Ep. 191 — K-12 Financial Literacy Curriculum

Most financial education reaches students when they're already drowning in student loans. By then, the damage is done. A team of educators just flipped that model on its head—starting financial independence concepts in pre-K, years before those critical money decisions get made.

Jonathan Mendonsa, alongside educators Danielle Mendoza, Rob Beeland, and Mandy Burt, introduce a K-12 financial literacy curriculum that spans from pre-K through high school. The curriculum covers essential financial concepts using a backward design approach, ensuring lessons are accessible to teachers without a finance background. With resources provided at no cost, the team reflects on the collaborative effort to create a comprehensive, user-friendly curriculum targeting communities that have historically lacked this knowledge.

Key Topics Discussed

• Introduction of Financial Literacy Curriculum 00:02:34
  Overview of the new free financial literacy curriculum targeting K-12 students.

• Building the Curriculum 00:06:01
  The collaborative effort among educators to craft a comprehensive, accessible curriculum.

• Activities in the Curriculum 00:15:50
  Engaging activities such as meal planning to teach budgeting and financial decision-making.

• Integrating the Curriculum 00:19:58
  Strategies for educators to incorporate financial literacy into existing subjects and standards.

• Accessing and Implementing the Curriculum 00:30:37
  How teachers can access and implement the curriculum in their classrooms.

Key Insights

• Financial Literacy Importance
  Financial literacy education can significantly impact students' futures, empowering them to make informed financial decisions.

• Curriculum Availability
  The curriculum is freely accessible and designed to be user-friendly for educators without finance backgrounds.

• Backward Design Approach
  The curriculum employs a backward design model to align financial concepts with K-12 standards, ensuring relevance and ease of integration.

Key Quotes

• "FI 101: A free course for mastering financial independence." 00:01:09
• "Our financial literacy curriculum will always be available for free." 00:29:37
• "Our goal is to distribute valuable financial lessons widely." 00:28:30

Chapter Markers

• 00:02:34 Introduction of Financial Literacy Curriculum
• 00:06:01 Building the Curriculum
• 00:15:50 Activities in the Curriculum
• 00:19:58 Integrating the Curriculum
• 00:30:37 Accessing and Implementing the Curriculum

Resources

• FI 101 Course 00:01:09
• Financial Literacy Curriculum 00:30:47