My students need three iPad minis with protective covers, and access to apps so they can learn how to develop financial literacy skills for their futures.
"Money is good for nothing unless you know the value of it by experience." ~ P.T Barnum...
Many of my middle school students don't realize that the decisions they make today will help them become responsible savers as adults. They need concrete ways to learn about the affects of overspending.
Our middle school is a diverse high-needs school of about 1,400 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.
Almost half qualify for free or reduced lunch. Many of our students receive services, including ESL, special education, and academic intervention. They have learned how to work together regardless of their various economic, cultural, and religious backgrounds.
Many middle school students don't realize that they are beginning on the path to adulthood. They need to know how to develop good financial literacy skills because it is vital to their future successes. Some parents are not equipped with the resources to help their children become responsible young adults. The Common Core Standards have been created to help our students become college and career ready. Learning how to manage money and finances should be taught much earlier than during a high school economics class. By then, our students' attitudes about "needs" and "wants" have already been established.
My Project
My students need three iPad minis with protective covers, and access to apps so they can learn how to develop financial literacy skills for their futures. My students learn best by doing, not just listening. They need to have practical applications of finances so they can learn how to manage their money. There are many iPad app simulations that my students can use to learn how to budget money and make good decisions in a fun way. Some of the apps that they will use are Junior Achievement Build Your Future, Junior Achievement Success Park, Green $treets Unleash the Loot, Save! The Game, Savings Spree, Bee Farming, The Game of Life, and Kids Money. No matter how much we try to teach kids to make decisions that are appropriate for their future financial security, they learn best when they are applying their learning in a practical, fun way. These game simulations will help them develop real life skills, without making life-changing mistakes. Math for students is just numbers, but financial literacy is real-life. They will explore my hotlist of financial literacy games and simulations at: http://blnds.co/1eu3pvS
According to a new report from The Project on Student Debt, 7 in 10 college seniors who graduated last year had student loan debt.
National figures for public and nonprofit colleges show that 68 percent of grads owe an average of $27,850 in loans. I don't want my students to fall in that debt trap. With strong financial literacy skills, they will be able to provide for themselves and feel a sense of independence.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Holzweiss and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.