How might schools counter family stress and boost financial literacy in the run-up to the Holiday season?
From gift-giving, to travel, and hosting gatherings, the holiday season can increase financial pressure and that can lead to anxiety. To keep up, many families borrow and thus take on extra debt. But the weeks before the school holiday break may actually present a unique opportunity for educators to amplify key lessons around financial literacy, AND practical skill sets feeding social and emotional learning (SEL). THENCE.us provides classroom to cohort mentored training that opens up materials and guides for how to successfully navigate conversations and present opportunities for social and emotional development and discussion around financial literacy in elementary, middle and high school students.
Jumpstarting Financial Literacy with Math and SEL Lessons Focused on Budgeting
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How might schools jumpstart financial literacy and help growing minds understand their financial and material needs versus wants.
Math educators may wish to incorporate both budgeting and SEL skills into their lesson plans in the run-up to the holiday season. For example, teaching kids to make an expected budget for food, travel and decorations, while considering the costs of items already purchased, or, the hidden costs in credit card payments, are all lessons that may be differentiated by student level, age and development. Considering the social and emotional learning and expectations around budgeting.
Elementary, middle and high school students can explore purchases in terms awareness of buying on impulse, rather than deferred spending, and the costs of saving-up versus borrowing and paying later. Such skill sets feed key milestones for the development of strong executive function, and practical personal financial literacy skills.
A word of caution however, these skills set may be best taught with a social justice lens, and a demonstration of solidarity and support for community members in need. (pause)
Encouraging a group reflection on volunteering, donating, helping and including those who may be lonely or isolated during holiday festivities, can also become a powerful classroom-based Social Emotional learning exercise that scaffolds empathy, mindfulness while fostering a sense of responsibility and caring for community.
I’m Ian Gibbs Hall a subject matter expert in STEM Teacher development and DEI
