I have witnessed an unusual trend in which my special needs students use technology appropriately where as it becomes a distraction to their general education peers. I cannot explain why weaker students are more mature in this area. What I do know is that I must work to put as much technology in the hands of my special needs students as possible.
These students are most at risk for making very bad financial decisions in life which could affect them for years to come.
There is no state mandate for a Financial Literacy course in New York so many special needs students do not graduate high school with these fundamental skills that we all need to survive on our own. I am currently working with the organization Next Generation Personal Finance to help address this issue now!
As a Title I school, our PTA budget is needed to fund other critical areas, including teacher support requirements that have been previously funded by the state. Through the generosity of this grant, I hope to ensure that my students learn financial literacy with the proper tools in order to become informed employees, consumers, and citizens.
My Project
Money makes the world go ‘round. If you’re like many students, college is the first time you really think about finances. However, the massive credit card debt for the Millenial Generation and the even more massive student loan debt of the Generation X show the ineffective practice of introducing finances in college. By that time it is too late and students are already making poor financial decisions that they may have to live with for decades to come.
There is a growing movement in America today to mandate a personal finance course for all student in high school.
I have begun a collaborative effort with the Next Generation Personal Finance Organization to revamp the finance course in my school so that it is more culturally relevant and also qualifies for college credit. It is a crucial course for special needs students to not only take, but to really dig in! I still have much work to do but one of my major constraints is the lack of technology or outdated technology in my school. The lessons that are most relevant and motivational require students to use the online calculators, videos, and interactive charts at their own pace. Presenting the information to students who only have pen and paper is a great disservice and does not lead to the type of ownership that these special needs students need to retain the most pertinent information.
Students need the right tools for the job and that is why I am requesting this grant. With your help, I can ensure that my special needs students leave high school with the financial literacy that they need in order to find success and not be burdened by uninformed decisions. There are some lessons that you should not have to learn the hard way.
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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 Mr. Yasinoski and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
