MAKING CENTS WEBINARS
Making Cents webinars are offered on a variety of topics and are appropriate for teachers of all subjects and grade levels. Webinars are broadcast live twice on each date. Participants must register in advance online here. Upon completion of the webinar, participants complete an evaluation and can request 1 hour of Act 48 credit which is provided directly by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Previous webinars may be viewed in our archive below. Please note: Act 48 credit is not available to those viewing previous sessions.
2019-2020 Webinar Series
The Status of Personal Finance Education in Pennsylvania High Schools (A Making Cents PA Webinar)
Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project
April 6, 2020
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Register here.
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Register here.
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Register here.
Audience: Secondary educators, administrators, and counselors
Description: Some states, such as Virginia and Utah, require all students to take a course in personal finance before graduation. In Pennsylvania, this decision is left to local school districts. This webinar will provide information on how many and which school districts across the commonwealth offer and/or require a course in personal finance. Participants will also learn about a new law that allows school districts flexibility in providing graduation credit for courses in personal finance.
Download the handout with links.
Using Board and Card Games to Enhance Personal Finance Instruction (A Making Cents PA: “Six in Sixty” Webinar)
Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project
May 11, 2020
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Register here.
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Register here.
Audience: Middle and high school educators
Description: Monopoly and The Game of Life may be perennial favorites, but there are many other board and card games that can be used to liven up lessons in personal finance. In this webinar, participants will learn about six great games, including how they work, ways to integrate them into your instruction, and resources to assist you along the way. Some are also available to play free online if purchasing games is not an option. Ideas for funding the purchase of games will also be discussed.
WEBINAR ARCHIVE
Did you miss a previous webinar? Catch up on the archived sessions, or access our YouTube channel here.
March 30, 2020: Linking College and Career Readiness with Financial Education (A Making Cents PA: “Six in Sixty” Webinar)
During this fast-paced webinar, Hilary Hunt, Director of Pennsylvania’s Making Cents Project, will discuss natural connections between the six big ideas of Pennsylvania’s Instructional Framework for Personal Finance and college and career readiness. Participants will receive concrete ideas for ways to make connections across grade levels as well as examples of artifacts that can be collected to demonstrate both college and career readiness skills and financial know-how.
- Watch the webinar on YouTube
- Download the presentation slides and handout with links
March 16, 2020: FoolProof for Middle School and High School (A Making Cents PA: “Curriculum Deep Dive” Webinar)
Learn to teach your students how to be healthy consumer skeptics using FoolProof, a free financial education curriculum. FoolProof can be used to teach middle and high school students the power of healthy skepticism as well as how to identify and neutralize misinformation. Mike Sheffer, FoolProof’s Director of Education provided an introduction to FoolProof and how to implement the curriculum in your classroom. Alignment to PA academic standards as well as the Council on Economic Education and Jump$tart national standards is also addressed.
- Access the FoolProof website (Note: You must sign up for a free educator log-in in order to access the full suite of lesson plans and tools)
- Watch the webinar on YouTube
- Download the presentation handout
February 24, 2020: Curriculum Deep Dive: Bringing Personal Finance to Life with Intuit’s Mint and Turbotax Simulations: Dedicated Access for Educators
Today’s students are likely to use online services and apps to manage their finances, but it can be challenging to teach students how to use programs without actual accounts. Intuit, the providers of Mint and Turbotax, has teamed up with Take Charge Today to create a way for students to experience both platforms while learning about personal finance basics, including budgeting, credit, and taxes. In this session, you’ll discover how to access the student-specific simulations using Mint and Turbotax along with discovering features from the Take Charge Today’s accompanying lesson plans.
- Access the Take Charge Today website (Note: You must sign up for a free educator log-in in order to access the full suite of lesson plans and tools)
- Watch the webinar on YouTube
- Download the presentation handout
February 10, 2020: Curriculum Deep Dive: Take Charge Today’s Middle and High School Financial Education Curriculum
Find out how to create a free educator account, key curriculum features, and get tips for navigating the Take Charge Today website.
