Ruth Sisman
Ruth Sisman started her teaching career 25 years ago in Istanbul, Turkey, where she taught Business English to University students preparing to study in the United States. After 10 years as an international educator, Ruth moved back to the United States. For the past eight years, Ruth has taught approximately 2,500 students Economics and Personal Finance at Albermarle High School in Charlottesville, Virginia. The course is now a state-mandated graduation requirement.
Blending economic concepts with personal finance, the curriculum is focused on standards set by the state and material developed with other personal finance educators. It covers a range of topics such as insurance, credit, banking, marketing and consumer choices. Online resources are key for Ruth's class, particularly since it is completely paperless. One popular resource is the Stock Market Game by Sisma, a secure site that teaches students about investing. "Competition helps increase their motivation," says Ruth. Students are also given prompts to create blog posts on to review what they've learned and download banking apps to help them monitor their accounts.
"It's important to make the lessons relevant and engaging," Ruth explains. To engage her students, Ruth's projects and activities relate to real-life scenarios. In one assignment, students work together to research cost of living. They choose a city, create budgets and select apartments that match their budget. Similarly, older students applying to college must research colleges, costs, loans and financial aid. Students are also asked to fill out a W-4 to better prepare them for the future when they join the workforce and have to file taxes. Bringing professionals from local banks, credit unions and the private sector into the classroom also help connect lessons with the outside world. Students also fill out W-4's, 1040 and mock leases so that when they encounter them in the real world, they'll know what to do.
Outside of Albermarle High School, Ruth continues to teach. She teaches a virtual class for 8th grade students from other schools in the area. "I'm constantly searching for ways online students can meaningful collaborate their peers," Ruth remarks regarding virtual education.
According to Ruth, the greatest challenge teaching high school students is that they "don't quite understand finance yet because they aren't situated in the real world." One solution she's implemented is mixing classes with both younger and older students, who can help mentor the 8th graders. "It's nice to have a mixed class with older students who are more entrenched in that world. They are familiar with these concepts so they can bring in their real life experiences for the younger students."
The most valuable pieces of advice Ruth gives to her students are, "Do your research, evaluate needs versus wants, and save, save, save." Ruth practices good finance in her own life by budgeting, managing debt and passing finance lessons on to her own children.
Practical Money Skills would like to commend Ruth Sisman for her ongoing efforts and commitment to financial literacy at Albermarle High School in Charlottesville, Virginia.
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