among the students, and they can see the application of that knowledge firsthand. By involving students as bank tellers at school branches, those students not only gain financial education, but the role may spark an interest in a future banking career.

Quote: “Students across the board in the early ages are understanding much better the difference in needs versus wants. The upper grades are beginning to understand how money and business works.”

Who said it: Patty Fleming, Treynor Elementary School, a partner of TS Bank, Treynor, Iowa.

Why it’s important: Starting early is important. Financial education is an ongoing process that should begin in elementary school and continue through high school. There are many financial lessons that children can learn about early that will help them advance into more complex subjects as they get older.