- Access the Take Charge today website (Note: You must sign up for a free educator log-in in order to access the full suite of lesson plans and tools)
- Watch the webinar on YouTube
- Download the presentation handout
June 25, 2019: Six in Sixty: Game On! Using Free Online Games to Engage Students
Learn about six great online games you can use in secondary classrooms to teach and/or reinforce personal finance lessons.
- Explore the featured resources
- Watch the webinar on YouTube
- Download the presentation handout
June 4, 2019: New Professional Learning Groups for Financial Educators
“Meet” one of the Making Cents Project’s new Financial Literacy Ambassadors and find out about upcoming professional learning groups. Learn how you can connect with fellow educators who have an interest in personal finance.
- Watch the webinar on YouTube
- Download the presentation handout
May 14, 2019: Six in Sixty: Children’s Books and Games with Financial Literacy Themes
Discover ways to integrate personal finance lessons using children’s books.
- Explore the featured resources
- Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- EconEdLink from the Council for Economic Education
- Money as You Grow from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Finance in the Classroom from the Utah State Board of Education
- Practical Money Skills from Visa
- Browse the featured books
- Morris Goes to School: book, lesson plan
- One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference: book, lesson plan
- Uncle Jed’s Barbershop: book, lesson plan
- Those Shoes: book, parent guide, lesson plan
- A Chair for My Mother: book, lesson plan
- Watch the webinar on YouTube
- Download the presentation handout
April 30, 2019: Curriculum Deep Dive: Pathway to Financial Success
Find out how you could put Pathway to Financial Success to use in your classroom. This new financial education resource from Discover Financial Services and Discovery Education features classroom activities, self-paced modules, videos, and family connection tools.
- Access the Pathway to Financial Success website
- Watch the webinar on YouTube
- Download the presentation handout
April 23, 2019: Six in Sixty: Financial Education Resources
Learn about six financial education resources that can be put to use in your classroom right away! This fast-paced session featured information on resources for middle and high school level educators.
- Watch the webinar on YouTube
- Download the presentation handout
- Learn more about the six featured resources:
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Youth Financial Education Resources: Activities and other resources aligned to the three building blocks of financial capability
- FastLane: Information for teachers, parents, students, educational administrators, policymakers, and community members on financial education–including information for those who wish to advocate for financial education in schools
- High School Financial Planning Program: Free high school financial literacy curriculum from the National Endowment for Financial Education with updates made available in January 2019
- Napkin Finance: Small infographics and videos which break down financial concepts
- FinLit Forums: Conference-style program for high school and college-aged students made available to Pennsylvania schools by several state agencies
- Two Cents: A series of short (4-7 minute) videos from PBS on a variety of financial topics (be sure to look for all episodes in each season in the archive such as season 1)
February 28, 2018
Topics and Presenters:
- High School Credit Union Branches: What They Are and How to Start One – Kathleen Fey, Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation; Randi Marmer, TruMark Financial Credit Union; and Nancy Labricciosa, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School – video of presentation (34:10), slides
- The NEFE High School Financial Planning Program – Susan Sharkey, National Endowment for Financial Education – video of presentation (23:45), slides, program components
- What Teens Should Understand about Taxes – Holly Chase, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency – video of presentation (28:53), slides
Download the agenda and bios here.
January 24, 2018
Topics and Presenters:
- Keys to Success: New Online Teacher Training Program – Dr. Andrew Hill, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia – video of presentation (30:48), slides
- Robo Investing, Saving, and Advising, Oh My!: What Are These New Tools and What Should Consumers Look Out For – Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project – video of presentation (20:02), slides
- How Penn State is Tackling Financial Education for College Students – Brad Yeckley, Penn State Financial Literacy and Wellness Center – video of presentation (33:52), website
Download the agenda and bios here.
December 13, 2017
Topics and Presenters:
- Cools Tools from NEFE: Smart About Money, Cash Course, and Money Teach – Susan Sharkey, National Endowment for Financial Education – video of presentation (31:26), Smart About Money, Cash Course, Money Teach
- Saving for the Future: PA Treasury’s TAP 529 Program and New PA ABLE Program – Kelly Davis, Pennsylvania Treasury Department – video of presentation (24:47), slides, PA 529, PA ABLE
- New and Improved Resources from Next Gen Personal Finance – Tim Ranzetta and Laura Matchett, Next Gen Personal Finance – video of presentation (31:22), website
Download the agenda and bios here.
