Ms. Rodgers is the Project Director of the RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PROJECT ON ECONOMICS AND CHILDREN, and has spent the past several years heading up this project with her coauthor.  Listen as she explains the origins of her project and the depth of the study she’s gone through to bring us one of the most user-friendly and useful resources for children’s financial literacy on the web.

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PROJECT ON ECONOMICS AND CHILDREN

MISSION:
The website for the Rugters project provides teachers, parents, and volunteers with ideas for using children’s literature to introduce economics to children.  We review new books from leading publishers and makes selections for “Book of the Month” and “Top Five” categories.

Unlike many of the existing websites on economics education, EconKids focuses on younger students in elementary school.  Its user-friendly design can help to generate quick teaching ideas that are based on current research in economics and education.

WEBSITE FEATURES:

Top 5 Books By Concept. Instructors can click on an economics concept to get a list of our “Top Five” choices for acclaimed children’s books that use enjoyable stories to teach an economics lesson. The selection of all books is based on objective research criteria and on direct experience in teaching with the books.

Book of the Month. Some of these books are not to be missed.  Check our current and previous picks for “Book of the Month” when looking for excellent book ideas in devising reading strategies and social studies lesson plans.

New Books. Stay up to date with this link to high-quality, newly-published children’s books with valuable economics lessons.  Our original reviews  focus on how economics concepts are woven into each book.

Research. Interested readers can download working papers on economics education directly from the EconKids website.  The research papers focus on pedagogical strategies, economics content standards, assessment tools in economics education, and how children learn economics.

Content Standards. This page contains links to all the states’ content standards in economics.

Text-to-World Connections. These books can be used to explore “text-to-world” connections in which students relate the ideas from their books to the economic world around them.  Examples include the 2006 Nobel Prize winners for Peace and for Economics.

Helpful Links. Here you will find a short list of organizations with the most useful resources for promoting economic and financial literacy among students of all age.

(Taken with Respect from the EconKids website)

The project’s website,” EconKids”: http://econkids.rutgers.edu/

Research by Yana and colleagues about teaching Economics/Financial Literacy through Literature: http://econkids.rutgers.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=33&id=91&Itemid=193

Dandi Daley Mackalls “Rudy Rides the Rails” book and resources.

A professional writer for over 20 years, Dandi Daley Mackall has written dozens of articles for popular magazines and published around 400 books for children and adults alike, with sales of over 4 million. A frequent guest on radio and television talk shows, she lives in rural Ohio with her husband, three children, horses, dogs, & cats.

- Review of Rudy Rides the Rails: http://econkids.rutgers.edu/component/content/article/117-unemployment/810-rudy-rides-the-rails-a-depression-era-story

• Dandi’s website: http://www.dandibooks.com/
• A) http://www.socstrp.org/issues/PDF/4.2.11.pdf
• B) http://www.dandibooks.com/Teachers_guides/Rudy%20Teacher’s%20Guide.pdfTeachers Guide/Curriculum to implement with Rudy Rides the Rails

Continuing the global conversation about personal

financial literacy for educators on

Talking Financial Literacy Podcast

Facebook page for Financial Literacy:

Welcome to the Talking Financial Literacy Community @ Facebook. We hope folks will join us to share links, photos, comments and discussion. But the discussion board will especially be a space to share resources, plans for integrating financial literacy in classes and support as all of us pose new ideas. Who will be first and second to share who

they are, their basic interests in this area and any needs or resources?

Invitation for Listeners to Participate in the Show

Listen to the details in episode 31 and then email Mark and Kathy about what you have to share. Email us at podcast ( at) talkingfinlit.org

ON THE ROAD

• Dr. Kathy King spoke at Westmoreland Community College in Youngwood, PA 8/16/10

Upcoming

• AAACE Clearwater, FL – Oct. 2010
  • - Dr. Kathy King presentations (several on technology)
• TSEA Conference- Austin TX – Jan 27, 2011- Dr. Kathy King
• FETC Orlando, FL -
  • Dr. Kathy King featured presenter Feb 3, 2011-

Leave a comment here on the blog/site

• emailing us at podcast@talkingfinlit.org

• (C) Talking Financial Literacy is copyrighted by The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008 – 2010. All rights reserved.

See TransformationEd.com for full details of speaking engagements and opportunities to meet Dr King and Mark. We enjoy meeting our podcast community!

