Ask a Teacher: Why Teach Economics?
It’s #EconEdMonth, the time of year where we highlight resources and strategies for teaching Economics across disciplines and content areas.
This year, I asked a few Arkansas teachers to share what they love about teaching economics. Here is what they had to share.
There are five key strands in the Arkansas Economics Standards: Economic Decision Making, Exchanges & Markets, National Economy, Global Economy, & Personal Financial Management. Which strand is your favorite to explore with students and why?
Personal Financial Management is my favorite strand to explore because before becoming a teacher I worked in banking for 10 years. It is easy for me to give real life examples. Also, the students seem to enjoy this strand the most as they realize they will be using these concepts in the "Real World".
- Tori Walker, Centerpoint High School
What’s your favorite economics activity or simulation for the classroom?
I have fallen in love with teaching Economics! It is a joy to engage my students in a journey that leads to a better understanding of the world around them. Our lesson on Creative Destruction helps students understand how innovation leads to new technologies which leads to the destruction of old ones. I have a show-and-tell lesson where students can put their hands on some old technology: a bag phone, a Walkman, vinyl records, VHS tapes, a Polaroid camera to name a few. We learn the importance of investing in our human capital because you never know what new innovations are waiting around the corner that could put you out of a job.
- Lyndra Romack, Joe T Robinson High School
Why do you love economics? Why is it important to you?
I will often ask my students, Is Arkansas:
A. The Agriculture state
B. The Natural state
C. The Tourism state
D. All of the Above
What drives the economy of Arkansas? What are the industries that are employers for the state? We can travel around our beautiful state and visit each quadrant to find the answers. In the classroom we explore the Natural State, from the highlands of the Ozark Mountains to the lowlands of the Delta and can find the economics everywhere we look.
- Tina Boyles, Joe T. Robinson High School
We say economics is everywhere! Where do you most see economics in the world around us?
Over the past several years I have realized just how many economic concepts are in the world of agriculture and the environment. Because I live in a rural area where agriculture is a very relatable topic, I have spent much time focusing on the ties between economics and agriculture. We have planted flowers in our community and at our school buildings, read books to the elementary school about economics and agriculture, shared seeds to plant with workers in our community and with the younger grades, planted our own seeds to take home and grow as part of classroom activities, and more. We even worked virtually with a classroom in Germany over the last two school years to develop an understanding about economics and agriculture in the larger world. I have also invited a guest speaker from our local cooperative extension service to speak to students about the ties between economic agriculture, and it has been a wonderful experience to have those community connections. I have learned a great deal myself about the ways in which economics and agriculture go together, and I look forward to continuing these concepts in my classroom.
- Jessica Culver, Ozark High School
What is your favorite thing about teaching economics concepts?
My favorite thing about teaching economics is how applicable it is to daily life. I love being able to make connections to things that students see in the real world each day. Learning more about economics has made me a better consumer and decision maker. It has changed how I see the world and has improved my critical thinking skills. My goal is to teach my students how they can use economics every day to make them better decision makers. They can use these skills to determine their plans after high school, how they should spend their money, and predict changes in global markets.
- Skyler Wiens, Bentonville West High School
