future leaders, workers and taxpayers of america. its where we're grooming our kids for what america will become. you've heard a lot about where we're failing in education. maybe the best way to fix our problems is to identify what's working. jamie figure letter is a first grade teacher in brooklyn. jamie, we're seeing success in what's known as enhanced curriculum, read alongs, group discussions, enhancing what we do in the classroom. 19-year-olds who participated in enhanced curriculum, 21% were more likely to graduate high school. 61% more like tloi go on to college. how is this working in the classroom? >> well, i think across the board you have a lot of teachers who do tons of read alloweds and tons of math games as way to promote mathematical understanding. it really works. kids are learning how to communicate with one another. they're learning how to understand books and wrap their heads around what's happening in books and get them excited about reading. it's really amazing way of teaching actually because they really start to internalize their educational process. >> is it more contact with the teachers and students. that is the most important relationship in education. >> absolutely. of course. so what we do all the time is called conferencing where you're working in small groups and conferencing with two or three kids, conferencing with individual children. a lot of times you're conferencing with their writing and giving them -- working with them individually on their development. it's -- >> it's not just the teacher in front of the blackboard with 30 students sitting quietly in their desks. it's a much more hand on active. >> it's never me standing up there with 20 kids around me. >> you see kids responding when it's a few kids. >> you can differentiate your curriculum. i can say these are my kids struggling with short vowels and i can pull them to work on that. these are kids struggling with long vowels. i can pull them to do a group on long vowels. it's great because you really get to focus on what the students need. >> we'll highlight another example of what is working in the classroom now. i want to bring in ronnie simms, the principal at brenda scott academy. it's for pre-k to 8. welcome to program. >> thank you. >> you teach reading, writing arithmetic and you have respect, responsibility and reasoning. you've got something called a gentle man's club. it's not what you think it is. tell me about your gentlemen's club and what it's doing to improve the classroom. >> the gentlemen's club is offered to second through 8th grade evers. it's to build self-esteem and help them learn how to focus in the classroom. most of the students are pretty bright. if they're not focused, they miss out on a great portion of the lesson. we do a lot of focusing drills and most of those boys who take it seriously, they practice in the classroom. they learn about distractions and how to handle those distractions because they'll never go away. the majority of those students are now honor roll students. whereas, before they weren't doing so well. >> you teach them a firm handshake, to stand up straight with almost military attention to tune out the other things happening around them to listen to their teacher. and some of these kids really get into it. >> absolutely. actually, when i'm going down the hallway, they're so used to giving me eye contact and shaking during the club sessions, they stop me in the hallway and other kids are seeing that they're focused, and so many other people want to be a part of the gentlemen's club because of these students who are so serious about being a part of the gentlemen's club. it has taken effect on the girls. we have a ladies' club and they're seeing what the boys were doing, there are now 130 girls who want to be in the mentoring program as well. >> interesting. i love it. our friend elsie granderson is back with us. st a writer and thinker. he's a dad. we love to get the parent angle from him. what do you see that's working in the classroom? what would you like to see more of in. >> i tell you one thing i'm glad it's working. despite the horrible things we hear about education, the terrible things about teachers' pay and the attacks on unions, we still have people who go to college who want to be teachers. we still have people in the classroom who want to be with young people. i think that's so important because all the research tells us that there are two main factors that determines a child's education in terms of academic achievement. number one is financial. the type of school they go to and the type of resources it has and number two, of course, teachers. you got have good teachers. having good teachers present in the classroom, people who want to be there it's a very, very good thing. something else i have think is fantastic, we're seeing more and more ultimate ways in which teaching is happening. you know, your earlier guests talked about new projects in terms of reading out loud and the gentlemen's club. it's a fantastic idea. my son goes to an international baccalaureate school. you know, it's relatively new, about 40 years old. there are 3200 of the schools in the world. 