Contact Us

You may contact Mark and Kathy by

Podcast Feed:

Our podcast feed is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/talkingfinlit

Join us as we interview a unique educational team about the need for financial literacy in our communities and families. Susan McLean, Executive Director of Literacy Partners, along with Lucy, a financial literacy consultant,  join us for this interview. We learn their perspective and idea for the modern need for financial literacy.

What makes this episode different? For 35 years, Literacy Partners has provided high quality, free, community-based adult and family literacy programs to New York City residents.  Literacy Partners’ mission is to ensure that all community members have access to the education they need to realize their potential as individuals, parents, and citizens.  Literacy Partners programs include Adult Basic Education, Pre-GED, GED, ESOL, Family Literacy, Financial Literacy, Health Literacy and Employment Preparation.

More than 97 million Adults in America cannot read above the 5^th grade level, which includes 3.7 Million people age 16 and older in New York City.

(Information drawn from the Literacy Partners Fact Sheet)

Literacy Partners Website : http://www.literacypartners.org/

Literacy Partners is affiliated with the (McGraw Hill) Financial Literacy Now partnership: http://www.financiallitnow.org/index.shtml

Continuing the global conversation about personal

financial literacy for educators on

Talking Financial Literacy Podcast

Facebook page for Financial Literacy:

Welcome to the Talking Financial Literacy Community @ Facebook. We hope folks will join us to share links, photos, comments and discussion. But the discussion board will especially be a space to share resources, plans for integrating financial literacy in classes and support as all of us pose new ideas. ho will be first and second to share who

they are, their basic interests in this area and any needs or resources?

Invitation for Listeners to Participate in the Show

Listen to the details in episode 29 and then email Mark and Kathy about what you have to share. Email us at podcast ( at) talkingfinlit.org

ON THE ROAD

• Dr. Kathy King spoke at Westmoreland Community College in Youngwood, PA 8/16/10

Upcoming

• AAACE Clearwater, FL – Oct. 2010
  • - Dr. Kathy King presentations (several on technology)
• TSEA Conference- Austin TX – Jan 27, 2011- Dr. Kathy King
• FETC Orlando, FL -
  • Dr. Kathy King featured presenter Feb 3, 2011-

Leave a comment here on the blog/site

• emailing us at podcast@talkingfinlit.org

• (C) Talking Financial Literacy is copyrighted by The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008 – 2010. All rights reserved.

See TransformationEd.com for full details of speaking engagements and opportunities to meet Dr King and Mark. We enjoy meeting our podcast community!

Contact Us

You may contact Mark and Kathy by

Podcast Feed:

Our podcast feed is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/talkingfinlit

CLICK TO {{{ LISTEN }}}

• What were their surprises as they wrap up the first segment of the series?
• How can teachers best make use of the series?
• What needs and gaps did they uncover in the journey of exploring financial literacy resources?
• How has our world of economics and politics transformed during this 12-16 months?
• What could a sequel series of segments offer?

This episode becomes a fun, quick-paced recap of great resources, highlights and packs in more surprises for our listeners, both new and returning! Join us for this  comprehensive episode.

 Continuing the global conversation about personal

financial literacy for educators on

Talking Financial Literacy Podcast

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Our archive of illustrious guests and episodes     
  • Convenient: Available on demand:  24/7
  • Portable: Take use with you via MP3 player, iPod, cell phone or CD
  • Flexible: Use for teacher PD, student enrichment, parent and adult education classes

• We express a special thanks to the McGraw-Hill Companies who have so graciously sponsored this first round of the series as a philanthropic effort. Thank you for offering such a rich resource for teachers, students, community and parents.  ~~ Kathy & Mark
  

• We expect to be providing some more resources on this topic in the near future based on discussions with potential supporters. ~~ Kathy & Mark

• Keep this feed live in your feedreader and podcast reader (iTunes, etc) and check back to the site for updates and announcements!)
  

• We wish you all success in bringing financial literacy lifelong learning to life for your students!
  

Contact Us

You may contact Mark and Kathy by

• leaving a comment here on the blog/site

• emailing us at podcast@talkingfinlit.org

Podcast Feed:

Our podcast feed is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/talkingfinlit

• (C) Talking Financial Literacy is copyrighted by The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008 – 2009. All rights reserved.

CLICK TO {{{ LISTEN }}}

You will find many money-saving and powerful suggestions for how to prepare for mortgages as adults and pose it for young people to understand the need to prepare now, for instance: building a credit history, savings and banking literacy!