November 15, 2017
Topics and Presenters:
- Voices from the Classroom: A Panel of Teachers Discussing Financial Education – Lisa Golding, Cumberland Valley High School; Kathy Jo Reinsmith, Chambersburg Area High School; Fred LaPointe, Lebanon Catholic School – video of presentation (56:11), slides
- Financial Reality Fairs – Kathleen Fey, Pennsylvania Credit Union Foundation – video of presentation (23:12), slides
Download the agenda and bios here.
October 25, 2017
Topics and Presenters:
- What College Students Wish They’d Learned About Money in School – Jason Pettner, Student, Penn State Erie – video of presentation (29:12), slides
- Education Planner: A Free Online Career Planning Resource – Marla Kane, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency – video of presentation (27:50), slides
- CFP, CPA, EA’s and more: Understanding Who’s Who in the World of Financial Professionals – Holly Chase, Pennsylvania Housing Financing Agency – video of presentation (24:11), slides
Download the agenda and bios here.
September 27, 2017
Topics and Presenters:
- Pennsylvania’s PK-12 Personal Finance Curriculum Framework: Six Big Ideas – Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project – video of presentation (18:09), slides
- Using Children’s Literature to Teach Personal Finance and Economics – Dr. Andrew Hill, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia – video of presentation (30:11), slides
- Project Based Learning and Personal Finance: A Perfect Pair – Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project – video of presentation (26:32), slides
Download the agenda and bios here.
March 28, 2017
Topics and Presenters:
- Crowdfunding Investing: What It Is and What to Watch Out For (Daniel Lee, Securities and Exchange Commission) – video of presentation (31:51) – information bulletin
- Right About Money (Dan Kadlec, Right About Money) – video of presentation (16:55) – website
- Adapting Financial Education Lessons for Students with Disabilities (Susan Tachau, Pennsylvania Assistive Technologies Foundation, and Hilary Hunt, Making Cents Project) –
slides, video of the presentation (36:21) – PATF website, Cents and Sensibilities website
Download the agenda and bios here.
February 28, 2017
Topics and Presenters:
- Insurance 101 for Teachers (David Buono, Pennsylvania Insurance Department) – video of presentation (25:19) – website
- Jump$tart Clearinghouse (Anne Bannister, Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy) – slides – video of presentation – website
- Future Smart (Amber Osuba, Everfi) – slides – video of presentation (29:24) – website
Download the agenda and bios here.
January 31, 2017
Topics and Presenters:
- Financial Scams and How to Avoid Them (John Abel, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General) – slides – video of presentation (32:28)
- Child Identity Theft: What to Know, What to Do (Colleen Tressler, Federal Trade Commission) – slides – video of presentation (21:17)
- Next Gen Personal Finance (Tim Ranzetta, Next Gen Personal Finance) – slides – video of presentation (29:24) – website – scavenger hunt
Download the agenda and bios here.
November 30, 2016
Topics and Presenters:
- Paying for Higher Education: Recent FAFSA Changes, MySmartBorrowing, and More (Marla Kane, PHEAA) – slides – video of presentation (31:22)
- MicroScholarships: A New Approach to Funding Higher Education (Amanda Schwab, raise.me) – slides –video of presentation (29:11)
- Pennsylvania Learns’ Financial Education Courses on iTunesU (Hilary Hunt, Making Cents Project) – slides – video of presentation (23:00)
Download the agenda and bios here.
October 26, 2016
Topics and Presenters:
- Give Me a Little Credit (Bill Cheeks, ABBA, Inc.) –slides – video of presentation (36:26)
- Buying a Used Car: Helping Students to Be Cautious Consumers (Colleen Tressler, Federal Trade Commission) –slides – video of presentation (36:54)
- FTC Consumer landing page
- FTC Used Cars page
- FTC’s Buying & Owning a Car page
- FTC’s budget worksheet at consumer.gov
- FTC’s Buyers Guide
- FTC’s Bulk Order page
- FTC Videos – general page:
- National Automobile Dealer Association’s (NADA) Guides
- Edmunds
- Kelley Blue Book
- Consumer Reports
- National Highway Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline — 1-888-327-4236
- National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS)
- AutoCheck.com
- Carfax.com
- National Insurance Crime Bureau
- National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG)
- Local consumer protection agencies
- American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
- National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)
- Financial Literacy and Social Media (Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project) –slides – video of presentation (19:22)
Download the agenda and bios here.
