How long have you been teaching?
I have been teaching for 33 years.
How would you describe your school?
North Star Academy is an urban charter school in Newark, New Jersey. We have 14 schools in Newark, including two high schools.
How long have you been teaching the class for which you use Budget Challenge?
We adopted The Budget Challenge in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. It helped us go all-digital for a class that had been purely pen and paper-based.
What class/grade do you use the program in?
I am the principal of our high school. I teach Budget Challenge as part of 12th grade Financial Literacy, which is a graduation requirement in New Jersey.
What aspects of Budget Challenge do you find most beneficial to your students?
Students actually benefit equally from the simulation and the online quiz content. I think that the program is nicely balanced between the two.
What part of the simulation do your students find most challenging?
They don’t really like keeping up with the Cash Flow Spreadsheet. But I’ve found that it does model the organizational ability needed by adults. It’s realistic.
What do you like most about the program?
Actually, the customer service might be one of the best parts. Our students don’t overuse the help button, but it is remarkable how quickly they get a response. I have asked some students to email at the beginning of class, and they often have an answer to them before class is dismissed. I have never seen such a response rate.
What tips do you have for new teachers using Budget Challenge?
I would suggest playing along with students. There is no better way to learn all of the components. I have also found it a little difficult to manage the trophy information and the videos. The videos could be better organized on the website. It is sometimes hard to find them. It would be helpful if there were in one library rather than scattered among the units.
Do you have a Budget Challenge story that is especially memorable?
The taxes unit is sometimes memorable. Some of our seniors are working in jobs where the employer is withholding their payroll taxes. When our students find out that they can get a refund if they file their taxes, that is a funny ‘adult’ moment. They often exclaim in surprise. They are shocked to learn that they can benefit by something like filing their taxes!