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It Started With A Question … It Started At KIPP

Photograph courtesy of KIPP Houston Art School

It started with a question …

At our first speaking engagement shortly after Neiman Marcus launched our book, during Q&A someone asked the seemingly innocent question, "Why isn't this taught in school?" How were we to know that just months later we would be developing and teaching a 12-week "Red & Black Personal Finance and Life 101" program to the Class of 2010 at KIPP Houston High School? Or that it would result in What I Learned About Life When My Husband Got Fired! being approved as a personal financial literacy textbook by the (Texas) State Board of Education.

KIPP Houston High School (KHHS)

For those of you not familiar with KIPP (which included us up until a few days before our initial meeting with them), it stands for Knowledge Is Power Program and was co-founded by Teach For America alumnae Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin in Houston in 1994. Since then, KIPP has grown to a national network of public schools which are recognized for narrowing the achievement gap in public education and putting underserved students on the path to college.

KIPP Houston High School is where our unexpected, but extremely rewarding, journey into the world of education began. Although the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires essential knowledge and skills in personal financial literacy be incorporated into various courses and grade levels, KIPP felt financial literacy is such a critical component of college and life readiness for seniors (soon to be college freshmen) that it should have its own curriculum. We were as surprised as anyone when they asked us to not only develop, but to teach, the program and owe our gratitude to KIPP for its trust in us and for seeing past the messengers and focusing on the message.

Our Guinea Pigs

Once we committed to developing the program, Black recognized we needed expert advice so she requested a focus group of high school seniors. Eight amazing students, who we fondly call our "Guinea Pigs," met with us for five weekly working lunches. After reading specific sections of the book, they identified the key topics they thought should be covered in the program. In addition, it was the "Guinea Pigs" who recommended our book should be used as a textbook, calling it a "reality show in a book". Looking back, they were the first to use a "book club approach", although we didn't realize it (or the power of the format) until many months later.

Test Driving A Second Version

We organized the weekly classes to first address financial topics, and then we went back through the book to cover the other topics (such as time management, dealing with stress, relationships … in other words, Life 101). At the end of the semester, Black surveyed the students and their input, suggestions, and feedback was instrumental in the development of our book submittal to TEA (and may help explain why the book was approved in less than 30 days).

The submittal, which ultimately was turned into a companion guide for educators, organized the classes so that you would start at the beginning of the book and work your way through the chapters (basically what the Guinea Pigs had suggested). It sounded good on paper, but we wanted to see first-hand if it actually worked. And, although both ways worked, we believe a true "book club approach" works better.

Don't Take Our Word For It

Yes, the (Texas) State Board of Education approved the book, but we're more excited that it's student-approved. In fact, it was the sentiments expressed in the student's thank you notes (to the anonymous book donor) that had the greatest impact on us.

Want to read amazing comments from the KIPP students about the Red & Black program?

We know that some people prefer statistics over quotes (Black likes both quantitative and qualitative "evidence"), so we thought we would also include the numbers from our "non-scientific" surveys:

Starting our journey into the world of education at KIPP was an amazing experience and truly an education for us as well. We never expected this detour and never dreamed that KIPP would issue not one, but two, press releases about us!

KIPP Takes an Unusual Approach to Developing New Financial Literacy Program Press Release (May 2010 Press Release)
KIPP Believes Personal Financial Literacy Should Have Its Own Curriculum (September 2011 Press Release)

If you have any questions, or want additional information (including FREE educational resources), please contact us at education@RedandBlackBooks.com.

education

Words & Banter

We Fondly Call Them … Our Guinea Pigs

Photograph Courtesy of KIPP Houston Art School

Every time we see the photo above of our "guinea pigs", it brings back such fond memories. You may be thinking, "What? Are they calling those students guinea pigs?!" Well, actually, yes. And before you think ill of us, please know that we use the term with great affection, deep gratitude, and utmost respect. And these eight amazing seniors from the Class of 2010 know that's our nickname for them because ...

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student approved

Words & Banter

A Memory Lane Car Analogy?

