In our 20th #21for21 episode of Competencies without a Classroom, we sit down with Ronald Hae, a grade 11/12 accounting teacher in Oakville, Ontario. Aside from his business and accounting classes, you can find Ronald doing standup comedy in Toronto (pre-pandemic of course) or by listening to his podcast, The Teacher Hotline!
Financial Literacy as a 21st-Century Skill
After speaking with several industry professionals and teachers on the show, we’ve come to realize how much teachers wish they had learned more financial literacy back in high school.
The Ontario Government has since implemented a financial literacy initiative into the grade 10 career studies course, which is a great start. But Ronald believes that it is not where we need to be in terms of teaching this vital life skill.
This is why Ronald has begun focusing on financial literacy in his classroom, teaching the skills to his grade 11 and 12 students by creating a financial literacy assignment. Students can pick any topic they like falling under the umbrella of financial literacy. They then become the expert. At any point in the school year, they present the topic to their classmates, followed by some questions and answers. They are free to present in any format they please.
Students are craving this knowledge, they want to know how to begin getting prepared for life after high school. So Ronald took it upon himself to take matters into his own hands and focus on what the students are interested in and motivated to learn about.
In doing so, students learn valuable life skills that will set them up for success, while working on their communication, critical thinking, and research abilities in the process.
Reflection Prompts for Your Students
Use the prompts below to have your students reflect on what they heard in the episode and consider how Ronald’s advice can be applied to them.
- Ronald strongly believes that financial literacy education is a life skill that is lacking in education. What is a life skill that you wish you were taught more of in school? Why?
- When asked about his favourite class back in high school, Ronald decides on his drama class because he learned how to be vulnerable in a safe space. How do skills like confidence and being vulnerable go hand in hand? Think of a time in which you had to go out of your comfort zone in school. How did you benefit from this experience? What did you learn/walk away with?
- If you were in Ronald’s class and had to decide on one financial literacy topic to present, what would you choose and why?
HELPFUL LINKS
- Listen to Ronald’s Podcast - The Teacher Hotline
- Follow The Teacher Hotline on Instagram
- Follow the Teacher Hotline on Facebook
- Follow Ronald on Twitter
- Follow Ronald on Instagram
- Read Is this Anything by Jerry Seinfeld
- Read Millionaire Teacher by Andrew Hallam
- Read Ungrading by Alfie Kohn
- Check out Twenty One Toys - Toys that teach skills
