Build a Classroom Economy to Teach Responsibility

I learned this valuable classroom advice from a former colleague who learned it from her master teacher.  Set up your classroom using Bonus Bucks.  Bonus Bucks are the size of Monopoly money in the denominations of $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills.  Bonus Bucks can be earned from rewards of good behavior, classroom jobs, turning in homework etc.  Students must be responsible enough to save money for paying desk rent at the end of the month.  The rent is equal to the number of days in school for that month.  So, for most months the rent would be about $20.  Students are required to pay for privileges such as getting a drink of water, going to the bathroom, getting a new sharpened pencil, extra recess, trips to the treasure box, etc.  Students may also be fined as a consequence for bad behavior.  If students don’t have enough money at the end of the month to pay for rent, they must be in debt and find a way to work it off such as picking up trash, or helping the teacher, etc.  Students learn the importance of saving their money and some bring in their own wallet to keep their Bonus Bucks in.

If you would like to purchase the Bonus Bucks Classroom Economy System, I have placed Bonus Bucks, a parent letter, a cooperative Bonus Buck, classroom job tags, and directions for using Bonus Bucks in your classroom on Teacher’s Pay Teachers. Click the image below to see more.