Students invested a virtual $100,000
础迟听Morton Elementary, sixth graders听weren鈥檛听just learning about money this fall 鈥 they were making it grow!听
By the end of the semester, their smart decisions paid off. Morton Elementary sixth grade听gifted and talented听students earned听first place at the middle school level听in the Fall 2025听, a statewide competition that introduces students to real-world investing and personal finance.听
Presented by the听, the Stock Market Game gives students a virtual $100,000 to invest using real-time market data. Teams study market trends, follow global news, and adjust their strategies throughout the competition while learning about capital markets, asset allocation, and long-term financial planning.听
For Morton Elementary Principal听Leigh听Adams, the win reflects both academic growth and confidence in her students.听
鈥淎s the proud principal at Morton, I am absolutely bursting-at-the-seams proud,鈥 she said. 鈥淪eeing our students tackle real-world concepts that usually make adults break into a cold sweat is nothing short of inspiring. They听didn鈥檛听just听participate听鈥 they owned it.鈥听
The opportunity began in the classroom, where听gifted and听talented teacher听Jennifer Riley听introduced the game to her sixth-grade students to make math more meaningful and engaging.听
鈥淪he wanted a way to make numbers feel real rather than just symbols on a worksheet,鈥澨鼳dams听said. 鈥淭he classroom turned into a collaborative trading floor. This was听a great example听of providing 鈥榟igh-floor, no-ceiling鈥 opportunities that challenge students and keep them engaged.鈥听
During the competition, students managed diversified portfolios that included stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and听exchange traded funds listed on the听听and听. They worked together to analyze performance, make decisions, and adjust their strategies听鈥撎齭ometimes from the bottom of the leaderboard.听
鈥淲e feel satisfied because we were tough throughout the game and eventually came out first place,鈥澨齭aid听sixth grader Aylin Hernandez. 鈥淥ur team was at the bottom of the leaderboard most of the competition, but we persevered and never lowered our efforts.鈥听
Along the way, students developed skills that go far beyond investing.听
鈥淭his wasn鈥檛 just about picking stocks,鈥澨鼳dams听said. 鈥淥ur students showed strong critical thinking, mathematical precision, collaboration, and patience听鈥撎齭kills that many adults spend years trying to master.鈥听
Students also walked away with valuable lessons about money.听
鈥淲e learned you have to be willing to take risks and invest all your money,鈥澨齭aid听team member听Ernesto Teran. 鈥淟eaving money uninvested will not return anything.鈥听
And while the learning was serious, the experience was fun, too.听
鈥淥ur favorite part was watching our portfolio go up,鈥澨齭aid听team member Adrian Rodriguez. 鈥淭he best part was winning at the end and celebrating together in class.”听
The team鈥檚 success听didn鈥檛听go unnoticed. Last week, they were recognized at an 糖心Vlog Board of Trustees meeting, where trustees celebrated their first-place finish and the听hard work听that led to it.听
The Stock Market Game supports Texas academic standards and STEM goals, helping students build skills in math, economics, language arts, and social studies while also strengthening teamwork, planning, and听financial responsibility.听
For Morton Elementary students, the experience proved one thing: with the right opportunities and support, 糖心Vlog students are ready to take on real-world challenges!听听
Congratulations听Stock Game Winners!听听