Center for Economic Education Professional Development Menu
Below are session offerings the GMU Center and the Virginia Council on Economic Education can provide at district/school level in service days.
If you are interested in any of the topics below, or another potential session for your district/school please email Patrick DeRosa at pderosa@gmu.edu
Intro to Economics and Personal Finance
This quick hit session introduces participants to the six principles of economic reasoning, how they build off of one another and relate to financial literacy. Teachers will also get a quick introduction to multiple activities they can take back to their classroom.
*This session is great for teachers of the Economics and Personal Finance Course
Personal Finance IS Economics
Personal finance courses often focus on what students should do with money, but not always why those choices make sense. This session shows how the Six Principles of Economic Reasoning provide a powerful framework for teaching personal finance concepts in a way that builds lasting decision-making skills. Participants will explore how principles such as people choose, choices involve costs, incentives matter, and trade-offs are unavoidable can be applied to everyday financial decisions, including budgeting, saving, credit use, investing, insurance, and postsecondary planning. Rather than treating financial topics as isolated skills, this approach helps students see personal finance as a series of economic choices made under constraints. This session is great for any teacher, middle school or high school, of any subject, who wants to find new ways to include personal finance topics and/or economic skills in their class.
Middle School Economics
This workshop supports middle school civics and economics teachers in strengthening their economics instruction with engaging strategies, real-world examples, and interactive activities. Participants will gain tools to make abstract economic concepts in CE.11- CE.14 more accessible and relevant for their students.
Economics in US History
This workshop will help [High School/Middle School] U.S. history teachers integrate key economic concepts—such as scarcity, trade, opportunity cost, and incentives—into historical events and themes. Participants will leave with practical strategies and classroom-ready activities that connect economics to the stories of America’s past.
*This session can be geared towards Middle School USI/USII or High School USVA History
Economics in World History
This session explores how key economics concepts - such as scarcity, trade, opportunity cost, and incentices - integrate into World History events, like the Silk Road Trade, Life in the Middle Ages the Columbian Exchange, and many more. Participants will leave with practicial strategies and classroom-ready activities that connect economics to the story of how we got here.
Economics in Civics/Government
Civics and economics are intertwined every step of the way. Thoughtful consideration of institutions and incentives in modern economic systems is central to a citizens' ability to make informed decisions. In order to be considered civically literate students also need a solid understanding of economic basics. Attendees will explore ways enhance the economic concepts already embedded in their government classes, such as incentives, fiscal policy, government budgeting, and more!
*This session is aimed at the High School USVA government course, but can also be adapted to the Middle School Civics Standards (CE.1 - CE.10)
Life After High School
Today's 17-year old high school student faces life-changing decisions. One of the first is whether to pursure a college degree or some other credential after graduating high school. Students are often unaware that college isn't the only avenue for education beyond a high school diploma. Explore various lessons and resources that teachers can use to equip their students with the decision-making tools needed to prepare for the next steps in their life.