Money Talks

An Educator's Guide to Financial Empowerment

By: Diana Isern

A teacher's guide to integrating inclusive financial literacy into the classroom

Money touches everything. It influences where we live, what jobs we have, the food we eat, and who we want to become in the future. Yet, our schools, and many of our homes, are devoid of financial content. As financial literacy mandates surge across the country, Diana Isern - a practicing financial educator and school leader - uses jargon-free accessible language in this teacher's guide to financial education.

This interactive guide provides high school educators with both the personal reflection and practical strategies needed to teach financial literacy with confidence and authenticity, featuring financial concepts like money mindset, savings, credit, investing, real estate, and more. Grounded in the RICH Framework, this book ensures that students from all backgrounds see themselves as capable wealth-builders:

Representation: Ensuring diverse perspectives and identities are reflected

Inquiry: Fostering critical questioning and wonder
Connection: Making concepts accessible and relevant to students' lives
Holistic perspectives: Embracing asset-based thinking

Throughout the guide, authentic student and educator voices highlight the transformative power of inclusive financial education. These stories illustrate how financial learning ripples beyond the classroom, impacting families and creating lasting change.