Classroom Economy

A few weeks ago I had posted a Monday Made It about my classroom economy helping hands board. I had quite a  bit of interest in what I do, so I have finally gotten this post worked out... AND A 30+ PAGE FILE FOR FREE FROM TPT WITH EVERYTHING YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ ABOUT! :)

So here goes. How I do a classroom economy in my 2nd grade room!

THE JOBS
In my room, each student gets a job. I have a list of 25 so far that I use for my classroom. I have the jobs displayed on my helping hands board.

Click HERE to get a list of my classroom jobs FREE!

Each hand has velcro on the back, so when students change jobs every 2-3 weeks, I can easily move their number! I am really excited about using this this year. The colored background is just scrapbooking paper that I cut up into 4in x 6 in rectangles. That way a 12in x 12in piece of paper gave my 6 equal rectangles. Then I glued on the job name and clipart, laminated it, put velcro on, and then adhered the numbered hand!

THE APPLICATION
Now for my students to get a job, I have them fill out a job application. I have two different versions that I've used.

This one I use currently for my 2nd graders.

This is one I used with my 5th graders.

At the beginning of the year I go through each job and we talk about what the duties are. I'll show them my ring of jobs, and flip through them all so they can visually see what that job's duties are.

When they begin their application, I model and do an example application at the beginning of the year to make sure my students fill them out with COMPLETE sentences and SPECIFIC reasons for why they want their job. Each job they've chosen needs a good reason for why I should hire them for the job. For example:

1. Veterinarian
2. Tax Collector
3. Operator

1. I want this job because I am responsible and help take care of my dog at home.
2. I want this job because I am good at math and wouldn't let anyone forget to pay their fines!
3. I want this job because I am polite and know how to answer a phone.

You'll be amazed at the creative responses students will give! I make sure to let my students know that neat applications with fabulous reasons will always persuade me to give them their first choice. We also talk about how behavior in class can affect getting their dream job as well. If they're not respectful, then how can I trust them to take care of our class pet?

Another thing we discuss is that sometimes a student might not get any of their choices. We do some role playing on how to act if that were to happen, and I let them know that if they are a good sport I will make sure they get one of their choices next time!

What if a student is irresponsible and doesn't do their job? Well, I fire them! I tell them all the time that if they can't do the duties of their job, then I will give it to someone who can. Just like what happens in the real world!

What if a student doesn't want a job? So far I've only had one student in my years of teaching refuse a job. I let him be unemployed. I wasn't about to pressure him into a job if I knew I would just end of firing him from it. By the next job cycle though, he had noticed the extra money other students were getting and wanted to apply. If he hadn't I would have sat down and discussed what it was that made him not want to have a job.

THE MONEY
So I keep talking about money! Well YES! My students earn money for everything they do! Participating, trying their best, helping another out without being asked, just sitting their quietly, ANYTHING! It's amazing what the other students will do when they see me paying their friends for good behavior. And the great thing, I don't even need to break stride from my lesson.

When the year starts, I always have students design our classroom money. We then take a vote on which is our favorite, and that is the design I will copy for the year. I love that it is student-made and different each year! Here are some examples from the past few years:

I always make 1's, 5's, and 10's for kids. It's such a great way for them to practice skip counting and the real world skill of counting money!

To help kids keep track of their money, I usually give them an envelope. My coworker actually sewed little wallets! Super cute! And in past years with my 5th graders we all did a little origami, and folded our own wallets out of construction paper. I used the instructions found here on youtube.

THE TAXES AND BONUSES
Now students don't just earn money, they can lose it too!

During the first few weeks of school we decide on taxes and bonuses. Taxes are where students owe the teacher money, and bonuses are how they can earn extra money throughout the day. Here are some posters on what we came up with last year:

I also have students give out possible dollar amounts for each item they come up with, and they vote on how much that particular tax or bonus should be.  Although.. the teacher always receives the right to veto something outrageous! I feel like students have more ownership this way.

THE FINE CARD
To make it easy to track student's taxes, I place a tax card on their desk. Each tally is worth $5. If they commit an offense that is on the tax chart like talking out, I can quietly without breaking the lesson, make one tally mark. The students realizes what they've done and hopefully corrects it. If not, I have no problem tallying them again. And again. And again if necessary. I've done it!!

Students pay their taxes/fines at the end of every school day. You could have them do it once a week if you choose. One of our classroom jobs is a tax collector. At the end of the day they go around checking how students added up the tallies and making sure all taxes are paid. They will put a star next to the day it is to show that student has paid. If a student cannot pay I usually do a lunch detention, or recess loss, or working their debt off. Whatever the situation entails. Sometimes other students will loan them money.. super cute!

Here's an example:

THE STORE
Everyday at recess, I allow students to bring their money out and buy something. I have items for $50 $75 and $100. I try to create things for students to buy that won't cost me a lot of money.

Students LOVE LOVE LOVE buying things off our posters! It's amazing how much they enjoy lunch with the teacher, or buying a pillow for the day! The really sweet thing is when they start to share money and buy things like special lunch together! It's adorable that they are willing to put their money together and work as a team.