1300 are in the u.s. so we're doing a lot of good things. >> that's good to hear. i want to thank you all for spending some time to tell us what's working in the classroom. best of luck to all of you. jamie, ronnie and lz. have a great saturday. family planning versus family finances. when money gets in the way of expandsing your family. that's next on your bottom line. it works in six different ways to restore enamel... strengthen teeth... freshen breath... help prevent cavities... and kill bad breath germs for a whole mouth clean. so go beyond the brush with listerine® total care, the most complete mouthwash. now get all the benefits... without the alcohol. new listerine® total care zero. some folks call me a rock star, some call me the mayor... and i love it. and, i make everybody happy. i keep my business insurance with the hartford because... they came through for me once, and i know they've got my back. for whatever challenges come your way... the hartford is here to back you up. helping you move ahead... with confidence. meet some of our small business customers at: thehartford.com/business i don't think about the unknown... i just rock n' roll. the progresso chicken noodle you made is so good. it's got tender white meat chicken. the way i always made it for you. one more thing.... those pj's you like, i bought you five new pairs. love you. did you see the hockey game last night? 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[ buzzer sounds ] scoring a kindle with special offers for only $79 at radioshack. so right. having a baby today is as much about money as it is about prove and biology. couples are holding off on baby number two or deciding against it altogether because they're worried about how much babies cost. worried about their jobs and financial future. meet one pennsylvania couple who is wondering whether to have another baby because of the economy. >> lori and ryan want to have another baby. >> once you get married. when are you having a baby? when are you having another baby? but it's not always that easy. >> but the economy stands in their way. >> two would scare the heck out of me. because to have child care costs times two. that's another big chunk of change. >> the couple spends $11,000 on child care for olivia. she's one and a half years old. ryan, a detective gets extra income working at his family's business. but lori's job is a major factor in family planning. >> did you get the letter back from us in the summertime. 14 out of 21 people have been laid off at the child cara association where she works. lori isn't sure if she'll have a job come january. >> i'm 39 now and show there's a window and so that window closing while the job window closing at the same time or potentially will close. it's a little unnerving. >> can you burp the babe sni. >> no question women are waiting longer to have kids and they're having fewer of them. in 2010, four million babies were born in the u.s. down from the peak of 4.3 million in 2007. dr. jack moritz delivered about 3,000 babies. >> you're going to cost $250,000 by the time you're 18. >> that's true. $226,920 to be exact. according to the government. that's up more than $60,000 from ten years ago. >> there's no doubt that economy matters in having children. it has mattered throughout history. the depression it went down. in other recessions it went down. in boom times it goes up. >> the recession is technically over. but for most people doesn't feel like it. >> couples are telling me that the economy is tight, having a kid, it is a great expense. i think a bigger expense up in your head than in reality. but still, people think about kids and college and education and all the costs involvedment they're right. they're seeing the moment right now, how could we ever do this. they're postponing it. >> moritz think women can't afford to have a baby. but for many they can't afford to wait. >> biological clock. >> you can't wait for the economy to recover. >> the stock is up, the stock is down. the stock in the eggs is always going down every year we get older. >> thank you. >> you're welcome. >> for now, they remain a family of three. >> if we can add another one, great. if that doesn't happen, we're not going to be any less happy for what we have. so waiting to have another kid these days can be a tough financial and biological decision. maybe it is all in your head. stacy francis is a mom and financial adviser and president of francis financial. pete dominick is a husband, a dad and comedian and host of sirius kpmt m standup. that cute little baby that will cost a quarter of a million dollars. the usda says compare that to 1960 when it was 25 grand to have a baby. take a page out of -- a detective, woman who works for a child cara soerk. is it irresponsible to have a baby now? >> it's the most expensive time it's been to have a baby. it's not irresponsible. there's a lot they can do to shore up finances. number one, she needs to start looking for a job now. not when it happens. they also need to be very smart, look at their finances, where