Jeanne White has taught for 19 years: 10 in middle school (in Texas) and 9 in high school overseas. Jeanne currently teaches at Kubasaki High School in Okinawa, Japan.
How would you describe your school?
We are located on an active-duty military. Our students are highly academically focused (with 18 AP classes available to choose from), highly engaged in school spirit (Dragon F.I.R.E. – Focus, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence), and charity / giving back minded with beach cleanups, environmental club, and support of other schools, volunteering and our MCJROTC program. Our students have lived in multiple countries and have attended 5-8 schools already worldwide.
How long have you been teaching the class you use Budget Challenge in?
I have been teaching Business and Personal Finance for 5 years and have used Budget Challenge since the beginning of my business (Personal Finance) classes.
What class/grade do you use the program in?
The majority of my students are 11th and 12th graders. While I have a couple of freshmen and sophomores (the class is open to 9-12), the juniors and seniors tend to be more highly motivated to take this class and get prepared for “adulting."
What aspects of Budget Challenge do you find most beneficial to your students?
The Cash Flow Budget tool is one of the best tools in Budget Challenge. The ability to view bills scheduled with formula bars programmed to update the balance column is super helpful for students to understand the immediate change in their budget with the input of the data. The dashboard alerts are amazing! When students use them (I always tell them to start with the dashboard alerts), they are most likely to be successful. When they aren't successful, we go back to the dashboard alerts, and there are so many of them that have been ignored or unopened. It's a great starting point for a discussion of keeping organized and following the timeline and progression of events.
What part of the simulation do your students find most challenging?
Most students struggle with the engagement of checking their accounts and CFB regularly. They tend to be more lax during a holiday week, and the leaderboard significantly changes when we return to school. Students are usually shocked and readily admit whether they were monitoring their Budget Challenge account over the holiday (or not).
What do you like most about the program?
While many students find this simulation stressful (their word, not mine), the comprehension and new understanding of making budgets, scheduling payments, and monitoring bank accounts is enlightening. They are better prepared for real-life occurrences after Budget Challenge. Students have a great sense of control, confidence, and mastery of financial literacy after this program. The chapters that address insurance, housing, cars, and careers (work/pay) are critical to their experience. There are light bulb moments in every class for different students, and they take this knowledge with them and process it. In the next class, they come back and may want to discuss something from the last class because they have had time to think about it and incorporate their new knowledge into what they "thought they knew."
What tips do you have for new teachers using Budget Challenge?
Start early. Try to give yourself an extra week to start the simulation. Get your class registered early. Watch the videos! They are very helpful. Read the material yourself first. Play the teacher simulation. It is super relevant and will help you as you “show” your students. I intentionally missed payments to show students how those actions impacted my score, budget, etc. Print the chapters for those who don’t read well online but like the paper copy. I allow my students to use the chapter as their “notes,” the quiz is an open book. I tell them I want them to know the information and learn it, not be penalized by a quiz.
Do you have a Budget Challenge story that is especially memorable?
I have sooo many memorable BC stories! The ones that stand out are those who are competitive and want to “beat" their opponent who doesn't work too hard. They ask me how to boost their score to the max, and after the holiday breaks (spring break, winter break, Thanksgiving), they are bumped to first or second place on the leaderboard and are proud of themselves. I take the top 3-4 students from each class (from each simulation) to an extended lunch (on my dime) supported by the school. Students get this privilege and recognition for their efforts in engaging with dedication to this program as an integral part of our class. They remember Budget Challenge years after they leave high school.
Thank you again for being a great program and an important part of my curriculum.