The Learning Center

West Coast educators, this PD's for you! Spend a Summer Saturday in San Diego turning economics into the foundation of great personal finance teaching.

Don't Forget the Economics in Your Personal Finance Classes!

Economics Meets Real Life: A Unified Approach to Personal Finance and Economic Education
📅 Saturday, June 27, 2026 | 9 AM to 3 PM 📍 Southeastern Live Well Center, 5101 Market Street, San Diego 92114
💵 $125 STIPEND + 6 continuing education hours

The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), and izzit.org are teaming up with the San Diego Center for Economic Education to help teachers weave economic thinking into personal finance instruction through real-world lessons and ready-to-use classroom strategies.

You'll walk away with ready-to-use curriculum and practical activities that are easy to implement.
⏳ Limited to the first 40 teachers. A refundable $25 deposit holds your spot and is returned in full when you attend the full event.
👉 Details and registration: https://teachers.fee.org/pages/sandiego

Are you an educator passionate about bringing the principles of a free society into your classroom? Consider applying for FEE’s prestigious Teacher Fellowship.

Designed to fit seamlessly alongside your full-time teaching career, this selective one-year cohort is an incredible opportunity to deepen your content knowledge, grow your pedagogical skills, and design a signature project that leaves a lasting impact on your community.

Why Become a Teacher Fellow?

👍 $1,000 stipend upon successful completion
👍In-person summer retreat in Washington, D.C (July 20–24, 2026)
👍Access to a national network of like-minded educators and the FEE Alumni community
👍 Structured, self-paced preparatory modules to build your foundational knowledge

Don’t wait to advance your career and bring economics to life in your classroom and community.
Applications close May 25. Learn more and apply today: https://fee.org/teacher-fellowship

The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) is officially accepting applications for the 2026 Teacher Fellowship! This is a premier opportunity for educators to deepen their expertise, build a national network, and bring high-impact economic literacy to their classrooms.

TEACHER FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE:
In-Person Retreat: A 4-day, all expenses paid intensive at the University of Maryland (July 20–24, 2026), including a day trip to Washington, D.C.
Professional Growth: Engage with foundational texts and enduring ideas while learning modern pedagogical skills.
Collaborative Network: Join a selective cohort of like-minded educators and gain access to the FEE Alumni community.
Financial Award: Fellows receive a $1,000 stipend upon successful completion of the program.

Key Details
Deadline: Priority Applications close May 25, 2026.

Who should apply? Dedicated K-12 teachers and faculty committed to teaching the principles of a free society.

Theme: "Economics that Inspired Humanity’s Great Enrichment."

How to Get Involved: Do you know a transformative educator who deserves this opportunity? Or are you ready to elevate your own instructional craft?

Apply or Nominate Here: https://fee.org/teacher-fellowship/

Let’s make the 250th anniversary of our nation a year of renewed intellectual discovery.

⚽🌎The FIFA World Cup is more than just stunning goals, penalty kicks, and roaring crowds. It is one of the biggest economic spectacles on the planet, where billions of dollars are at stake long before the opening whistle blows. From sky-high ticket prices and million-dollar advertisements to tourism, entrepreneurship, and global trade, the World Cup is packed with real-world economics and business. In the latest Economic Marvels, we’ll “kick around” concepts like supply and demand, incentives, opportunity cost, and the power of markets. You’ll also explore whether hosting mega-events is truly a winning investment for taxpayers, or if some countries end up getting a financial “red card.” Get ready to see how the beautiful game connects to the fascinating world of economics and business!

In this America's 250th Economic Marvels Special Edition, we are taking a magical look at one of the greatest entrepreneurs in American history! Did you know that when Walt Disney first pitched the idea of a full-length animated film, Hollywood insiders laughed at him and called it "Disney's Folly"? Yet “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” went on to become the highest grossing film of 1937. 🐭While Walt was drawing cartoons for the screen, he was also drawing a blueprint for what American innovation, creativity, and sheer determination could build from the ground up! From a small Kansas City art studio to a multi-billion dollar empire spanning theme parks, television networks, and motion pictures, Walt proved that when you combine a dream with relentless hard work, the results are nothing short of enchanting. 🏰 Get ready to explore how one man's attention to detail, refusal to quit, and ability to spot opportunities nobody else could see helped shape both American entertainment and the American economy!

This week's Economic Marvels 250th Edition is titled Corn Dog Capitalism 🌭, where we're about to batter your understanding of economics and prove that the greatest ideas in American history are sometimes fried to perfection! For over 80 years, the Fletcher family has been turning a simple corn dog into a $5 million, 24-day empire at the largest state fair in the country. The story of how they did it is packed with business and economics concepts you need to know 🤑 Fletcher's Corny Dogs serves up a masterclass in what makes the American free market economy the most powerful wealth-generating machine the world has ever seen. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, there is no better time to ask why this country produces more innovation, more entrepreneurship, and more opportunity than anywhere else on earth, and the answer might just be hiding inside a perfectly battered corn dog. So grab your mustard (never your ketchup) and get ready to discover some Corn Dog Capitalism.

Do you really need that… or were you influenced to want it? 💭💸

In this Financial Empowerment lesson, students dive into The Psychology of Spending—unpacking impulse buying, FOMO, and the hidden ways ads, emotions, and social media shape our choices. From real-life scenarios to self-reflection, this activity helps build smarter habits and stronger financial awareness.

Because every dollar has a purpose—and every decision adds up.

Access this lesson and more at teachers.fee.org!

Celebrating 50 years of ideas, innovation, and impact 🎉

The APEE 50th Meeting brought together scholars, educators, and students in Las Vegas to explore The History of Private Enterprise Education. From engaging breakout sessions to prestigious awards and meaningful conversations, this milestone event highlighted the enduring importance of teaching and advancing free enterprise.

Here’s to the next 50 years of inspiring minds and shaping the future 💡

Follow the link in the comments for more information!

Can AI really run the economy better than humans?

In this week's Think Like an Economist lesson, students explored one big question: Could Artificial Intelligence finally make central planning work? From Marvel villains like Ultron and Thanos to real-world economics, we challenged the idea of a “perfect system.”

💡 Key takeaway:
Even the smartest AI may struggle with the knowledge problem—because so much of what drives our choices comes from tacit knowledge we can’t fully explain or data-ize.

📊 Students debated:
• Central planning vs. spontaneous order
• Can prices really be “set,” or do they emerge?
• Would AI improve coordination or miss the human element?

Big thinking, real-world connections, and a reminder that economics is ultimately about PEOPLE.

Access this lesson and more at teachers.fee.org or follow the link in the comments!