Additional information
by Crystal Evans (Author)
EmpowerED by Money Talks Edu(TM) is a nationally aligned financial literacy curriculum designed to help students in grades 6-12 understand and master the relationship between mathematics, money management, mindset, and decision-making. Built on the proprietary R.I.C.H.(TM) Instructional Model-Relevant, Informative, Comprehensive, and Helpful-the program connects financial literacy to mathematics, economics, consumer education, and career readiness through culturally responsive instruction and real-world application.
Curriculum FrameworkGrounded in both academic rigor and cultural relevance, EmpowerED by Money Talks Edu(TM) aligns with leading national frameworks, including:
- Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy
- Council for Economic Education (CEE)
- IXL Math Benchmarks
- Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
This alignment ensures lessons meet national benchmarks while supporting cross-curricular integration, instructional flexibility, and measurable student outcomes across math, ELA, social studies, and career-connected learning.
Learning ModelEmpowerED by Money Talks Edu(TM) promotes active learning over memorization. Each lesson is intentionally structured to guide students from concept to application:
- Concept Introduction - Real-world examples that connect mathematical reasoning to everyday financial decisions
- Interactive Simulator ️ - Live, hands-on financial scenarios where students practice budgeting, credit use, saving, and decision-making
- Discussion & Reflection - Guided prompts that build critical thinking, self-awareness, and financial confidence
- Lesson Assessment - Short formative evaluations and reflections to demonstrate understanding and mastery
Students access lessons and simulators through QR-coded digital resources, including worksheets, videos, and interactive tools-blending technology with experiential learning in both classroom and OST environments.
Purpose and ImpactEmpowerED by Money Talks Edu(TM) was created in response to a national need: too many young people graduate without the financial knowledge, habits, or confidence required to navigate credit, budgeting, saving, investing, and long-term planning. The curriculum equips students to break cycles of debt, strengthen numeracy and reasoning skills, and build pathways toward financial independence and economic mobility through applied math, personal finance and career awareness.
