Every year Parade Magazine provides us with insight as to how much money other people are making. The statistics are all over the map and include salaries of those scrambling to make ends meet, and of course, people earning millions, like Oprah and Ryan Seacrest.
My students always assumed that they would make a lot of money. Plus, they felt that they would have it all without having to work very hard. When I had them design their dream homes in math class, they included bowling allies, indoor swimming pools, and at least twenty bedrooms. They had to calculate square footage and costs, but having millions of dollars at their fingertips seemed like an attainable goal to most of them.
Parade.com has several links to salaries, the economy, and expected income from various jobs in health, education, and entertainment. There is also a classroom section with lesson plans and an interactive news quiz.
The expressions on the faces of those listed in the magazine always make me think that money doesn't matter. They all look surprisingly happy. Now that makes good fodder for a writing assignment.