Meet an Economics Teacher at FLVS

Ever thought about taking Economics online with Florida Virtual School? If not, you’re missing out!

In this Q&A, Mr. Tidd shares why he loves teaching Economics with Financial Literacy at FLVS. Learn more in his interview and course intro video below!

How long have you taught at FLVS?

I am starting my fourth school year with FLVS and have spent all my time here teaching Economics. Teaching at FLVS allows for very personalized interaction with students, which I enjoy.

How did you end up becoming an Economics teacher?

I struggled in high school and was never great at taking tests. I had some amazing teachers that helped me fall in love with History. While in college, I learned you don’t have to remember every date in history to study history. Learning from our past and helping to make a better future is what teaching is all about. Economics is a part of that history and a part of our future. More so than any other social science course, Economics is the most relevant to us today. The things learned in this course will be voted on by our students and shape our economy. This will not only affect the social structures of America, but the financial opportunities of those who wish to make a future in our economy.

What are your favorite activities in the Economics with Financial Literacy course?

My favorite assignment in Economics is where students are asked to create a budget. This is challenging on so many levels, but for many, it’s the first time they get to see how expensive adulthood is. Most of my students respond and tell me how hard it is to balance the budget…to account for things like car breakdowns and not go over the total amount.

We also have an activity in Economics where we ask a student to self-assess things they like or don’t like to do. This gives the student a career category to select and research jobs. It gets students thinking about the future and perhaps a career they hadn’t considered before. What I hear most from students is how they enjoy topics that are relevant to them. We have several modules about starting and running a business, paying taxes, and exploring future career paths.

Do you recommend taking AP Microeconomics or AP Macroeconomics?

Economics with Financial Literacy provides a good overview of the concepts discussed in the AP courses. The concepts are very similar, just on a more basic level. The AP versions are fantastic for those who want to pursue a career in business!

How much work is there to complete in the regular Economics course?

The standard version of Economics has 54 assignments. To maintain a standard pace and complete the course in 18 weeks, a student must finish three assignments per week. However, as we draw closer to graduation, we often recommend four assignments a week.

What are your tips for completing Discussion-Based Assessments (DBA)?

As with any DBA to be completed at FLVS, you’ll want to complete all module activities beforehand. I recommend reviewing the module study guides to prepare, as well as any personal notes. Teachers are always willing to go over the format for their DBAs as there are different options and variation between teachers!

Any tips for helping students stay motivated?

Each student is different in how they work each week, but weekly work is the key. Keep working each week and moving towards the finish line. For some, this is daily work with YouTube in the background. For others, it’s an uninterrupted three-hour session of FLVS on a Saturday night.

The easiest thing to do when stuck or just not feeling motivated is to call or text your teacher. Let us give you some inspiration, point you in the right direction, or give you a tip on the next assignment. We are here to help you – reach out to your teacher for inspiration!

Want to learn more about our Economics course?

Check out this course intro video with Mr. Tidd!

Post Q&A with Miles Tidd, FLVS Economics Teacher