After 20 years teaching economics in the Bay Area, Judy Smith realized her students were stuck in a loop of bad news. Her unit on economic inequality spent most of its time explaining why the wealth gap exists (the history, the systems, the data) without ever getting to what students could actually do about it. In this NGPF Podcast episode, Smith explains how she reshaped her approach.

The turning point for Smith came when a frustrated student stood up at the end of class and said, "I'm so tired of learning this. I'm so tired. This is all we learn."

The student wasn't tired of school; she was tired of being handed problem after problem with no path forward.

Smith still teaches the "why," but now most of the unit focuses on the "how" and the hope: concrete solutions like affordable housing, raising the minimum wage, and expanding child tax credits.

Her seniors research policy ideas, build infographics, share them with three people, and publish their work on KQED's Youth Media platform.

Pairing personal responsibility with civic engagement, Smith argues, gives students "double agency"—the skills to manage their own money and the voice to push for systemic change.

"They do want to know how to build wealth when you don't start with any," she says.

Listen to the full episode for Smith's curated resources and strategies for navigating tough classroom conversations.

Join Us LIVE Tonight (May 21) with Mike Latham on ETFs and the Path Through Finance

Speaker Series features the former Head of iShares at BlackRock who helped build ETFs from a niche product into a multi-trillion-dollar industry. In this conversation, Mike will demystify ETFs and explain why they matter for every investor, especially first-time ones. He'll also share the story behind his climb from auditor to global business leader, with honest advice for anyone considering a career in finance.

Register now to join the conversation with Mike at 4pm PT/7pm ET. 

About the Author

Hannah Rael

As NGPF's Marketing Communications Manager, Hannah (she/her) helps spread the word about NGPF's mission to improve the financial lives of the next generation of Americans.