Pedagogy Wheel Using-the-Tool_print (test)

YOUTH PERSONAL FINANCE PEDAGOGY

Using the teaching tool

The Personal Finance Teaching Tool is a guide to
help educators identify teaching techniques and
learning strategies to address the three building
blocks for developing lifelong personal finance
decision-making skills.

In the center of the tool, review the building blocks,
and evaluate your students’ current development.
Determine a focus for your lessons and classroom
activities. Review the teaching techniques and
learning strategies then select appropriate resources.

Learning strategies
Entrepreneurship
education

Intergenerational
programs

Self-directed
exploration

Teaching
techniques

Personalized
instruction

Puzzles and
quiet games

Executive
Function

Simulation

Self-control,
working memory,
problem solving

Planning
activities

Pretend
play

Gamification

Cooperative
learning

Building
blocks

Employment
opportunities

Financial
Habits &
Norms

Blended
learning

Healthy money
habits, norms,
rules of thumb
Primary
development:
ages 6–21

Primary
development:
ages 3–21

Financial
Knowledge &
Decision Making Skills

Simulation

Factual knowledge, research
and analysis skills

Storytelling

Competencybased
instruction

Financial simulations

Financial
simulations

Primary development:
ages 13–21

Projec t-based
learning and
simulation

Real-world case studies

Understand
financial
products

Personalized
and direct
instruction

Financial coaching
and mentoring

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The CFPB Personal Finance Teaching Tool identifies the components to empowering
young people to make positive financial decisions — these components form the
building blocks for lifelong learning and responsible financial decision-making.

Where can I find the building
blocks on the tool?
The innermost layer of the wheel contains the
three building blocks of youth financial capability:
executive function, financial skills and decisionmaking and financial habits and norms. The building
blocks divide the wheel into thirds. Each section
(third) identifies teaching techniques and learning
strategies for developing that building block.

Executive Function section
Use the teaching techniques of cooperative
learning, personalized instruction, and simulation
to develop executive function. Suggested
learning strategies are self-directed exploration,
intergenerational programs, puzzles and quiet
games, planning activities, storytelling, pretend
play, and songs and movement games.

Financial Knowledge & Decision
Making Skills section
Use teaching techniques that include simulation,
direct instruction, personalized instruction, projectbased learning, and competency-based instruction
to help students develop their financial knowledge
and decision-making skills. Appropriate learning
strategies include one-on-one group financial
coaching, mentoring and guidance; real-world
case studies that can build mental guideposts; and
financial simulations.
This teaching tool can serve as a quick reference
guide for connecting students of all ages with the
teaching techniques and learning strategies that
create responsible adults who can achieve financial
well-being.

Financial Habits & Norms section
Use the teaching techniques of simulation,
blended learning, and gamification, with specific
learning strategies to help students develop
their own positive financial habits and norms.
These strategies include employment, financial
simulations, entrepreneurship programs, and the
use of financial products (such as bank-in-school
programs).

Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau

Learn more at consumerfinance.gov

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