I have been toying with the idea of establishing a bank system in my classroom, and after deciding my class theme last week, I think I am going to do it. This is about what it will look like:I have 15 specialized jobs in my class (Class President, Materials Specialist, Class News Correspondent, Class Sanitation Specialist, Class Library Technician, Class Store Merchant, etc) and 12+ Classroom Citizens.
Every Friday, students will receive checks for their job salaries; the amount thereof to be determined by the job title and duties listed on their business cards. After receiving their check, they will need to deposit some of it, pay homework late fees or buy new pencils, etc at our school store, and then they will have some extra "class cash" to use as they will. It will buy them some privileges in our classroom (these are still to be hammered out). They will learn to cash checks, balance their own check books, write checks, and handle cash and change.
Additionally, each day, the class accountant will be responsible for looking up the daily exchange rate from Yen to USD. Students will be paid in either currency....and will be responsible for doing multiplicative conversions.
At the end of each Friday, class roles will switch (so that the lucrative salary for Class Pres ($100) can then be given to the old Materials Assistant ($55).
That's the plan... I'll keep you posted on how it goes.
Have you seen the documentary Hobart's Shakespeareans? I think you would really enjoy it. He has a pay system in his classrooms. I remember his kids pay rent on their desks. The desks at the front have the highest rent, the ones at the back have the lowest and it makes the front desks really desirable. He does some other really incredible things with his classroom. Good luck with yours. What's your job title in the classroom community? The Most Glorious High Empress of All?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a GREAT unit. It will work so nicely with your classroom theme too. :0)
ReplyDeleteMy only piece of unsolicited advice is...don't make anything so complicated that you have to spend all your time following up on it. It's hard enough to plan what you're doing the next day. However, if all this is planned ahead of time so the kids can take clear ownership, hurrah and huzzah.
You are going to be fabulous, Nessa!
p.s. That was Marie. Looks like Adam is logged onto blogger right now. :0)
ReplyDeleteSounds like I need to get busy and motivate the home schooled kids like that.
ReplyDeleteMom
Wait, so you're teaching them that they can buy the most important offices with money? Cynical game for those so young!!
ReplyDeleteJust kidding. Actually it just makes things more equal because anyone can aspire to office right?
I will be interested to see how this goes. Sounds like a great idea. Very well organized.
Celeste, remind us what grade you teach. I have a friend who's starting with a 4th grade class this fall and I want to alert her to your blog if it's relevant.
ReplyDeleteDave alerted me to your blog. Fun, fun. -- Cousine Tona