Introducing the 5/6A Bank ‘Earn and Learn’ Organisation

‘Earn and Learn’ Organisation Building a classroom economy is a motivating and fun way to engage students in upper primary classrooms. It reinforces important economic and mathematics skills, develops student independence and self-direction, and helps students manage their behaviours. Just as people in the real world are required to do jobs and have monetary responsibilities, students in my classroom are provided with a similar experience. They are assigned individual jobs for which they are paid a ‘salary’ each week (STARTING SALARY $80/week). They are responsible for paying weekly ‘rent’ ($10/week) for their desk. In addition, students can earn bonuses or pay fines depending on behaviour and work choices. Fines and bonuses have been negotiated as a stage which has ensured student ownership of this program (BONUSES AND FINES OUTLINED BELOW). Once a week students are required to do their ‘banking’ and work out how much money they have by adding credits and subtracting debits from throughout the week (These are recorded daily by the teacher). Our classroom bank is called ‘5/6A BANK’ and each student has their own personal bank book to keep track of their finances.

Athletic Administrator ‘Earn and Learn’ Class Jobs Tour Guide Leads the class when walking around the school Secretary Collects and distributes messages and notes. Monitors equipment such as pencils, scissors and sticky tape. Computer Technician Assists with class technology – computers, iPads, etc. Security Closes and locks windows and doors. Closes blinds when required. Hygiene Officer Cleans tables and equipment, refills, tissues as required. Librarian Keeps the class library tidy and responsible for monitoring novel sets Casual Staff Replaces a student when are absent. Distributor Hands out books and worksheets. Electrician Adjusts lighting, heating and cooling as necessary for various activities. Recycler Empties recycling bin when required. Medic Escorts injured students to sick bay and collects first aid equipment as required. Police Officer Assists teacher with monitoring the class, recording fines and bonuses each day Inspector Records when students hand in their homework, monitors due dates. Attendance Monitor Records daily attendance. Shop Keeper Responsible for managing the class store, adjusting prices, etc. Courier Delivers messages or packages to the office or other classrooms. Personal Assistant Performs duties to assist the teacher. Banker Oversees student banking, checks bank books. Art Assistant Helps with art equipment and supplies. Athletic Administrator Distributes and manages sports equipment.

‘Earn and Learn’ Bonuses and Fines Bonuses Fines Homework/ Reading log $20 Speeding $10 Good Citizenship Disturbing the peace $15 Quality work Dishonesty $50 Persistence Loitering Cooperation Littering/Untidiness Win Bins $2 Outside rules broken Additional rewards from teacher Disrespecting property $30 Unsafe practises Forgetting hat for sport

‘Earn and Learn’ Banking Each Friday students will complete their banking for the week using their individual bank books Date Description Credit (+) Debit (-) Balance   $0.00

‘Earn and Learn’ Class Store The class store will open once a week on a FRIDAY. A range of small items or reward cards are available for purchase and prices will vary . If they would like to buy something from the class store, they are required to write out a cheque for the corresponding amount, and then deduct this amount in their bank book. Once this is complete, they may go to the shopkeepers and purchase their reward using the cheque. At any time the store is open, students can only purchase one item or reward card each. The banker must also assist the shopkeepers and check that students have correctly completed cheques and adjusted their bank balances.

‘Earn and Learn’ Class Store