2024 REAL Conference Session Descriptions

Presenter: Lisa Taylor
Master Economics Teacher, Springdale
Audience: K-2, 3-5

Presenters: Dr. Philip Tew & Melanie Ricker
Arkansas State University
Audience: K-12

During this presentation, the A-State Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy will discuss the nine (9!!) competitions hosted by the A-State Center during the 2024-25 year. The competitions include hands-on workshops on the A-State campus with some having cash prizes for students and teachers. Competitions and workshops allow for students to see how economics and personal finance work "in the real world".

Presenter: Dr. Kristin Mann
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Audience: K-12

How is artificial intelligence affecting our world today? When should it be used and how? What factors should we consider when making decisions about AI? In this session, participants will apply economic decision-making skills to the use of AI.

Audience: K-12

Presenter: Jeannette Bennett
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Audience: K-12

How do you fill your classroom with students who are eager to learn and want to learn more? Build a foundation using facts from the building and construction of what made America. This session uses stories of the building of Mount Rushmore, which began in 1927, and the Empire State Building, which began in 1929, as creative ideas for building monumental learning. Along with the elements of danger and bravery, these two stories are packed, not only with the historical information, but also with economics. The construction brings to life economic concepts—jobs, work, income, productivity, wages, human resources, capital resources, goods, unemployment and more! And the math brings reality– dollars, feet, inches, pounds. Attendees will receive FREE access to a free, ready-to-go lesson plan with ideas that can bring a REAL and powerful inquiry into economics and US history in YOUR classroom.

Presenter: Penny Toombs
A-STATE Heritage Sites
Audience: K-12

This session will include how to incorporate economics, history, creative writing, music, and more into your curriculum! Lessons for all ages will be covered, including how to use our Heritage Sites (Johnny CASH Boyhood Home, Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum, and Lakeport Plantation) in your classroom.

Presenter: Jennifer Taunton
Master Economics Teacher, Springdale
Audience: 3-5, 6-8

Ready for a new way to teach barter? Catan is the way to go. Whether your students are seasoned Catan players or need to start with Catan Junior, settle in for a fun way to teach trade.

Tracy Floyd
Master Economics Teacher, Mena
Audience: K-5

In this session teachers will hear about several quick, easy to implement lessons and activities that can be used when you only have 10 minutes or less. There is no need to stop what you're doing. Econ can fit into any schedule!

Presenter: Bud Hamley-Wallace
Master Economics Teacher, Fort Smith
Audience: 9-12

The pd will focus on creating a classroom budget program where students with IEPs in a Self-Contained Class get a budget weekly for good work and being good class members. The students track their money and how they spend their money and then can spend it on special class days. This creates an ongoing way for them to understand monthly bills and surprise budget they may not consider until it is to late.

Presenter: April Blackburn
Master Economics Teacher, Bigelow
Audience: K-2, 3-5

Have you ever wondered what goes into making a theme park successful? How DOES Disney and all the others do it? What jobs and decisions go into making a successful amusement park? For this session, you will find out how one teacher opened her students up to the world of theme parks and the economics behind it. This unit involved a ROLLER COASTER of an ending project! Come find out how!

Presenter: Jessica Culver
Master Economics Teacher, Ozark
Audience: K-12

Using the New York Historical Society's "Women and the American Story" free resources, participants will discover the many ways that economics and women's history go together. Encompassing lessons including art, geography, history, science, and more, "Women and the American Story" brings economics to life within the classroom through a variety of topics and time periods.

Presenter: Val Harp
Master Economics Teacher, Hackett
Audience: K-5

Attention all Peter Reynolds fans! Have you read The Table, Going Places, So Few of Me, Sydney’s Star, and Rose’s Garden? This session addresses the economic concepts that can be addressed with these books and discovers activities and STEM projects to accompany them. Learn the importance of a kitchen table and how a family reconnects by producing one. Discover the excitement of science fairs and go-kart competitions, and delve into gardening. Let’s have FUN!

Presenters: Ann Clements
HumanitiesAR
Audience: K-12

Come learn about all the AHC's exciting K-12 programs, professional development seminars and grants for your classroom in this informative presentation.

