I have used money in my classroom for the past 13 years. I think it is a great motivator for my students, and it teaches them responsibility of keeping track of their money. Although the money isn't real, it is real to the students because they get to use the money to purchase things on "Gilchrist Gold Day".
At the beginning of the year, and after each Gold Day, my students make a construction paper wallet and decorate it. They are to write their name on the back of their Gold to keep others from finding it and keeping it.
Gilchrist Gold Day is a shopping day. My mom usually comes and helps. I hold it about the last hour of the day and usually only about seven times a year. On this day, I put out tons of toys, games, school supplies, action figures, McDonald's toys, etc.... I usually buy all my items at garage sales and have stocked up each year so I always have enough.
At the beginning of the year, I have Gilchrist Gold Day on the second Friday of the school year. I do it so quickly because I want students to know what they are earning their money for. They see quickly that they don't want to miss out and they really strive for good behavior so they can earn a bunch for the next shopping day. After the first Gold Day, I usually hold shopping days every five to six weeks.
Important things about how my system works to be truly effective:
- I never tell the students when the shopping day will be and they have to be in attendance to shop - or they miss out! (Attendance is important - they need to be at school everyday)
- I never let the students save their money throughout the year. If a student is really good at the beginning of the year, but then their behavior does a 360, they should not get a reward for it. I feel that this would just reward the negative behavior and I never do that in my classroom.
- I change my money using AmazingClassroom's editable money templates. I type in my name and the amount, and my money prints perfectly. So if I use money with a treasure chest for the first shopping day, I may use money with animals the next Gold Day. This keeps students from using old money for old behaviors when they shop.
- I charge for EXTRA restroom and drink breaks. If you are teaching a lower grade, such as kindergarten and 1st, I wouldn't recommend this. I have frequent flyers in third that want to constantly go to the bathroom and get a drink. I charge them $5.00 or $10.00 (depending on the time of year). Many will only spend their money on the restroom and drink before they really know what the shopping day is like. When shopping day comes and those kids have hardly any money, I will hear other students say, "You spent all your money on the bathroom." They seem to learn pretty quickly to save it for Gold Day, rather than the bathroom and drinks.
- NO TRADING OR SHARING OF MONEY IS ALLOWED! This is strictly prohibited in my classroom. Students are not allowed to share their money or purchase items for others. Again, this is a reward system for behavior and following directions. It's not fair for a student who didn't earn enough money to be rewarded for negative behavior.
- When Gilchrist Gold Day comes, the person with the highest amount of money shops first. All of the names are written on chart paper and I write their names and their Gilchrist Gold amount on the chart. The students are called to shop in order from greatest to least, so they get the first pick of the items. Sometimes I have parent volunteers to help out on this day, but my mom always comes and helps with shopping day.
This is my behavior chart. I used electrical tape on my whiteboard (it peels off easily and doesn't damage the board). It is sectioned off into 25 rows (one for each student). To the very left of the strips I have speed signs that start at 5 and go up to 100. (They are in increments of five). At the bottom of their row is an airplane. When they exhibit good behavior they move their airplane up one notch or 5 miles. Their goal is to reach the top.
Each week I have a class meeting and students are given their prizes for how many miles they moved. Below is my prize sheet that shows what students earn as they move up the chart for positive behavior.
- Unfortunately it does occur in all classrooms. To the left of the words behavior chart. There are 6 spaces. These are for negative behaviors.
Underneath their airplanes I put a stop sign with each student's name. These are laminated and on magnets like the airplanes. (They aren't in the picture yet, so you can't see them in the pic) but they are placed underneath each student's airplane.
If a student exhibits negative behaviors, their stop sign is placed on the top negative space. They can't move their airplane up the positive chart for the day because they had to move their stop sign to the consequences side. Tomorrow they can move their airplane up again if they exhibit positive and/or good behaviors. Below are the road signs with the negative consequences.
- 1. WARNING - (nothing happens to the student here, except they can't move their airplane up any more for the day. They don't get a note in planner, it is just a warning for them.
- 2. NOTE IN PLANNER/MISS 5 MINUTES OF RECESS - This is their second negative behavior. They get a note in planner and miss 5 minutes of recess.
- 3. REFOCUS AREA - this is a secluded (sort of) place in the room, or separate area where students can go to calm down or to work quietly away from others. Sometimes when they go to this area I have them reflect about their area
- 4. BUDDY ROOM - I use another classroom as a buddy room. When and if the student moves their stop sign to this location, they go to another room to reflect, calm down, and get away from the situation.
- 5. CALL HOME - When and if a student still is exhibiting the negative behaviors after returning from the buddy room, I will make a call home. I also let the parent know that if the child's behaviors continue, they will be given an office referral.
- 6. OFFICE REFERRAL - When and if a student still exhibits the negative behavior, an office referral will be written and they will have the consequence from our school code of conduct book. Most likely, if it is their first offense they will have one or 2 hours of detention.
WAYS FOR STUDENTS TO EARN CLASSROOM MONEY
Students can earn classroom money for all different reasons. They include, but aren't limited to:
Working constructively on an activity when they finish their classwork
Following directions the first time they are given
Showing respect and random acts of kindness to others
Walking in the hallway quietly and in line basics
Working quietly or cooperatively in groups
Moving up the positive behavior chart
Writing goals in their goal journals
Turning in homework on time
Helping out in the classroom
Below are close up pictures of the airplanes I made and the stop signs I use for my grid chart.
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| These are the airplanes where students move up the mileage chart and earn prizes for good behavior. |
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| These are the stop signs that are laminated. These go underneath each student's airplane. If they display a negative behavior, the stop sign gets place on the negative consequences chart. |
