Teaching Economics in the Primary Grades: Standards and Strategies

36 Pages Posted: 24 Jun 2004

See all articles by Yana van der Meulen Rodgers

Yana van der Meulen Rodgers

Rutgers University - School of Management and Labor Relations

Shelby Hawthorne

Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School

Ronald C. Wheeler

College of William and Mary - School of Education

Date Written: June 2004

Abstract

Primary-grade students can gain exposure to the full range of economic concepts in state standards if teachers use reading-based strategies that embrace children's literature with economic content. This approach allows teachers to simultaneously teach their students to read and to understand economics. Our state-by-state survey indicates that almost all states have content standards in economics beginning with kindergarten. However, only six states have standards that earn an A in our "State Grade for Completeness." In evaluating reading-based strategies to teach these standards, we identify more than two hundred picture books and easy readers that focus on economics. Despite the appeal of teaching economics through literature, there is not enough assessment of reading-based strategies and new assessments should be attempted in the early grades.

JEL Classification: A21, J13, Z11

Suggested Citation

Rodgers, Yana van der Meulen and Hawthorne, Shelby and Wheeler, Ronald C., Teaching Economics in the Primary Grades: Standards and Strategies (June 2004). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=558022 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.558022

Yana van der Meulen Rodgers (Contact Author)

Rutgers University - School of Management and Labor Relations ( email )

94 Rockafeller Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854
United States
732-932-3499 (Phone)
732-932-1335 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://https://smlr.rutgers.edu/faculty-staff/yana-van-der-meulen-rodgers

Shelby Hawthorne

Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School ( email )

3131 Ironbound Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185
United States
757-221-0949 (Phone)
757-229-1591 (Fax)

Ronald C. Wheeler

College of William and Mary - School of Education ( email )

P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
United States
757-221-2348 (Phone)
757-221-2988 (Fax)

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