Building Financially Confident Kids: Introducing Mathnasium’s Financial Literacy Foundations Course

Building Financially Confident Kids: Introducing Mathnasium’s Financial Literacy Foundations Course

What if your child could learn more than just how to save money from chores? What if they could learn how money works, how people earn it, how businesses make a profit, how to budget for goals, and how to make smart financial decisions?

At Mathnasium of Center City, we believe math skills go far beyond the classroom. Our new Financial Literacy Foundations Course is designed to help students build the knowledge, confidence, and decision-making skills they need for lifelong financial success.

This is not just a workshop — it is a structured, academic course where students explore real-world money concepts through discussion, problem-solving, and hands-on activities.

A Cohort-Based Learning Experience

The Financial Literacy Foundations Course is a cohort course, meaning students begin and complete the course together. A cohort requires 2–4 students who will participate as a group through all 10 sessions.

Students complete:

• 10 total sessions

• 60 minutes of academic learning

• 30 minutes of hands-on activities

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The course can begin whenever a cohort is ready to start. If you have two students who want to begin together, they can form their own cohort and complete the experience together.

Because this is a group learning experience, all 10 sessions must be scheduled together as a cohort. Students cannot pause the course for vacations, holds, or extended breaks in the middle of the program.

Who Is This Course For?

The Financial Literacy Foundations Course is designed for students in 4th grade and above who have strong reading comprehension skills.

Students should be able to:

• Read at least one page independently

• Understand a written scenario

• Discuss their ideas and opinions with their instructor and fellow cohort member

Our instructors will guide conversations, ask questions, and help students think critically about each scenario — but students are expected to read the materials independently. This course is designed to build independence, confidence, and real-world thinking skills.

What Will Students Learn?

Students begin by exploring their own relationship with money:

“What I know about money…”
“What I want to learn about money…”

From there, students build their financial vocabulary and learn concepts including:

Understanding Money

Students learn:

• What money is and why we use it

• The difference between cash, coins, bills, currency, and change

• How people use money to buy things and pay for services

Jobs, Careers, and Earning Money

Students explore:

• Different types of jobs

• Ways people earn money

• Hourly pay versus salary

• How skills and work can create income opportunities

Some of our students who participated in our previous financial literacy workshops took what they learned and turned it into action — including starting small businesses like lawn mowing or learning skills such as cutting hair to earn extra income.

Banking Basics

Students learn how money works in the banking system:

• Bank accounts

• Checking and savings accounts

• Deposits and withdrawals

• Debit cards and credit cards

• Understanding a bank statement

Needs vs. Wants & Smart Spending

Students learn how to make thoughtful choices by understanding:

• Needs versus wants

• Discounts

• Deals

• Shopping decisions

Budgeting and Goal Setting

Students practice:

• Creating budgets

• Understanding income and expenses

• Saving for goals

• Planning for big purchases

Borrowing, Lending, and Loans

Students discuss:

• Borrowing versus lending

• How loans work

• Making responsible financial decisions

Entrepreneurship and Business Basics

Students explore:

• Revenue

• Expenses

• Profit

• How businesses earn money

More Than a Chore Chart: Preparing Students for Their Future

Many families pair this course with tools like the Greenlight card, which is a great way for students to learn about earning, saving, and managing money from everyday responsibilities.

But financial literacy goes beyond completing chores.

This course helps students understand:

• How money is earned

• How money grows

• How businesses work

• How to set goals

• How to make thoughtful decisions

It helps students move from simply earning money to understanding how to create opportunities with money.

Parents often discover that these conversations also open the door to learning what their children think about money, saving, spending, and their future goals.

Important Note for Mathnasium Families

The Financial Literacy Foundations Course is not a replacement for your student’s regular Mathnasium sessions.

This course is an additional enrichment opportunity designed to complement your student’s math learning by applying math skills to real-life situations.

Students must continue their regular Mathnasium program while participating in Financial Literacy Foundations.

Is This Course a Good Fit for Your Student?

Contact us today to schedule an assessment and discuss whether the Financial Literacy Foundations Course is the right fit for your student.

We are excited to help students build confidence not only with numbers — but with the skills they need to make smart decisions for their future.

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