Teaching kids financial literacy: practical, fun learning

[Tri Girl]

Do we really need stage shows with rap to teach finances?

Sadly, yes.
I teach personal finance to middle schoolers. As with all the grades that I teach (preK-8th), if you are not wildly entertaining- they tune you out. Sad but true- education/teaching/school is not what it was when I started out 15 years ago. It's a dog and pony show on crack now.


I teach at a Catholic school in an upper-middle class area. Most of our students want for very little in life. In my personal finance class I tell them I shop only at resale/consignment/thrift stores and that I purchase many things that are used. I tell them how we save so we can pay cash for things that we need (new tires, things that break in the house, vacations, etc) and that you don't have to live dependent on credit cards. I have also told them that I used to have big credit card debt and that I've learned from my past mistakes and don't feel I need to have "all that and a bag of chips." I have no problem showing them the other side of things (other than what they are used to). I teach them to save money on groceries, etc. It's also who I am: very eco-friendly. I try to show them that you can live very frugally (not by choice in my case) , and still be VERY fulfilled and happy and have everything you need. I want them to know that they don't have to live a life of excess (which many of their families do) to find happiness and fulfillment in sharing what you have with others. Many of our families are very generous with their time and treasure, too. Someone has to show them there's an "other" side out there in case they are not shown that in their own life.