September 28, 2016
Topics and Presenters:
- Balancing a Checkbook: Necessary Skill or Antiquated Lesson (Karen Facer-Mee, PICPA – Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants) –slides – PICPA speaker series website – PICPA programs for schools
- FDIC’s New and Improved Money Smart for Grades K-12 (Susan Bistransin, Society for Financial Education and Professional Development) –slides – FDIC Money Smart website – FDIC/CFPB Teacher Resource Center website
- Financial Education Resources from Pennsylvania Government Agencies (Becky MacDicken, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities) –slides – SAFE Infographic – Getting Help with Finances handout – PHEAA request for materials
- Additional information –slides
Download the agenda and bios here.
Watch the video of the session here.
April 14, 2016
Topics and Presenters:
- Practice What You Preach: You, Your Students, and Investing (Doug Hassenbein, PA Department of Banking and Securities) – slides
- PwCs New Earn Your Future Digital Lab (Hilary Hunt, Financial Education Consultant) – slides
Download the agenda and bios here.
Watch the video of the session here.
March 16, 2016
Topics and Presenters:
- Everything Teens (and Adults, too) Should Know about Car Insurance (David Buono, Pennsylvania Insurance Department) –
- Kiddynomics and Other Resources for Teaching Personal Finance from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (Dr. Erin Yetter, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) – slides (coming soon)
Download the agenda and bios here.
Watch the video of the session here.
February 11, 2016
Topics and Presenters:
- Pennsylvania’s Model Personal Finance Curriculum, Model High School Personal Finance Course, and iTunes U Course (Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project) – slides
- Teaching Financial Services with Resources from the iTunes Course (Fred LaPointe, Lebanon Catholic School)
Download the agenda and bios here.
Watch the video of the session here.
January 13, 2016
Topics and Presenters:
- Borrow to Grow and What You Need to Know (Holly Chase, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency) – slides
- Thrive ‘n’ Shine (Dr. Maggie Kundson, MindBlown Labs) – slides
- What We Know about Successful Financial Education Programs (Dr. Andrew Hill, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia) – slides
Download the agenda and bios here.
Watch the video of the afternoon session here.
November 12, 2015
Topics and Presenters:
- Budget Challenge – The Road Test for Personal Finance (Brian Page, Budget Challenge) – slides
- Foundations for Your Future: The Pennsylvania State Employee’s Retirement System (Brian Farester, PSERS) –slides
- Teaching High Schoolers about Earning Income and Resources from the National Endowment for Financial Education (Susan Sharkey, NEFE) –slides
Download the agenda and bios here.
Watch the video of the evening session here.
September 30, 2015
Topics and Presenters:
- Introduction, Professional Information, and Wrap Up (Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project) – slides
- Life’s Three Financial Stages (Stanley Greene, Pennsylvania Treasury Department) – slides
- Pennsylvania’s new iTunes U Course for Personal Finance (Fred LaPointe, Lebanon Catholic School) –slides
Download the agenda and bios here.
September 15 and 23, 2015
Watch the September 23rd webinar here.