Presenter: Dr. Marion Dunagan
Young Entrepreneurship Institute
Audience: K-12

This conference session presents entrepreneurship's benefits to youth by dispelling myths and highlighting strategies for integrating real-world entrepreneurship into classrooms. Entrepreneurship education fosters teamwork, decision-making, problem-solving, communication, and analysis, all skills highly valued by employers. It also enhances student readiness and engagement. Attendees will learn about free K-12 resources, training, and technical assistance available from Young Entrepreneur Institute.

Presenter: Joel Miller
Foundation for Economic Education
Audience: 6-8, 9-12

Discover the excitement of "Econ101: Taylor's Version" in our dynamic session! This innovative resource is designed for educators of the new Economics with Personal Finance course, blending major economic concepts with a musical twist appreciated by Swifties and music enthusiasts alike. Engage with activities from our 30-lesson workbook and elevate your teaching toolkit. Join us for an interactive experience and exclusive access to these free instructional materials.

Presenter: Amy Ricardo
Master Economics Teacher, Bryant
Audience: 9-12

In a mixed market economy, Producers, consumers, and the government are key players. Econoland, a CEE simulation, offers students a hands-on experience understanding the flow of money, resources, goods, and services. Participants act as firms or households, engaging in factor market resource exchanges and product market transactions. This practical session includes a slide presentation for teaching the concept before the activity.

Presenter: Joel Miller
Foundation for Economic Education
Audience: 6-8, 9-12

Unlock the potential of your students with our comprehensive session on career exploration. They'll delve into different professions, examining educational paths, necessary skills, salary expectations, and job growth prospects. Interactive discussions, a career interest survey, and diverse resources will guide them to align their aspirations with achievable career options, providing a foundation for making informed decisions about their future. Equip your students for success as they reflect on their strengths and passions.

Presenter: Hannah Vogler
Arkansas STEM Coalition
Audience: K-12

Have you ever wanted to apply for a grant but didn’t know what to do? Come learn the basics of applying for grants. We will go through the application process from start to finish, review some potential grants for Arkansas teachers and schools, and walk through applications for The Arkansas STEM Coalition’s $10,000 Excellence in STEM Education Grant (3rd-6th only) AND Blue & You Foundation Mini-Grants (all ages) as examples.

Presenter: Jamie Garmon
Master Economics Teacher, Little Rock
Audience: K-2

Presenter: Michelle Jackson
Master Economics Teacher, Siloam Springs
Audience: 9-12

Student apathy can be a challenge for many teachers and can often seem out of our control. This session will focus on what we CAN control in terms of building relationships - student voice and choice - content relevancy - and classroom environment in the Economics classroom. I will share how I have personally used these throughout my teaching career to motivate and inspire students.

Presenter: Johnny Caststeel
Master Economics Teacher, Mountain Home
Audience: 9-12

In this activity, I want to show the benefits of long-term investing and decision-making. I do this in class when teaching retirement planning with 401k and IRA calculators and the accumulated cost of luxury (and often unnecessary) purchases. I also tie the total cost of addictions. The key terminology includes cost-benefit analysis, Rule of 72, opportunity cost, and compounded interest.

Presenter: Rob Sanchez
Izzit.org
Audience: 6-12

Travel the world with your students without leaving Arkansas! izzit.org®️'s Virtual International Field Trip blends video learning with interdisciplinary studies in economics, world cultures, geography, and social studies. Ideal for in-class or extra-credit assignments, students will receive personal passports for their journey. Foster a love for travel and learning with this unique and engaging teaching tool.

Presenter: Terra Aquia
Pulaski County Special School District
Audience: K-12

Economists love to talk about trade. Why is that? The world is a chaotic place. Canadians want oranges in the middle of winter and have no way to efficiently grow them on their own. Trading is a way to encourage Florida orange grove owners to produce more than they, their family and friends could ever eat to give to people who are then able to do other things. During this session, we will discuss relationships between local and global economic systems, how trade creates wealth, and how markets emerge.

Presenter: Lisa Byrum
Economics Arkansas
Audience: 9-12

Are you looking for all the right tools to help students be financially fit for life? Come to this session and fill your toolkit with engaging lessons and resources that will help your students build a firm foundation of financial literacy! Don't miss this chance to enhance your teaching toolkit and prepare for the upcoming academic year!

