As a personal finance classroom teacher for 20 years, one of my favorite ways to wrap up my course was an activity inspired by the book The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated by Harold Pollack and Helaine Olen. This capstone activity encourages students to reflect on key lessons they've learned throughout the course - summarized on a single index card. 

The simplicity of the index card activity mirrors the approach of the book, which condenses personal finance advice into ten straightforward rules. It's a powerful way for students to engage in self-reflection and consolidate their understanding of personal finance concepts. 

Interested in trying this activity with your students? 

• Access the details of the activity here. Feel free to "make a copy" and customize it to use with your students. 
• Learn more about the activity in this blog post. 

Special Event: Meet Harold Pollack, Author of The Index Card We're thrilled to welcome Harold Pollack to this week's NGPF Speaker Series! Pollack's book is celebrated for simplifying complex financial concepts, empowering readers to take control of their financial futures. His ability to condense essential financial advice into ten actionable rules that fit on a single index card makes personal finance accessible to everyone.  Register to join the conversation with Harold on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 4pm PT/7pm ET.  Don't miss this exciting session! Plus, attendees will have a chance to win one of 50 copies of The Index Card in our book raffle!

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About the Author

Amanda Volz

Amanda joins the NGPF Team with over 20 years of experience teaching personal finance. During that time, she led her students to hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships, won multiple awards, and most importantly, impacted the financial lives of thousands of high school students. Amanda prides herself on being an educational leader and is constantly looking for innovative ways to make the classroom relevant, rigorous, and fun. She is a passionate advocate for financial education and has been a long-time member of the NGPF community. Fun fact - Amanda was NGPF’s first teacher account! When Amanda isn’t working, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and traveling with her husband and two children.