Red loves to stop and reminisce. Black prefers to look forward.

But even Black will admit that sometimes there’s value in looking back — it reminds us where we came from, the detours and roadblocks we have managed to navigate, and that we may be stronger and more capable than we give ourselves credit for. Sometimes, it’s a lesson learned. Sometimes, it’s a memory that reminds us what’s truly important.

But Black has one caveat (and it's one of her favorite car analogies) …

If you decide to look back, keep it in perspective. There's a reason why windshields are so much larger than rearview mirrors.

life lessons

Words & Banter

A Perfect Day For A Convertible. And For Chutzpah.

Red's Head assets.rebelmouse.io

The last few days have been beautiful fall weather, and I can't help but wonder — do you ever miss having your Ferrari convertible?

Black's Head Black assets.rebelmouse.io

Although some days are perfect convertible weather, given that I barely drove it the last few years I owned it, averaging less than 50 miles a year, I can honestly say, "No." In fact, I cannot even remember the last time I drove it.

Red's Head assets.rebelmouse.io

I can't help you with that, but I'll never forget the last day we taught at KIPP Houston High School, and you drove it there. You should have seen the students' faces as you were lowering the top on it.

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negotiating skills

DON’T MISS A THING

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Black assets.rebelmouse.io	Funny thing is, I never took the car to KIPP because I did not want anyone to think I was showing off, but I forgot how exciting it is for motorheads to see special cars — whether new or vintage.
assets.rebelmouse.io	I doubt everyone crowding around your car was a motorhead, but they certainly were excited to see it. Boys AND girls! At the risk of sounding warm and fuzzy, I think the fact you not only drove a Ferrari, but also raced them, gave the girls a feeling of empowerment that they really can do anything.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	I guess because I always worked in male-dominated industries, I got used to being the "token" woman. Regardless, I never look at things as being gender-specific.
assets.rebelmouse.io	That's because you never look at anything like the rest of the world does, or at least most people do. A perfect example of that is you giving Juan a ride in the Ferrari. I doubt many people would have done that.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	It seemed only fair since he tried to make a "deal" with me the day before — a hand of poker or even a flip of a coin. If he wins, he gets a ride in the Ferrari. If I win, he will be my slave for a day. Giving him a ride in the car was a reward for having the chutzpah to try to make a deal with me. And, in the two years we taught at KIPP, of the over 200 students who took our Personal Finance & Life 101 class, he was the only one ever to do that.
assets.rebelmouse.io	I'll never forget how you also told them that although it may not be the proper definition for the Yiddish word "chutzpah," the real-life definition is "having balls."
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	How else would you explain it?
assets.rebelmouse.io	You should know, as many people have used that word to describe you. And it was consistent with the lesson we taught them about how you "confronted" Bob Weinstein (of the movie-producing Weinstein Brothers) at a conference in New York. (Granted, it was well before the #MeToo scandal.) You realized you had nothing to lose, not to mention you were well prepared.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	In most scenarios, if you do not ask for something, you will not receive it. So, what is the risk of asking? Someone may say "no"? The way I see it, you are no worse off than before you asked. So, in reality, there is no downside risk, but there IS upside potential. They may say "yes."
Red assets.rebelmouse.io	True. And I laughed, although I wasn't surprised when everyone else started asking for a ride in the Ferrari!
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	Except Juan did not just ask for a ride. He tried to negotiate a deal. He structured it so that there was an upside for me if he lost the bet, which obviously would be the downside for him. But, what impressed me the most was that he was proactive and took a chance, albeit a long shot, to get something he wanted.
assets.rebelmouse.io	And given the smile on his face when you drove off, it obviously paid off. I bet, even though it has been many years, it's something he's never forgotten.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	The lesson or the ride in the Ferrari?
assets.rebelmouse.io	Both. And I will go out on a limb and say I bet many of the kids standing around the car when you told Juan to jump in, and then explained why, may also remember not only that day but the importance of the lesson.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	Then, it was a perfect day for a convertible ride.