Presenter: Dr. Jeni Logan
Southern Arkansas University
Audience: 9-12

Economics Math-O-Grams work like crossword puzzles for economic math problems. Fill in the blanks by calculating answers and practicing your economic formulas for savings and costs. Have fun with math and get some great practice.

Presenter: Arkansas PBS
Audience: K-2

In this session, participants will learn about Arkansas's PBS series, Mystery League, and how they may use the episodes and resources to promote community engagement and social studies for K-2 grade students.

Presenter: Amanda Colclasure
Old State House Museum
Audience: K-12

See the extraordinary effigy pots and vessels made by pre-historic Arkansans that were found in our state. Learn about Arkansas's main tribes and how they lived in our state. Make your own effigy head pot!

Presenter: Lisa Byrum
Economics Arkansas
Audience: 9-12

Ahoy, High School Educators! Let’s chart a course through the waters of GDP, CPI, and unemployment. In this interactive session, our economic compass will guide us through these macroeconomic indicators that are used to analyze a country’s economic health. In our journey, we will explore how advances in technology and investment in human capital and in capital goods impact economic growth and standards of living. So, hoist the anchor and join me!

Presenter: Cassie Harris
Master Economics Teacher, Hot Springs
Audience: 6-8, 9-12

Is this your first year to teach financial literacy and do not know where to start? This session is for you! This session will provide fun and engaging resources to help you teach personal finance in your classroom.

Presenter: Andrea Lewis
First Security Bank
Audience: K-2, 3-5

Presenters: Dr. Philip Tew & Melanie Ricker
Arkansas State University
Audience: 8-12

Presenters: James Rouse
Arkansas Securities Department
Audience: K-12

Presenter: Andrea Caceres-Santamaria
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Audience: K-2, 3-5

Learn ways to "sneak" economic concepts and personal finance concepts into your existing reading, math, and social studies elementary curriculum. This engaging session will incorporate resources, lessons, strategies, and simulations from the Federal Reserve, that bring economics and personal finance concepts and stories to life for students.

Presenter: Brittney Reynolds
Museum of Discovery
Audience: K-12

Explore how STEAM learning and Economics intersect in the real world in this hands-on session with the Museum of Discovery. Leave with a ready-to-go activity and the resources you need to confidently lead STEAM activities in your classroom. Participants will become the learners themselves in this session and build their own city using real urban planning strategies. Discover how all STEAM learning can be scaffolded and tailored to your classroom needs.

Presenter: Amy Mileham
Master Economics Teacher, Rogers
Audience: 3-5

America's pastime is also a great way to learn about economics! There are so many decisions to be made and lessons to be learned within the sport of baseball. In this session, you will hear about many books and hands-on lessons for teaching basic economics, all with the baseball theme! Leave with tons of ideas to use in your classroom.

Presenter: Terry Isringhouse
Master Economics Teacher, Forest City
Audience: K-2, 3-5

Using Children's Literature, you will learn how to teach children the ABCs of Economics. Using hands-on activities, you will learn about consumers and producers, needs and unlimited wants, scarcity, opportunity cost, supply and demand, entrepreneurs, and so much more. You will receive ready-to-use activities for your classroom.

Presenter: Dr. Tom Woodruff
Master Economics Teacher
Audience: 6-8, 9-12

Participants will relive this television show favorite! Can you guess the price of these products....2023 Toyota Platinum? Blackstone Grill? Round trip airfare to Hawaii? Hahaha! Our products will be much easier.....customer benefits, pricing, branding, and competition are some of the economic terms discussed and each participant will have a neat takeaway gift. Come and enjoy!

Presenter: Terra Aquia
Pulaski County Special School District
Audience: 6-12

We live in an increasingly connected world. We trade goods, services, knowledge, and more on a global scale, and this increase has led to an increase in individual wealth and a decline in global poverty rates over the past century. How is this possible? Adam Smith asked this very question in his key work, the Wealth of Nations. During this session, participants will learn about a variety of resources and classroom activities that can be used to talk about globalization and trade in the classroom.