I found this blog entry on Forbes to be useful in assessing the opportunity for families to begin discussing money at home. I am inclined to support an effort to have the “money talk”, but as the blog author points out, the American Express credit and debit card is being sold on the bottom of every page and information, while optional, is being gathered. Just like we tell kids to be aware of marketing efforts - especially those that come from credit cards companies - so should we be aware of the marketing efforts involved in this campaign.

http://blogs.forbes.com/moneybuilder/2010/08/25/parents-and-teachers-join-national-money-talk-night/

We have always been challenged getting financial literacy education into the time-pressed elementary classroom.  In the past few years, we have found a great place and partner in the teacher-librarian.  During library time, there is finally some time to teach students about the choices they have for money.  Next to a parent, the teacher is the most impactful teacher in a child’s life -and the teacher-librarian is in a perfect position to help us as parents teach our kids about money. 

During the 2010 Chicago Federal Reserve’s Money Smart Week, with a little help from the Money Savvy Pig, an interactive piggybank, Chicago Public School students in grades K – 8 spent classroom time with their teacher-librarians learning about the choices they have for money (more…)

Lauren Barack from School Library Journal interviewed me last week regarding the program we created this year for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) through the Department of Libraries and Information Services.  The program involved librarians at nearly 200 CPS schools who voluntarily signed up to teach around 97,000 kids in grades K - 8 about the choices they have for money - and the response was just simply fantastic!  But this program is just the beginning.   Click here to read more.

Last week, Delaware Representative Mike Castle (R.) presented the Financial Education in the Classroom Act (FECA) - new legislation that seeks to improve financial literacy for all students in grades K - 12 by creating a competitive grant program for states who demonstrate a commitment to bringing financial literacy education to their schools.  Bravo Representative Castle!

Click here to read more about this legislation.

To read the full Bill (H.R. 5165) presented to the House of Representatives which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, click here.

The Monday Savvy Pig made it on The Early Show just before the end of the year. A special “thank you” to Maggie Rodriguez, co-host of the show, for selecting the Money Savvy Pig as a “Maggie’s Favorite Thing.” Here’s the clip.

This month the results of a National Financial Capability Study was released by FINRA Investor Education Foundation. The results establish a base measurement of Americans’ ability to manage their money. (more…)

This week, the U.S. Treasury Department, in conjunction with the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, announced its upcoming National Financial Capability Challenge (formerly the National Financial Literacy Challenge). (more…)

Grandparents are an excellent resource for money education. I grew up with my grandmother and everything she said, even if it was identical to what my mom and dad said, sounded better. (more…)

“In financial trouble? You might want to explain it to your kids,” by Sandra Block from USA Today, shares tips from many of us in the field, myself included. Talking to your kids about money is more important today than it ever has been! So don’t be afraid to include them and make it a teachable moment. http://tinyurl.com/mwef9n

Parents ask me daily how to talk with their kids about what’s going on in the market and as a result, in their own homes. Parents are worried and kids pick that worry up and begin to try to make sense of it on their own. (more…)