Money Studies on a Spectrum
In January of last year when we were deciding upon Money as this issue’s focus, I anticipated it would be a fairly cut-and-dried issue. I assumed we would be sharing
articles about coin and bill identification, counting, and making change. Since that time, however, the economy has featured prominently in news headlines, whether relating to the national efforts to recover from massive debt, the Wall Street bailout, or the latest in the Occupy movement. The call has sounded from local and federal entities to provide students with a
greater understanding of finances, prompting the widespread appearance of “Finan- cial Literacy” curricula. Additionally, many communities or Transition Towns have begun long-term discussions and action plans for how to deal with rapidly dimin- ishing fossil fuels and the possible collapse of traditional money systems in many countries of our world. Amid this backdrop of potential conflict and turmoil, what is important to teach kids about money? Several articles in the issue describe carefully planned programs that
encourage students to practice dealing with a household budget and being informed consumers. Others deal with more practical settings, like selling products from student-run businesses to raise money for charity or involving children in the process of buying the ingredients and preparing food to sell at a restaurant night. One article invites us to question whether the systems we have in place at
this time serve us well. By teaching children to master entrepreneurship or balancing a household budget, are we doing the absolute best for them that we can? Or is there another way to live in which we make a gift of our skills rather than vend them? What would it look like to teach students about this different way? This issue offers a wide spectrum of ideas for working with children from
the very young to the older elementary students. We hope somewhere in this spectrum there are valuable questions and ideas for you and your students.
—Heather Taylor Connect
Editor: Heather Taylor
Circulation: Susan Hathaway
Design and Production: Judy Wingerter
Synergy Learning Executive Director: Casey Murrow
™ published by SYNERGY LEARNING INTERNATIONAL™
Connect offers a wide range of practical, teacher-written articles in five thematic issues through the school year. Each issue supports problem solving, inquiry, and multidisciplinary approaches to learning.
Connect (ISSN: 1041-682X) is published online, September, November, January, March, and May. Publisher: Synergy Learning International, Inc., PO Box 60, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Tel. 800-769-6199. Fax: 802-254-5233. Email:
Connect@SynergyLearning.org.
©2012 by Synergy Learning International, Inc. Published as a non-profit service. All rights reserved. Special permission is required to reproduce in any manner, in whole or in part, the material contained herein. Call 800-769-6199 for reprint permission information.
To subscribe: Send $20 (a one-year subscription) and the subscriber’s email address to Synergy Learning, PO Box 60, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
Back Issues:Available for many of the print issues up to December, 2009. See theSynergy Learning website for details on back issues and on our extensive archive.
On the Cover: Photo Credit, Heather Taylor.
Synergy Learning International, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, engaged in publishing and professional development for educators, pre-k to middle school. We are dedicated to supporting schools, teachers, and families with challenging science, math, and technology learning for children.
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