Claudine James, Malvern Middle School ELA teacher, was recently honored with the prestigious 2023-2024 Bessie B. Moore Award for Excellence in Teaching Economics. The award, which recognizes Arkansas teachers who develop outstanding economic and personal finance projects, celebrates Ms. James’s creative approach to integrating economics into her curriculum. Her innovative project, “Family Careers and the Economy: Integration of Economics With Creative Writing,” was implemented through her creative writing classes, demonstrating the interconnectedness of economics and personal experiences.
The award is named in honor of Bessie B. Moore, a pioneering advocate for economic education in Arkansas. Known for her commitment to promoting economic literacy, Moore dedicated her life to ensuring students received a comprehensive understanding of economics. The award program seeks to continue her legacy by recognizing teachers who go “above and beyond” in economic education, encouraging creativity, innovation, and the integration of economics into classroom lessons.
Ms. James’s project provided students with the opportunity to explore the economic impact of their family members’ careers and jobs. By investigating how these occupations contributed to the broader economy, students gained valuable insights into the ripple effects of individual professions. Through research, writing, and analysis, they developed a deeper understanding of key economic concepts and their real-world applications. This approach allowed them to make personal connections to the economy, enhancing both their economic literacy and creative writing skills.
Her passion for cross-curricular learning played a crucial role in the project’s success. Over the past five years, she attended the Economics Arkansas workshops and the REAL Econ for All Teacher Summer Institutes, despite not being an economics teacher. She loved the content and was eager to bring it into her classroom in new and engaging ways. By incorporating economics into creative writing, Ms. James enabled students to see beyond traditional economic lessons, applying the concepts to their everyday lives.
The students took ownership of the project, diving into research about their family members’ careers. They used their findings to write reflective essays, creatively presenting how individual occupations contribute to the economy. By framing economics within a personal context, Ms. James made the subject matter relevant and accessible, sparking a deeper interest in economic principles among her students and invoking them to use their developed creative writing skills.
Ms. James’s project met all the criteria of the Bessie B. Moore Awards Program, which aims to stimulate creativity in economic education and recognize outstanding educators. Her unique blend of creative writing and economics demonstrated the power of cross-curricular teaching and highlighted the importance of bringing real-world applications into the classroom.
Winning this award was a proud moment for Ms. James and her students. The “Bessie Brigade” visited her classroom to present the award, which included a monetary prize, a basket of goodies, and “The Bessie” trophy. This recognition celebrated Ms. James’s innovative teaching methods and her dedication to fostering a deeper understanding of economics in her students through creative and impactful lessons.
We are so proud of you, Ms. James!