Financial Literacy

Breanna Little 

EBlogger 4: Financial Literacy 

Reflecting on this week’s assignments I can come to a conclusion that the knowledge to know the fundamentals of financial literacy is very crucial. The personal ability to know how to finance, save, budget, and invest for future profit can create multiple benefits. Not only in a personal sense but in a grander sense, spreading its awareness to school curriculums and non-profit organizations. The article that was assigned to read, heavily touches base on incorporating financial literacy to school subjects. The article states that students as young as kindergartners, toddlers, should start the intro stages of saving and organizing a stable budget. Grades K-12 should consist of a recommended two classes per week with the duration of thirty minutes, rather than a once quarter/semester within the whole four-year term. In addition, rather than supporting a lecture vs. test style of teaching, it's influenced that a more physical learning environment should be taken into consideration. Typically what is well known for lecture vs. test style classes, the student is known to within time forget what was supposed to be remembered, carried on after the class is completed. I knew these types of classes too well in my past classes, where it frustrated me more than actually learning and taking away something. With these strategies, combined with hands-on learning and a continuous (frequent) subject schedule, it can be more effective for implementation in the student’s thinking. As hoped when the students get into that adult age they will have the ropes of adulting in financial scenarios. From writing/depositing a check, investing in simple stocks, building credit, and appropriately filing for debit and credit cards, the student will know the benefactors and consequences of making these decisions. 

In my collaborative group we all agreed that having financial literacy as a mandatory and not a suggested subject is more needed. We also agreed with one another that although the article touches base mainly on  incorporating the subject mainly in schools, creating establishments and organizations that can support all ages (already adults), in extracurricular programs, and universities can be influenced as well. Creating the visual representation within the group makes me find it better to learn from the article. Providing visual aid along with a written explanation to follow it, compared to the other hands-on activities we have done in the past, this style of learning better stuck with me. The visual representation added more freedom to be creative within the group, especially since some in the group were familiar with certain platforms we can use to eventually construct what we made. Reflecting on this week's interaction I personally feel like this week's assignments were more straightforward and easier to complete and make sure everyone was on the same page. With the week coming to a close, and as the emergence of another course module comes into a phase I can confidently say that the financial literacy course module was the most compelling to me. Possibly it could've been because I was already familiar with the topic, yet still I learned new things. This further proves that the subject should be taught within multiple stages of a person's lifetime. The world of money changes everyday within American society. It is important that we must know the updated financial requirements to achieve financial success and stability for our future.

All in all financial literacy should continue to be a heavily insisted subject. Its awareness and beneficial factors are persistently praised for its importance and significance in one's lifetime and knowledge. Not only Nicole Kruse’s article Money Matters represents the subject matter but various articles, books, organizations, programs, etc. are deliberately spreading the message. The message that money matters, and so should the knowledge of maintaining money success amongst all grades, knowledge levels, and ages, of the American society