Winter 2007

The latest news and
information about the
BizWorld Foundation.

Happy New Year!
New Year's Resolution #1
Teach BizWorld and BizWiz (again!)

Dear Educators,

Happy New Year! We hope this newsletter finds you well rested after a healthy and happy holiday season, and eager to begin the winter session. As you start implementing your New Year resolutions, we hope that amongst the first to do is teach The BizWorld Foundation's programs again, or encourage your teacher friends to teach it for the first time! And this semester present two wonderful opportunities to teach the programs while engaging your students with two national recognized events supporting innovative education: 2nd National Entrepreneurship Week and Financial Literacy Month in April, 2008.

In this issue, we are pleased to share with you the following:

• Results from our BizWorld Impact Study
• National Entrepreneurship Week Pizza Party Raffle, February, 2008
• Financial Literacy Month, April 2008
• Teacher Spotlight: Patti Edwards, Meridian, Mississippi
• The BizWorld Foundation Utah BizKid Awardees

Thank you for your continued support and best wishes for a wonderful 2008!

All the best,

Ana Blanco
Director of Programs

The methodology was based on a self-evaluation test conducted at the end of the BizWorld course, students from across the country in grades 3rd through 8th participated. Teachers and parents also provided feedback on their observations of their student's overall learning experience. In summary, the study concluded that the BizWorld program delivers results! Here's what we learned:

• Financial Education: 72% of students enhanced their knowledge of balancing a budget, understanding interest rates and loans, and perceiving consequences of poor financial decisions
• Academic Improvement: 62% of students improved their skills and gained knowledge in math, social studies and English.
• Entrepreneurship and Business: 70% of students improved their understanding of business, manufacturing, production, and raising capital
• Teamwork and Communications: 69% of students improved their ability to speak up in group discussions, make team decisions and resolve conflicts.

Thank you to those teachers and students who participated in the survey and for contributing to the success of the BizWorld program. Please continue to submit your Pre and Post Test from your course guide so we can continue to track your student's improvement and we can improve our programs! And you'll get a free string refill!

Mary Arnold's class, last year's pizza party winners, celebrates Entrepreneurship Week

Interested in learning more? Call Kristen at 415-503-5880.

The bill was introduced by Congressman Hinojosa of Texas, and received bipartisan support by 118 members of Congress. "It is imperative that we pay more attention to the financial literacy rates of our citizens from pre-kindergarten all the way to retirement," said Hinojosa. "The sooner that a person begins to learn good saving habits, the better off he or she will be in the future."

One of the main purposes of Resolution 273 is to provide teachers with the necessary tools to empower their students with a financial education. The BizWorld Foundation's BizWiz program is the perfect way to observe and celebrate "Financial Literacy Month" in your classroom! We encourage you to inform your students of this nationwide observance by teaching BizWiz in April. Look for more upcoming suggestions from The BizWorld Foundation on how to engage your students in developing this important life skill.

To learn more about the BizWiz program, check out our Web site at www.bizworld.org or call
1-888-4Bizkids.

Poplar Springs Elementary School boys hard at work!

As Patti explains, "I love teaching 'real life' experiences with my students because it just seems so much more meaningful." After teaching the BizWorld program to her 5th grade class, Patti went above and beyond the BizWorld teacher manual and found ways to incorporate members of the Meridian community with the program, bringing the concepts of business and entrepreneurship to life. "We involved a city business leader who teaches small business development, so the students could see the connection between what's in a book and an actual person, "says Patti. "We got the whole school involved with our project as we turned it into a fundraiser for a local kitchen that serves the homeless."

As the fifth grade students worked tirelessly to make friendship bracelets for the fundraiser, Patti noticed "the excitement grew as we set our expectations high and met them." In the end, 130 bracelets were made and sold for fifty cents each, with all proceeds going to support Love's Kitchen in Meridian. Patti and her students are truly an inspiration and a wonderful reminder of how far teaching "real life" experiences can take a classroom.

BizKid Award recipients with E.J. "Jake"Garn, former U.S. Senator and astronaut

The BizWorld Foundation hosted the First Annual Utah Education Event on Tuesday, November 13th, sponsored by Zions Bank. The first BizKid Award of $500 was presented to Tayler and Eliza Katoa of Salt Lake City, Utah. The BizKid Award recognizes outstanding young Utah entrepreneurs who have participated in the BizWorld program and have gone on to start their own business venture. This past summer, Tayler and Eliza, 3rd and 6th grade students at North Layton Preparatory Academy, participated in BizWorld facilitated by the Utah State Extension Services in Salt Lake City. Excited about their new knowledge of business and entrepreneurship, Tayler and Eliza started their own lending business, the America Bank and Trust. "I am proud of myself as a kid starting a business and winning the BizWorld Award. We won it, and it's going to help us make more money. It makes me feel good, happy, confident and supported. We can keep on moving like a businessman," said Tayler and Eliza.

Guests were treated to a special keynote address by former U.S. Senator and astronaut, E.J. "Jake"Garn. Currently a strong advocate of small business in his various roles as a public servant, Senator Garn said, "The BizWorld programs motivate students by giving them the knowledge and skills needed to establish a foundation for a future of financial responsibility and economic independence.”

The BizWorld Foundation is on YouTube!

Click here to see our programs in action!

Look for The BizWorld Foundation expo booth at these conferences around the country:

California Association for the Gifted
Anaheim, CA
February 15-17, 2008

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Conference
New Orleans, LA
March 13-17, 2008

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference
Salt Lake City, UT
April 9-12, 2008

Are you interested in teaching the BizWorld or BizWiz program to your peers?

Get involved with the Teacher Advocacy Program (TAP) and look for fellow BizWorld teachers at the following conferences:

Greater San Diego Math Conference
San Diego, CA
February 1-2, 2008

California League of Middle Schools
Sacramento, CA
February 29, 2008

For more information on the TAP program, please contact Kristen:
kristen.mjoseth@bizworld.org