Thank you to Kathleen Brennan of Mount Saint Mary Academy (Watchung, NJ) for participating in the NGPF Podcast. Kathleen has won multiple teaching awards (she was the 2016 Outstanding Educator of the Year and 2013 Sloan Foundation Award winner to name must two) and loves using case studies in her classroom. Our conversation touches on the her favorite case studies (see Show Notes below), how she prepares for a case study discussion and the student engagement and learning she witnesses in her classroom. Enjoy!

• 0:00~1:16 – Introduction
• 1:16~4:31 – Kathleen’s background
• 4:31~6:42 – Developing a personal finance classes
• 6:42~8:47 – Most challenging topics for students
• 8:47~12:07 – Case studies in the classroom
• 12:07~14:29 – Best time to use case studies
• 14:29~18:34 – Managing a case study discussion
• 18:34~21:58 – Assessing student performance in case studies
• 21:58~22:32 – A word from our sponsor, Next Gen Personal Finance
• 22:32~26:55 – Case study focused on college planning (“To Become a Buckeye”)
• 26:55~31:00 – Preparation required for successful case study
• 31:00~31:57 – Best moment after doing a case study
• 31:57~33:45 – How to engage parents into the money conversation
• 33:45~35:58 – Myths to dispel in the classroom
• 35:58~36:17 – Stocks or index funds?
• 36:17~36:31 – Right amount of student debt ?
• 36:31~36:38 – Right age to get a credit card?
• 36:38~36:47 – Best financial habit?
• 36:47~36:56 – Worst financial habit?
• 36:56~37:40 – Billboard to put up in front of high schools?
• 37:40~38:42 – Best financial advice?
• 38:42~39:57 – Who do you consider a success?
• 39:57~41:35 – Why teachers should use case studies
• 41:35~42:38 –  Conclusion

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.