Bridging the Gap Between the TEKS and the Real World

Jennifer AndersonSenior Vice PresidentJunior Achievement of Southeast Texas, Inc.

1. Overview of Junior Achievement

2. Correlation to the TEKS

3. Using JA to bridge the gaps

Junior Achievement’s Mission:

To educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business, and economics to improve the quality of their lives.

• Junior Achievement Programs are available for Kindergarten through the 12th grade.

• Programs generally supplement social studies

• Programs are facilitated by community volunteers

• Lessons take 20-55 minutes depending on grade level

• Volunteer comes in once a week to present

• Teacher and volunteer are a team who determines the best lessons/presentation/emphasis for their class

• Materials are provided at no cost

• Volunteers and teachers receive training and orientation

• Correlations available for all programs with various curricula

Activity Review

2nd Grade Our Community

6th Grade JA Global Marketplace

12th Grade JA Titan

Third Grade

(3.11) Citizenship. The student understands the impact of individual and group decisions on communities in a democratic society.(A) give examples of community changes that result from individual or group decisions.

Our City, Inside Cities—Students learn about the importance of zones and city planning to a city. They see how zoning decisions affect a community.

(3.8) Economics. The student understands how businesses operate in the U.S. free enterprise system.(A) give examples of how a simple business operates.(B) explain how supply and demand affect the price of a good or service.(C) explain how the cost of production and selling price affect profits.

Our City, Dining Out—Students learn about the free enterprise system and the interdependence of consumers and producers as they examine the choices a restaurant owner must make. They examine a chart to see the demand for various types of food and determine how much to charge for a meal to cover their costs.

(3.9) Geometry and spatial reasoning. The student recognizes congruence and symmetry.(A) identify congruent shapes.(B) create shapes with lines of symmetry using concrete models and technology.(C) identify lines of symmetry in shapes.

Our City, Building a City—Students learn about the concept of scale, take measurements on a blueprint, construct pop-up buildings and place them in the proper location on a floor map.

(5.12) Economics. The student understands the characteristics and benefits of the free enterprise system in the United States.(A) describe the development of the free enterprise system in colonial America and the United States.(B) describe how the free enterprise system works in the United States.(C) give examples of the benefits of the free enterprise system in the United States.

Our Nation, Three Forms of Business—Students learn what business is and examine the forms of business in the U.S. They read a brief article on how business has developed throughout U.S. history.Our Nation—Throughout the program, students learn practical information about the formation and operation of businesses in the U.S. They become aware of the role of business in the free enterprise system, learn the steps involved in starting a business, and develop an understanding of what is involved in producing, marketing, and selling a product.

Fifth Grade

(16) Government. The student understands the goals of economic growth, stability, full employment, freedom, security, equity, and efficiency as they apply to U.S. economic policy.(A) describe the goals of U.S. economic policy.(B) analyze how economic growth, stability, and full employment are measured.

Chapter 2, Free Enterprise in the United StatesChapter 9, Production and ProductivityChapter 12, Government and the U.S. EconomyChapter 14, Economic Stability

Economics

(11) Economics. The student understands the basic concepts of consumer economics.(A) analyze the factors involved in the process of acquiring consumer goods and services including credit, interest, and insurance.(B) compare different means by which savings can be invested and the risks and rewards each poses to the consumer.(C) analyze the economic impact of investing in the stock and bond markets.

Chapter 6, Consumers, Savers, and InvestorsChapter 8, Financing a Business

How can Junior Achievement Help Your Teachers?• By bringing guest speakers into the classroom to reinforce

what the teachers are teaching

• By bringing business and community volunteers into the classroom to share their personal experiences with the students

• By utilizing volunteers to emphasize specific concepts that may be challenging for the students

How can Junior Achievement Help Your Teachers?• New Programs

• Bridge gender gap by bringing role models in non-traditional careers into the classroom

• Bridging ethic gaps by bringing in successful adults to whom the students can relate

• Bridge the technology gap using supplemental CDs provided in new programs

How can Junior Achievement Help Your Teachers?• Using Junior Achievement programs, parents can be

recruited as volunteers and have a structured and defined way to get involved in their child’s learning

• Most importantly – volunteers can show the students the importance and applicability of what they’re learning to their future success in life

Bringing JA to Your School

List of Texas offices in your handouts – contact that office and work with them to bring appropriate

programs to your schools