The Office of Economic Education is dedicated to increasing the quality and quantity of economic education in the 91³Ô¹Ï region. It accomplishes this mission by offering programs for students and training for educators in grades K - 12 to become better teachers of economics.
Sheryl Szot Gallaher,
Director
Phone: 708.534.4926ÌýEmail: sgallaher@govst.eduÌý Ìý
ÌýOpportunities promoted by the Office of Economic Education include:
- Fall and Spring conferences, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, for teachers of grades 6 – 12: Topics of current interest are discussed by experts, and teachers learn how to apply concepts in their classrooms.
- Economics Poster Contest for students in grades 1 – 8: Students illustrate economics concepts and are eligible for cash prizes and a chance for their drawing to appear in a statewide calendar.
- Teach Children to Save Day for students in grades1 - 3: Bankers visit classrooms and read to students from books about saving. During the 45-minute session, the banker engages students in activities to enhance their understanding of why it’s important to save.ÌýÌý Ìý
- The Stock Market Game for students in grades 5 – 12: The Stock Market Game is an on-line investing simulation that encourages students to work in teams, buying stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Real-time trading with $100,000 of imaginary money allows students to use research skills in choosing their investment options.
- Graduate courses: The Office of Economic Education offers a number of graduate level courses for teachers who want to enhance their teaching of economics concepts. Courses are designed at all levels, from kindergarten to twelfth grade.
- Workshops: Economic Education workshops are conducted periodically. These workshops target different grade levels and focus on strategies for teaching economics principles in reading, math and social studies classes.