THE EXTRA MILE
Since I've been in 2nd grade, I haven't done too much besides what I mentioned above. Some things I did do when I taught 5th grade to take the economy to the next step:

• Wrote checks for students for doing their jobs.
• Had a banker stamp and enter checks onto a spread sheet. They would add it to student's previous balances and write them a receipt for their current account balance.
• Students cashing checks would sign their check on the back in cursive.
• A cashier would open the store every month or so. They had a cash register they used to ring up items. 
• Students buying items would have to figure out if they had enough to spend on what they wanted. They would then have to write a check in cursive for the amount they spent. They would then subtract it from their bank receipt to see how much they had left.
• Students were also charged rent for their desks and had disaster strikes to their desks. I'm thinking insurance could be fun to have them buy too so if disaster strikes, insurance helpers could help them fix it up.
• I've read on Beth Newingham's about a class economist. They analyze what's being bought at the store and create graphs about it. Sounded cool! I've gotten a lot of my ideas from her, so if you are interested in more, definitely check her site out above!!!

Are you interested in a classroom economy after all this?!?! Well I promise a 30+ page file with all that you saw above for FREE!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE!!!!!!

I'm linking up this post with Blog Hoppin' Teacher Week! :)

Please let me know what you think :) I hope y'all find it helpful. If I could give anyone advice, it would be to start a classroom economy! It's the most amazing management I have every found and teaches such great real world skills!

Monday Made It Classroom Jobs

Okay before I start this post, can I just tell you how productive I feel today?!?

1. 2nd day of bootcamp - hello summer body!
2. Took dogs on a long walk.
3. Pulled weeds in the front yard.
4. Completed my Monday Made It!

And it's only noon! For me, this is a mighty accomplishment! Although now I have a heating pad on my lower back because I think I might have pulled something? Hopefully not. I have a lot more bootcamp left to do!

On to my Monday Made It. I was inspired by one of my pins:

I bought all of my supplies BEFORE I went ahead with my safari theme for next year's classroom, but I think it will still work. I've always had my job board called Helping Hands so I thought this was too cute NOT to make.

First I bought 12x12 scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby, and cut it into 6 pieces. The pieces are 6 x 4 inches. You can get 6 pieces out 1 scrapbook page.

Then I added clipart and the job title, printed it out and glued it to all the different patterned papers.

To make it easy to change the little hands, I bought this Velcro at Lowes.

Then I attached the Velcro to the paper, and the back of the hands. It turned out like this:

Feel free to save this hand outline and use it! I actually drew this myself! How I love Paint Shop Pro. :)

I'm excited to post these up in my room! Last year I was using index cards taped to my cabinets, and they were forever falling off. Super annoying.

I would love to post the little clipart, but I have found them from various places on the internet, and don't know about copyright and all that with them. I've had the same clipart for about 5 years now and have NO CLUE where they came from.

But something I CAN share with you is a list of all my jobs! :) Click here!!!

In my room EVERY student has a job. We do a classroom economy. It is hands down, my favorite management tool and valuable teaching. If there was one thing I would suggest to new teachers- it would be this! Here's a list of some things we do:

• Each student applies for a job every 2-3 weeks. (You can make it longer if you like!) Their application must be neat and in complete sentences. I'll share my applications when my computer is back up and running.
• We create class money at the beginning of each year. We vote on the design. I copy 1s 5s and 10s. Money is given out for participation, great answers, great behavior, jobs done- anything really.
• We create a bonuses chart (where students can earn money) and taxes chart (where students pay ME money). As a class we decide on the prices as well.
• Each student has a tax chart (which I'll share later too). At the end of the day they add up their tally marks and place the money on top of their chart. The tax collector signs off on the day that taxes were paid and brings me the money.
• We have a class store where students can buy things. I don't do a treasure box, this takes its place. Students have to count their money to make sure they have enough to buy stuff. Most of the things I have for sale aren't items. Sure I have pencils and erasers, but we do more classroom rewards. Like teacher's desk for a day, shoes off, lunch with teacher, 10 min computer time, free homework pass, 10 min class pet time, choose first at stations for the day, pillow for the day, stuffed buddy for the day, etc.
• I use to have a banker/cashier when I taught 5th grade, but I found it a little hard for my 2nd graders this year. Maybe I'll tackle it again this year when I am more organized. Anyone else have advice on this?

If any of you are interested, I'll try to make a post going more in depth when I get back into my classroom so I can take pictures. :) I LOVE CLASSROOM ECONOMIES!

Do you have any classroom jobs that you love and couldn't live without? Any favorites you do with a classroom economy?

And don't forget to view my post about the Safari Clip Chart I made! I left a link for you to download it for free on my post!!

Checking off the TO DO list

Alright, so week 2 of summer is underway and I'm feeling great! So far today I have accomplished the following:

- Updated my "Helping Hands" job board and gave it a makeover.
- Delved into the first week plans of my Daily 5/CAFE for next year (w/ the help of a coworker)

- Created a VOICES board using these WONDERFUL printouts which you can get HERE.

I'm hoping that I can post some pictures tomorrow, as I am not sure if I can post the actual file. All this copyright regarding clipart/fonts is scary to me in the blogging world! I don't know a whole lot about what I can put up, and what I cannot yet. If anyone has some advice, I'd be happy to hear it. I'd like to make this blog a place where I can post things of mine, especially if others can find use in it!

Oh another late night... how does time manage to fly by SO fast?!?!?