Programs

Our Programs

Stavros Center Programs, Workshops and Seminars

The Stavros Center hosts numerous *FREE* professional development opportunities throughout the school year and summer for K-12 educators. The workshops are aimed at arming teachers with tools for implementing economic education and financial literacy curriculum into their classrooms. Subject areas vary from Science, Social Science, Civics, Economics, Math, Sustainability and more.

We distribute flyers through district contacts within 6 surrounding counties including: Hillsborough, Polk, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota. 

We look forward to having you join us for these exciting professional development activities. Below you will find a list of current programs and workshops for educators. For more information about upcoming workshops and seminars, or to be added to our mailing list, please contact us.

Every workshop has a Registration Survey under the information. One week before the workshop you have registered for, you will receive a confirmation email that includes details and parking information. Additionally, a reminder is sent the day before. In person workshops are held at USF Tampa in the Stavros Center (4111 USF Willow Dr. Tampa, Fl. 33620) from 5:30pm-8:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursday. Virtual Workshops vary.

Spring 2025 schedule and Survey links:

  • Tuesday, January 14, 2025 (5:30pm-8:30pm) USF Stavros Center 4111 USF Willow Dr. Tampa, Fl. 33620

"Classroom Economy":

Implement a classroom economy system during this school year. These resources are free to teachers and appropriate for K-12.It鈥檚 an excellent tool for teaching financial responsibility along with positive classroom behavior, and students will enjoy it. These resources integrate well with positive behavior intervention systems (PBIS),

The concept of a classroom economy is a proven strategy for teaching children key life skills through experiential learning. The concept was tested in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The studies there proved that students in the program increased financial knowledge, improved budgeting behaviors, and had more in-home conversations about money.

Using classroom 鈥渃urrency,鈥� students earn money for doing jobs, arriving on time, attending school, completing work, and other positive behaviors, and pay rent for their desks. They can earn bonus cash by participating in extracurricular activities, helping others, and earning excellent grades. On the other hand, students who don鈥檛 meet classroom expectations will be fined some of their classroom dollars. That could happen, for example, if they don鈥檛 complete assignments or don鈥檛 listen when other students are speaking. The classroom economy helps students learn valuable life skills such as organization, the value of saving, and delayed gratification. Rather than being told about the importance of these skills, they actually experience them.

We鈥檒l also have a little fun with it. After paying rent, students can save money to spend on privileges and popular items. The students will enjoy it, and I know you will appreciate the skills and knowledge they learn along the way.

Registration Coming Soon!

  • Thursday, January 23, 2025 (5:30pm-8:30pm) USF Stavros Center 4111 USF Willow Dr. Tampa, Fl. 33620

"Economic Escape Room":

Have your financial literacy lessons gotten boring? Are you ready to escape? Are your students? Learn how to make your financial literacy lessons more engaging, challenging, and fun by creating classroom escape rooms. Escape rooms can be created using hands-on tools in the classroom, through virtual platforms, or through a combination of both. Escape rooms are a fantastic way to engage students, fostering teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while they navigate financial literacy concepts and challenges. By the end of this training you'll be equipped with creative strategies to make financial literacy not only educational but also fun and memorable for your students. Let's unlock the potential of learning together!
We encourage participants to bring their laptops to this training.

Registration Coming Soon!

  • Tuesday, January 28, 2025 (5:30pm-8:30pm) USF Stavros Center 4111 USF Willow Dr. Tampa, Fl. 33620

"Thinking Classrooms":

Empower students to think critically and solve real-world financial challenges in this interactive workshop designed for educators teaching grades K-12. Centered on Florida's financial literacy standards, this session will explore the "Thinking Classroom" model to create dynamic, student-centered learning environments that promote deep understanding and active problem-solving. Participants will learn how to design and facilitate financial literacy lessons rooted in authentic, real-life scenarios. Topics will include budgeting, credit, investments, and financial decision-making, with a focus on collaborative group work, inquiry-based learning, and reflective discussions. Practical strategies and tools for implementing these methods across various grade levels will also be provided. By integrating real-world problems into your curriculum, you can engage students in meaningful ways, encouraging them to think critically about financial concepts and develop skills they鈥檒l use throughout their lives. Join us to discover how a Thinking Classroom can transform financial literacy education into a powerful tool for student success.

Registration Coming Soon!

 

Stavros Center Mailing List

Sign-up to receive emails about future events and activities hosted by the Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education.