Life Lessons 101...Teens Learn About Dollars, Cents and Common Sense

Erin Dailey, Ohio State University Extension

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

jackson.osu.edu/lifelessons

Dollars, Cents and Common Sense

• Focuses on career and life skills for Junior High and High School Students

• Utilizes a variety of curriculum and program simulations to teach youth about career and money management situations that they will face in their lives

• Teaches youth about real world life skills by simulating life experiences

Dollars, Cents and Common Sense

• Disconnect between traditional education and the common senseknowledge that young adults need to survive in today's world

• Partnership with local schools to bring real world knowledge to the classroom

Focus on Financial Literacy

• Spending and Earning Money

• Credit Cards

• Saving Early

• Careers

• Money Management

• Real Money, Real World Simulation

Focus on Life Skills

• Interview Skills

• Resume Basics

• Building Soft Skills

• Managing Social Media

• Team Building

Implementation

• Taught in each classroom multiple days over the course of a month

• Focused on different topics each day

• During each session, students were involved in discussion and hands-on activities that emphasized the topic.

• Once students are involved in these programs, efforts are made to increase their awareness of 4-H so that they realize they are a vital part of the 4-H program.

• 4-H promotional materials were distributed in each of the schools to show youth the connection to 4-H and how they can become involved.

Resources Utilized

• Real Money Real World• OSU Extension Curriculum

• Utilized as part of the simulation and as part of separate classroom sessions leading up to the simulation

• Junior Achievement Curriculum

• Various Team Building Resources

EvaluationYouth who took part in this program were able to:

• Gain knowledge and skills through financial management-based programming

• Participate in enhanced learning through hands-on activities

• Gain valuable life skills to prepare them for future careers and endeavors

• Be exposed to new ideas and experiences

• Participate in educational experiences that help them to better understand the topic

• More fully understand the subject matter and apply this knowledge to other related topics

EvaluationAfter participating, many youth noted that they:

• Learned about how expensive life in the real world can be

• Were more appreciative of what their parents went through to provide for them

• Planned to wait to have kids

Dollars, Cents and Common Sense

• Participants were able to make better decisions as they learned about best practices for financial management.

• Youth were able to increase their awareness, knowledge and skills related to real-life money management skills.

• Evaluations showed that youth furthered their knowledge in the areas of financial management, life skills and college preparedness.

Questions….

For More Information:

Contact:

Erin Dailey

OSU Extension, Jackson County

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

dailey.108@osu.edu