Traquel Dayley | Take Charge Today

Business Educator, Utah

NGPF Distinguished Educator of Personal Finance Award
Utah Tech University Adjunct Instructor
Utah Southwest Region Financial Literacy Coordinator
Utah Jump$tart Fellow
Utah State Board of Education Methods of Teaching Financial Literacy Instructor for Teacher Endorsement
UOS Learning Coach
Presenter - Council for Economic Education
Presenter - Utah $tart $mart Teacher Summit
Presenter - National JumpStart Teacher Conference
USBE Education Consultant/Teacher Trainer
UBCEA Utah's New Business Educator of the Year
NASDAQ National Teaching Award - Region Semi-Finalist
Teacher Scholarship Winner to Attend National Jump$tart Conference
Utah GFL Pilot Teacher and Curriculum Developer

I really appreciate the adaptability of the resources shared by TCT! By using the simple navigation and search tools, I can drill down to find relevant and current teaching tools on nearly any topic I need. They are flexible, concise, and thorough. The Active Learning Tools offered by Take Charge Today are some of my GO TO activities when I am helping teachers with ideas on how to connect with students in a way that is memorable and FUN!
Sharing music and video clips is always a quick way to get students to pay attention AND connect with the content. Music helps students connect through emotion so they FEEL the conversations we have on a different level. Students have a lot to share when comparing songs, too. We discuss how they feel when they hear a song that talks about possessions and greed, then contrast those feelings to those they feel from another song that promotes simple living and no stress. It is a great way to help students recognize the impact of emotions on our financial decisions. Check out the Integrating Music Active Learning Tool.

One unique way to incorporate Take Charge Today into the classroom is by offering interactive simulations. The platform offers a range of simulations that allow students to simulate real-world financial scenarios. Teachers can assign students different roles, such as managing a budget or making investment decisions, and have them navigate through the simulation to understand the consequences of their choices. This hands-on approach not only reinforces financial literacy concepts but also encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Integrating these simulations with technology and digital platforms helps to ensure efficiency and save some time. Breaking down assignments and embedding the pieces into a Google Form is a sure win for saving time grading and making your efforts paperless and digital.

My advice for new TCT users is to start small!! You don't have to use everything all at once, but you have found a gold mine in Take Charge Today! Your mind should be at ease knowing so much work has been done for you. Bend it, mold it, tweak it, and graft it all to be exactly what your students need. Mix it up often so they don't get bored and to keep your own flame burning. You will be so glad you did!

I LOVE FINANCIAL LITERACY! I LOVE TEACHING AND I LOVE SUPPORTING TEACHERS! Sharing powerful teaching strategies, resources, and my teaching experiences absolutely lights me up. I am passionate about helping teachers find the same passion I have for teaching this content. I feel the way to do this is by empowering educators with tools like those they will find at Take Charge Today, as well as a network of support. I want to provide solutions to teacher problems specific to effective teaching strategies for the financial literacy classroom. There is so much to be gained from brainstorming ideas with other teachers and sharing best practices. The opportunity to learn from their diverse experiences and classroom insights, and share with others is invaluable to me.