they're spending money and create an emergency fund. if something does happen, they won't have to dip into the credit cards and really find themselves in a bad financial situation. >> tighten the belt too. maybe they might have to tighten the belt and get -- pete's laughing because there's a double en ten dra there. >> i wish congressmen and women would act like they've had a baby. then they would realize you have to tighten your belt and as you're saying, get another job. take my personal experience. when my wife -- my girlfriend at the time got pregnant. we didn't think about it. i said, i got to get to work. it was the most stimulative package you could imagine, the pregnancy. i didn't take no for an answer. i took risks. >> it was a motivator for you. >> absolutely. it wasn't about me anymore. this $226,000 number, that's you women. you're responsible financial women. i mean, that number is -- >> you don't think about sna. >> think about this. i'll give you a number. how much will it cost if you wait. it's harder to get pregnant. the doctors alluded to this. invito or adoption. two choices that are prohibitively expensive. >> the other thing about having kids, there's a certain amount of legal faith you have. 18 years is a long time. the economy could be a lot better. having a baby is having a baby. that's priceless. i have three little kids, right? it's priceless, right? it trumps everything. you have to be responsible when you think about doing it. >> responsible and don't let college costs worry you either. it's one of those things, you plan for your retirement. guess what, there are college loans, grants. there's financial aid. there's a lot of great options out there. don't let that hold you back. >> stacy francis, pete dominick, we've all decided we're bullish on going for another baby. >> yep. have you ever been brand washed, the shocking tricks companies use to get to you buy their products and how not to fall for it. that's next. progresso. it fits! fantastic! 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[ male announcer ] progresso. 40 soups 100 calories or less. have you ever bought a book because it was on the best seller list or a brand name toy because your child asked for it? have you ever liked something on facebook? if so,you've been brand-washed. my next guest knows first hand how marketers manipulate our minds and persuade us to buy our products because he used to be one of them. now he's written an expose on the dirty tricks. martin lindstrom joins us via skype from columbia. welcome to the program. nice to see you. it's hard to escape the grip companies have on us, particularly if we don't know it's happening. how do they get us? give us some secrets. >> it happens everywhere. just think about this when you walk into a retail store like a supermarket. did you know that if we walk counter clockwise through the store, we spend 7% more. not only that, we actually see now the supermarket are putting in speed bumps into the floor so the tiles are starting to vibrate slightly. it makes us slow down and as we do that, we spend 6% more. and not only that, we also know now that the type of music that they're kroog in the retail store makes us spend more money. every signal has one single agenda, to make us spend more. >> wow. it's like being in a vegas casino with no windows and no clocks and the light is perfect, except it's the supermarket and trying to make you spend more money. next time we're shopping, what can we do differently not to fall for it? >> one of the best advice is not to bring your kids with you. we know today that if you bring your kids with you, you spend 26% more. there's also another good advice. it sounds stupid but works well. use your music player or your iphone and play some music really hard music, very high written. it makes you rush out of the supermarket quickly. by the way, another advice. do always use very big dollar bills. the 100 bills or the $50 notes because they make you spend less. we callless. we call that the denomination effect. it is the less money you spend, well, it should be the directly correlated with the higher bills you have in your pocket. >> fascinating. all right. you say the average 3-year-old -- and i have one of these -- a 3-year-old can recognize 100 different brands. na seems impossible to me, but you think of three years of their life even the diapers they wear have an animal, a disney character on it. how do you protect your kids from marketers? >> first of all, the first word any baby is able to say any more is not mom or dad, it's donald for mcdonald's. i think number one, you need to make sure thaw teach your children about what a brand is. number to, most of the kids we were surveying per brand was 76% of them were saying they're teased in school for not wearing the right labels. make sure that you actually give your kids the argument they should use in school in case they're teased about brands. and number three, i hate to tell you, but you have to ask your kids to switch off that television now and then because that's the main source still for us to learn about those