• South Bay students give younger classmates a dose of entrepreneurship (The Mercury News)

Inside a classroom tucked into the first floor of the Cupertino Library, presenters last Saturday discussed a range of business topics including the finer points of writing a business plan and the importance of diversity in a corporate team. As they did so, an audience of about 30 sat in earnest attention, trying to take it all in.

• Area schools using creative approaches to teach personal finance to students (Journal Sentinel)

The surprise of the realities behind real-life finances is a common refrain heard by students who have experienced a financial simulation program, and for a Kettle Moraine High School student, things were no different. Kettle Moraine junior Madeline Koenig said "Laser Life," her school's name for a financial simulation event, surprised her.

• Banks, Credit Unions Teach Financial Literacy (The Business Journal)

Each year, 300 junior and senior high school students from across the Mahoning Valley spend a day at Youngstown State University where they set their budgets to allocate their income among rent, car payments, clothing, food, technology and recreation. The students have household incomes that range from $30,000 a year to $500,000. These incomes – simulated, of course – are part of a module intended to teach the teenagers how to manage their finances and live within their means.

• Students relish designing school logos (The Journal Gazette)

Career Academy teacher Karen Gillie doesn't have to guess which day her graphic design class will have perfect attendance. Since fall 2016, she has given Fort Wayne Community students the task of revamping school logos – a project that culminates with a pitch. She never has to worry about absences that day. “They are so excited to show off their work,” Gillie said. About a dozen schools – including Memorial Park Middle School and Abbett Elementary – have benefited from the students' work.

About the Author

Laura Matchett

After graduating with an education degree and spending 7 years in an elementary classroom, Laura made the switch to the non-profit world and loves interacting with students, educators and business professionals across the country. She is passionate about all students having access to high quality education and views personal finance education as one way to ‘level the playing field’. When Laura is not locating or creating high quality educational resources, you can find her mountain biking or searching for the best ramen in town!

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