In September of 2010, the State Treasurer's Office introduced the "Reading is an Investment" program to Vermont elementary schools. The program offers students in kindergarten through 6th grades the opportunity to learn about money and basic financial concepts. The goal of the program is to promote the teaching of personal finance by providing elementary schools with quality children's books that explore financial subjects and give tools to teachers and librarians that they can use to help kids make the connection between these stories and their individual lives. As we begin the second year of the program, there are more than 120 Vermont schools participating, representing more than 25,000 students.

The program takes a two-prong approach to promoting financial literacy -- class or library instruction and personal reading. Each fall, participating elementary schools receive two or three new hardback books. Lesson plans and activities are included with the books to teach money concepts. At the same time, students are encouraged to participate in a personal financial literacy reading program. School librarians receive a recommended money reading list that highlights books that focus on basic financial concepts. Students who read at least three books from the list and complete personal reading requirements can send a completed reading log to the Treasurer's Office for entry in a statewide drawing for one of ten $250 accounts in the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan -- Vermont's official 529 college savings plan. 

For the 2010-2011 school term, more than 1,300 Vermont students completed reading logs and entered the drawing for the college savings accounts. At a special State House ceremony, the winners were recognized and congratulated by State Treasurer Beth Pearce and Lt. Governor Phil Scott.

This program would not be possible without the financial support of the Windham Foundation and TD Bank. As major supporters of the program, these foundations contributed funds to the Financial Literacy Trust Fund and provided the start-up funding to launch this initiative. The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation is providing all Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan prizes. The Vermont Humanities Council also provided a mini-grant in support of the program.

2011-2012 Personal Finance Theme

Earning and Saving Money

Where does money come from? The books featured in the 2011-2012 Reading is an Investment program tackle the subject of earning and saving money. This year's books illustrate how people must personally work to earn money and emphasizes the importance of saving some of that money for future goals. In Pitching in for Eubie, Lily and her entire family take on extra work to pay for an important college bill. Rock, Brock and the Savings Shock humorously explores the consequences of quickly spending our money. Readers also see the benefits of carefully saving money and letting it grow. Looking outwardly, Give a Goat, underscores the importance of working and saving to achieve a financial goal that will benefit others. Students see the impact they can make for others by being careful earners and savers. Activities and lesson plans included in the curriculum this year will highlight:

• How money is earned
• Benefits of saving
• What is interest
• Opportunity costs

Librarian Activities

Specific activities are provided for each book for use by school librarians during their scheduled time with students. Individual activities are planned to take no longer than 30-40 minutes to complete. Resources also are provided to librarians for introducing the program to their schools and include a parent letter and a promotional flyer for teachers.

Pitching in for Eubie Activity

Rock, Brock and the Savings Shock Activity

Give a Goat Activity

How are other librarians introducing the program?

Promotional Flyer for Teachers

Letter to Parents

Newsletter Story

Teacher Lesson Plans

Lesson plans are divided by the following grade levels: (1) Kindergarten; (2) 1st & 2nd grades; (3) 3rd & 4th grades; and (4) 5th & 6th grades. There is one lesson plan for each grade level, based on the book that is most targeted toward each individual age group. A complete curriculum guide was sent to the school librarian at each participating school. Each school must develop their own policy regarding the circulation of the three books to teachers for classroom instruction.

Glossary

Kindergarten Lesson - Pitching in for Eubie by Jerdine Nolen

     Kindergarten Worksheet

1st-2nd Grade Lesson - Pitching in for Eubie by Jerdine Nolen

     Earning and Saving Worksheet

3rd-4th Grade Lesson - Rock, Brock and the Savings Shock by Sheila Bair

    Gramps' Savings Plan Worksheet

    Brock's Alternative Savings Plan Worksheet

5th-6th Grade Lesson - Give a Goat by Jan West Schrock

     Earning and Saving Plan Worksheet