brands. >> martin lidstrom, the author of "brandwashed" very nice to see you today and we'll have you back again very soon. >> thank you. forget black friday. the christmas shopping season is under way and we have the really important list for you, everything not to do this holiday season next on your bottom line. so who ordered the cereal that can help lower cholesterol and who ordered the yummy cereal? yummy. [ woman ] lower cholesterol. [ man 2 ] yummy. i got that wrong didn't i? [ male announcer ] want great taste and whole grain oats that can help lower cholesterol? honey nut cheerios. since ameriprise financial was founded back in 1894, they've been committed to putting clients first. helping generations through tough times. good times. never taking a bailout. there when you need them. helping millions of americans over the centuries. the strength of a global financial leader. the heart of a one-to-one relationship. together for your future. ♪ all right. full disclosure, i have to tell you, this time of year i start to do some major soul searching. i feel like we're in the middle of a manufactured retail frenzy that's trying to get us for the next five weeks to buy into the idea we've got to spend as much money as possible. and there's some things that you can do to make sure you don't fall into those buyer traps. buyer beware, mandy walker is the senior projects manager for money watch editor. it's a big system that we get sucked into. >> there's things you can do besides getting sucked into a bubble. >> you notice the christmas creep. >> it's everywhere. >> now, before you've carved your pumpkins, there's christmas music at the mall. >> yes. before you go trick or treating. >> it's here. we know it's here and we know we're going to spend a lot of time shopping. i think 19 hours is what you're going to spend shopping or something you found. >> yes. >> and we're going to spend an awful lot of shopping, nine hours traveling, three hours waiting in checkout lines, three hours wrapping gifts and 14 hours celebrating. wow, we're going to spend more doing the preparation than we are actually celebrating with our friends. i wanted to ask you, mandy, some of the mistakes that people make that cost them money. lay away, a lot of the stores are pushing layway again this year. to me, the idea of giving something money and paying fees for a product i'm not going to get yet that is going to depreciate in the end, why is that a good idea? >> exactly. you can pay over time with different paychecks, but there are fees involved. we looked at several views and found it could be as much as $150 or a portion of whatever you're buying. plus there can be service fees if the price goes down before the holidays. you could miss out on the sales prices. there's a lot of reasons not to do it and maybe take that item off your holiday list. >> and credit counselors tell me, when they're working with people who have debt issues, they say should i put this on your layaway? they tell me, say no. next, store offers. would you like 20% off right now? >> it's not usually 25%. it's usually 10% at most. ahead of times, if you know you're going to be shopping some place, check out the deals online. check out the details of the store's credit card. you'll probably find you have a rewards credit card already that will be a much better deal in the long run. >> so when is it worth it to sign up for one? >> if it's a store that you sign up for frequently, sometimes there are card only discounts. then it might make sense and you don't have a bunch of store cards already and it's not going to includes up up your credit report. >> there's was a big story last week that you have to buy the big tv now. experts tell me tvs are cheaper right before christmas or before the super bowl. if you see things for two different prices at two different stores, just because it's cheaper it might not be a better deal? >> yeah, that's true. we found that if you see an item at several different stores at about the same price and you go into a big box store and you say, it hooks like the same tv, for example, but it's a lot less, write down the model number first. go home. go online. check it out. look at what the product has or doesn't have. it may be that the color is a different color or the remote doesn't light up, but it might have some key features that you do want that they sell. to sell them for less at the big box stores, they may be the same, maybe not. >> and they may try to sell you an extended warranty. i'm paying good money for this. >> are you selling me something that's not going to break? >> i think that these things are made to last much shorter than they used to. >> well, what we found over decades, because consumer reports brand reliability and looked at that and found that, in fact, very seldom with the warranty, probably it's okay. >> it's probably atwo or three years past the time you bought it. besides the credit card you used may already extend the manufacturer's parenty. during that time period, it may actually replace it either voluntarily or by law. >> there you go. >> mandy, nice to see you.