Topics and Presenters:
- Ensuring Students Receive Financial Education as a Requirement (David Christopher, Juniata Valley School District) – slides
- Research in Support of Financial Education (Dr. Andrew Hill, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia) –slides
- Resources for Implementing Financial Education (Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project) – slides
- Personal Finance Curriculum Framework on the Pennsylvania Department of Education Standards Aligned System website
April 22, 2015
Topics and Presenters:
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- Teaching and Assessing Student Understanding of Saving and Investing (Dr. Andrew Hill, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia) – slides
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- Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Main Education website
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- Keys to Financial Success Information page
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- Teacher Program Registration page
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- Keys to Financial Success Webinar (May 14, 2015) Registration page
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- Keys to Financial Success YouTube video
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- Making Sense of Money and Banking YouTube video
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- Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Economic and Personal Financial Education Programs YouTube video
- Council for Economic Education Free Online Assessment Center
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- Teaching and Assessing Student Understanding of Saving and Investing (Dr. Andrew Hill, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia) – slides
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- Spicing Up Lessons on Saving and Investing (Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project) – slides
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- Ways to Save video
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- Time Value of Money lesson demonstration video
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- Financial Literacy: Teach It! videos
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- GeniRevolution website
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- Hands on Banking website
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- Star Banks Adventure game
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- FDIC Money Smart Podcasts website
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- Virtual Field Trip to the New York Stock Exchange on the Discovery Education website
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- My Classroom Economy website
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- T. Rowe Price 7th Annual Parent, Kids, and Money survey
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- Pathways to Financial Success grant program
- Model Personal Finance Curriculum and High School Personal Finance Course available at the PDE SAS website (must be logged in to access)
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Download the agenda and bios here.
March 12, 2015
Topics and Presenters:
- All About the Risk: Strategies for Making Your Lessons on Risk Managements and Insurance More Engaging (Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project) – Sneeze Insurance Lesson website, My Classroom Economy website, Kahoot website, slides
Download the agenda and bios here.
February 18, 2015
Topics and Presenters:
- Banking Basics and Financial Education Resources Available from Credit Unions (Tricia Heisey, BELCO Community Credit Union)
- Professional Update (Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project)
Download the agenda and bios here.
Download the slides here.
Watch the video of the evening session here.
January 29, 2015
Topics and Presenters:
- Borrowing Money (Judge Mary France, U.S. Bankruptcy Court | Middle District of Pennsylvania) – slides
- Hands on Banking (Mark Rich, Wells Fargo) – website
- Professional Update (Hilary Hunt, The Making Cents Project) – slides, model personal finance curriculum here (must be logged in) and here (select Personal Finance tab)
Download agenda and bios here.
Watch the video of the evening session here.
November 13, 2014
Topics and Presenters:
- Understanding Taxes (Regis Bodnar, IRS) – download slides (coming soon) and visit Understanding Taxes website
- Earning Income, Professional Information, H&R Block Budget Challenge – slides, watch the What if Kids Had All the Money video, watch the Budget Challenge Intro video
Download agenda and bios here.
Watch the video of the evening session here.
October 22, 2014
Topics and Presenters:
- Professional Information including PA House Education Committee Public Hearing on Financial Literacy and the PISA Financial Literacy Results (Hilary Hunt, Making Cents Project) – slides
- Model PK-12 Personal Finance Curriculum and Model High School Personal Finance Course (Hilary Hunt, Making Cents Project) – slides
- Money Management and Generation Z (Hilary Hunt, Making Cents Project) – slides
- The FoolProof Financial Education Curriculum (Will DeHoo and Mike Sheffer, Foolproof) – slides and visit website
Download agenda and bios here.
Watch the video of the afternoon session here.
March 20, 2014
Topics and Presenters:
- Teaching about Giving (Cathy Bowen, Penn State University) – slides
- Using Tablets to Teach Students about Personal Finance (Sharon Baillie, Burgettstown Middle/High School) – slides
- Professional Information (Hilary Hunt, Making Cents Project) – slides
Download agenda, bios, and notetaker here.
Watch the video of the afternoon session here.
February 19, 2014
- Online Games that Teach Personal Finance and/or Economics (Hilary Hunt, Making Cents Project) – slides
- Understanding Interest Rates (Dr. Andrew Hill, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia) – slides
- Survey of Teachers (Hilary Hunt, Making Cents Project) – slides
Download agenda, bios, and notetaker here.
Watch the video of the afternoon session here.
BIG IDEAS
Explore the long-term transfer goals and six big ideas in Pennsylvania's Model Personal Finance Curriculum. The model provides a starting point for educators to evaluate their own personal finance curriculum and identify potential gaps.
Consider:
- How do the big ideas compare to what you teach?
- In what order do you teach the big ideas and how much time do you give to each?
- Are some of the big ideas harder to teach than others for you?
Additional documents are available to download from the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Standards Aligned System (here and here).