Mark and Kathy also discuss the details of how to use mortgages and this life need as a vibrant classroom learning focus. Resources, lesson ideas and discussion abound.

Join us as we bring an expert on board to provide complete information in a form for all to understand.

 Elizabeth (Lisa) Zelasko contact information:

Countrywide Bank, FSB
Home Loan Consultant
Office: 201-556-4724
Fax: 866-433-2940
Email: Elizabeth_Zelasko@Countrywide.com

 WEB: http://countrywidelocal.com/elizabethzelasko

 Resources for this Episode

• Countrywide Bank, FSB Resources
  •  http://my.countrywide.com/

• Lisa’ Countrywide Bank site with calculators and articles
  • http://countrywidelocal.com/elizabethzelasko
  • Current rates for various mortgages
  • Payment calculators
  • and much more

Mortgage Calculators

• Amortization Tables
  • Also http://calculator-loan.info/mortgage-calculator.php

• 

• Mortgage Calculator shows annual tax and insurance fee, too.
  • Annual tax and fee plus Mortgage Calculator (All Fees)

•  Credit Worthiness Calculator
  • At Bankrate.com

• Calculator: “Calculate Your Debt-to-Income Ratio”
  Comparing your earnings against your spending , also known as a debt-to-income ratio, is one of the most popular approaches for evaluating if you have too much debt. Lenders, for years, have looked at debt-to-income ratios to get a better grasp on a person’s current financial picture to determine credit-worthiness.
  • Debt-to-income ratio calculator

Other Resources

•  Informational Website
  • “ Understand Your Debt-to-Income Ratio or Creditworthiness”

•  How to Calculate Your Debt Utilization Ratio
  • Debt Utilization Ratio Calculator

Contact Us

You may contact Mark and Kathy by

• leaving a comment here on the blog/site
• emailing us at podcast@talkingfinlit.org

Podcast Feed:

Our podcast feed is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/talkingfinlit

• (C) Talking Financial Literacy is copyrighted by The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008 – 2009. All rights reserved.

CLICK TO {{{ LISTEN }}}

CLICK TO {{{ LISTEN }}}

Mark and Kathy discover an undeveloped territory of urgent need in financial literacy- taxes. Of course we all know we have to come with taxes, but there are few resources available to integrate this real life need into financial literacy settings cross curriculum. Currently, the field is wide open for innovation and new developments here!

— Relevant  — Real-Life  –  Interdisciplinary —

   Lifelong Learning  — 21st Century Living

  — Motivation  – Intergenerational —

From planning for college, to tax savings via charitable giving,  and  medical flex accounts, it is amazing how much people of all ages might be missing opportunities for valuable and vital learning and savings. Join your Talking Financial Literacy co-hosts, Kathy and Mark, for another  exciting discussion as they explore the few resources which ARE available and spin the connections that need to be created.

Resources discussed in this episode:

The Money Instructor

• http://www.moneyinstructor.com/wsp/taxw2.asp

Canadian Example of curriculum

• http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tchtx/menu-eng.html

Calculators and Widgets from HR Block   

• http://www.hrblock.com/taxes/tax_calculators/index.html

Teaching Your Child About Income Taxes

• http://life.familyeducation.com/taxation/money-and-kids/47969.html

Federal Bank of New York

• http://www.newyorkfed.org/education/taxes_teach.html

• (Also – see our interview with Dir. of Education with federal bank of NY!
• Talking Fin Lit  Episode 2 )

Turbotax

• Tutorials and Tools Abound
• http://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/

Digits- Tips and Podcast  

• H&R Block
• http://www.digits.hrblock.com/tipsandpodcasts/

About.com

• http://taxes.about.com/od/taxsoftware/tp/tax_calculators.htm

Additional Resources for this Episode

•  IRS – Understanding Taxes
  •   http://www.irs.gov/app/understandingTaxes/index.jsp

 If you go into the teachers part there is an excellent series of lessons on taxes that include why pay taxes, the history of taxes and the nuts and bolts of how to pay taxes.  Check out the stuff on the bottom of the following url  http://www.irs.gov/app/understandingTaxes/teacher/whys.jsp

 Submitted by listener and teacher

John Kalnberg,  teacher, Sage Day School, Rochelle Park, NJ.

You may contact Mark and Kathy by

• leaving a comment here on the blog/site
• emailing us at podcast@talkingfinlit.org

Podcast Feed:

Our podcast feed is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/talkingfinlit

• (C) Talking Financial Literacy is copyrighted by The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008-2009. All rights reserved.