Educational Resources

During these constantly changing times, we want to make sure our youth members can continue to boost their knowledge! We have gathered some of our favorite youth resources to get you started. Along with the new resources below is CommonCents, our financial education program that is offered year-round to students in our community. We hope that these resources and activities can help provide your family with some inspiration.

EVERFI Family Portal

CommonWealth has partnered with EVERFI to provide financial education as part of our community engagement efforts. Today, we are delighted to be able to offer EVERFI’s full suite of K-12 courses to your families! Based on your child’s school, there are 100+ Interactive, self-paced, game-based, digital lessons to equip your child with skills for life such as character development, mental wellness, understanding Money
Digital Wellness and Safety, and MUCH MORE!

Signing up is easy! Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Visit the EVERFI Family Portal
2. Scroll down and click “Find Your School and Register”
3. Enter your state and your child’s school name
4. Register as a “Student/Learner”
5. Receive the full catalog of age-appropriate courses for your child

Whether your child is in Elementary School, Middle School, or High School, click here to bring learning to life at home!

Click here to visit the CommonCents website.

HERE ARE SOME FREE EDUCATIONAL APPS

• Scholastic - The leading educational company has set up a “Learn From Home” website with free daily courses for kids ages K-12
• Neoufitness - Help your kids stay fit through the pandemic with this super-fun fitness app for kids ages 4-12. The app offers a selection of 10-20 minute exercise classes and is free for the first 30 days.
• SmartMusic - The popular music practice app is offering free service through June 30 for all schools impacted by COVID-19. The app includes practice tools like a tuner, metronome, and fingerings, along with an extensive music library and immediate assessment of pitch and rhythm.
• World of Cents - The NCUA’s free money app is the perfect way to teach your kids about personal finances. They’ll learn all about earning, spending, saving and more through the app’s fun games designed for kids ages 5-10.

Click here for a full list of educational apps.

ACTIVITIES TO MAKE THE TIME FLY!

It isn’t easy to be holed up at home with only your family for company. As the parent, you have the unique opportunity to set the tone in your home and decide if these weeks will be a nightmare for everyone or filled with precious memory-making and family bonding activities.

Here are some fun activities to keep your kids busy while you wait out the pandemic at home:

• Marshmallow Tinker-Toys - For a fun twist on the classic building toy, take pretzel sticks and mini-marshmallows and let your child build a world of sweetness. Have them create pretzel-marshmallow people, houses, and entire towns. When they’re done, they can eat their sweet creations!
• Scrapbook - Spend some quality time reliving precious memories by digging out the scrapbooking supplies and old photos for creating a timeless masterpiece.
• Teach a Household Skill - Instead of feeling the stress from endless housework, enlist your child’s help! Even very small children can help sort laundry, load the washing machine and press the buttons to turn it on. Have the older ones help bake, letting them put their math skills to use by adding fractions in recipes.
• Simon Says, “Draw!” - Set up a table with paper, crayons, markers, stamps and any other fun coloring supplies you have. Seat your kids around the table and begin an intense game of Simon Says, only instead of movements, instruct your kids to draw something. You can have them draw basic shapes in specific colors or something more complex if they’re a little older. If anyone messes up, they’re out!

Click here for more ideas.

Welcome to CommonWealth’s WealthMatters – Where your financial well-being matters to us. Here you will find a fun interactive learning experience that provides financial tools and tips to boost your knowledge, and help put you on the path to financial success!

Click here to start your financial journey today on WealthMatters!

Connect to BALANCE

These days managing your money to meet life's many demands may seem difficult and confusing. But through a partnership with BALANCE, you--as a CommonWealth member--may seek information and advice on money management, saving and spending plans, housing, credit reports, and debt repayment options.

This is a free online resource that also features educational modules on the core aspects of personal financial management, such as Checking Account Management, 10 Steps to Financial Success, Smart Tax Planning, and more! By completing these courses, you can move toward financial success while demonstrating your commitment to sound money management.

Click here to visit the BALANCE website and sign up for your BALANCE account.

Upcoming Webinars

October — Retirement Planning: The Basics
Retirement is something most people look forward to, but may not have planned well in advance. Participants will learn how to harness the power of time, optimize investments to reach their long-term goals, and understand how the economy and taxes can impact their retirement dollars.

Click here to sign up for either session.

November — Building a Better Budget 
Everyone wants control over their financial lives, but how do we get it? In one word: budget. It’s the most powerful weapon to get a more secure future. Participants will identify their short- and long-term goals and learn how to design realistic spending and savings plans to reach those objectives, including options for getting out of debt (and staying there). 

Click here to sign up for either session.