The countdown to summer has begun and with it, the chance to finally breathe. Week 2 of the End-of-Year Teacher Toolkit is here to help you take advantage of the rare stretch of time when you're not buried in grading, lesson planning, and meetings. Summer offers the clarity and space to reflect, recharge, and plan ahead without the usual rush.

From live events to flexible online learning, this week’s resources focus on helping you grow professionally, earn recognition, and step into the fall with fresh energy and direction. Let's talk about Planning Ahead and Thinking About Summer, not as one more task, but as a gift of time well spent.

FinCamps: Join Us In Person This Summer

FinCamps are back for another summer of in-person professional development. FinCamps are a FREE full day of in-person professional development where you have the opportunity to dive into NGPF’s curriculum and resources, collaborate with other educators, and get reinvigorated for the classroom.

We’re hosting 27 FinCamps in cities across the country. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a returning veteran, there’s always something new to discover.

Register now and guarantee you get a spot.

Get Certified This Summer: Registration Is Open

Prefer learning at your own pace or from the comfort of home? Our FREE summer Certification Courses are open for registration.

With 11 courses to choose from, start next year with the confidence to teach personal finance topics like:

• Behavioral Economics
• Investing
• Consumer Skills
• Cryptocurrency
• Paying for College

Each course includes 9 hours of instruction and a 1-hour test. They are fully online and available in both live instructor-led and self-paced formats.

Depending on your state, they may also count toward continuing education credits!

Distinguished Educator Awards

Speaking of Certification Courses, did you know that they are at the core of our Distinguished Educator program?

This award recognizes teachers who complete at least six of our Certification Courses. When you achieve Distinguished Educator status, you'll receive:

• A physical NGPF Distinguished Educator plaque for your classroom
• Special recognition on the NGPF website
• An exclusive digital badge for your email and online resume

It’s a great way to showcase your commitment to financial education and receive recognition for your impact in the classroom.

Grant Opportunities: Earn While You Learn

Did you know that NGPF offers grants for educators in certain states who engage with our professional development?

If you teach in Oregon, California, Florida, or Wisconsin, you can earn while you learn! Plus, FinCamps and Certification Courses typically count toward the required hours. 

Visit our grants page to learn about current opportunities.

Start Planning for the New School Year

Now is the perfect time to set the stage for next year. A little planning now can save you hours when the fall gets busy.

Check out these helpful tools:

• Six Steps to Crafting A Pacing Guide to Meet Your Needs - Create your own pacing guide using these six easy steps!
• How to Trim the Semester Course for Shorter Time Frames - Need to adjust our turnkey courses for your classroom or school schedule? Here are some suggestions to make the Semester Course fit your needs.
• Crosswalks (Click the Course Materials tab) - Did you know that we offer crosswalks for 18 states plus the National Standards? These crosswalks show how NGPF's Semester Course aligns with and fulfills state personal finance standards.
• On-Demand Starter Kit - The NGPF On-Demand Starter Pack is a bundle of 12 modules designed to build your fundamental personal finance content knowledge. Set a solid foundation for next school year AND earn NGPF Academy credits!

A strong start begins with a smart plan.

Everything You Need, One Click Away

You can find all of this week’s resources and updates on the End-of-Year Teacher Toolkit Landing Page. It’s the one place to check for every blog post, resource, and planning tool.

Next week, we’ll be back with more tools to help you close out the school year with purpose and ease.

About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.

More posts by Dave