Students love having their good behavior acknowledged and rewarded…and the classroom money system is a fun way to do just that! At the beginning of the year, give students a paper bag to decorate. It will serve as their personal “bank.” (You can also make construction paper “wallets” with students.) Then, it’s time to make some money! Create your own personalized tender for $1, $5, $10 and $20, or print out our Classroom Money download and make copies to cut out. Now you can reward students for everything from turning in homework assignments and good citizenship to participating in discussions and transitioning early. Decide what behaviors and attitudes you’d like to reward!

• Cashing In
  There are several ways students can “cash in” their classroom money. If you want to provide them with material prizes, ask parents to bring in small, school-friendly items such as pads of office paper, pencils and mini write & wipe boards. Put these prizes into bins labeled with varying dollar amounts. You could even bring in a couple of larger prizes for students who really save their classroom cash! Keep track of each student’s spending with a classroom graph. That way you can provide a special reward for the student who earned the most cash at the end of the year.
• Privileges as Prizes
  Instead of (or in addition to) material prizes, your students could cash in their money for “privileges.” Here’s a list of privileges students might enjoy:
  • Eat lunch with the teacher/teacher and a friend
  • Serve as Teacher’s Helper for the day
  • Lead the line
  • Choose the book for read-aloud time
  • Play favorite music for the class
  • Play a favorite game at recess or in PE
  • Sit in the teacher’s chair
  • Get extra computer time
  • Take home a class book or game for the night/weekend
  • Receive a positive call home from the teacher

The lunch count can be harried and stressful…but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some fun ways to incorporate the lunch count into your morning routine.

• Lunch Graph
  For this lunch count method, you need to do a little bit of beginning-of-the-year prep. Take a picture of each student on the first day of class. Attach a name card to the bottom of the picture and some magnetic tape or hook & loop tape to the back. Then, create your graph on a magnetic-receptive surface or, if you’re using hook & loop tape, divide a piece of posterboard into three columns. Attach a long strip of hook & loop tape (the loop side) down the length of each column on the posterboard. Regardless of the surface you’re using, designate a column for each lunch option your school offers (hot lunch, cold lunch, brought lunch). You may want to use pictures if you’re working with younger or ELL students. When students enter the classroom in the morning, they simply move their picture to the appropriate column to select their lunch option. With just a glance at the graph, you can see who needs to make a selection, jot down the lunch count—and even check attendance.



• Lunch Cups
  This super-easy lunch count method requires three plastic cups and a wooden craft stick for each student. Cover the cups with construction paper and label each with a lunch option. (Again, you may want to use pictures if you’re working with younger or ELL students.) Then, write each student’s name on a craft stick. In no time, students will develop the habit of grabbing their lunch stick and placing it in the correct cup each morning.



• Lunch Poster
  The lunch count poster can double as a quick way to take attendance! You need a piece of posterboard, a library pocket for each student and wooden craft sticks. Begin by attaching a library pocket labeled with each student’s name to your posterboard. To prepare the craft sticks, color one side red (to represent hot lunch) and the other side blue (cold lunch). Leave several sticks blank for students who’ve brought their lunch to school. When students enter the classroom, they just grab the appropriate craft stick and place it in their pocket with the correct side facing out.

Build students’ confidence, instill a sense of community and responsibility, and save time…by assigning your students classroom jobs! Getting everybody involved can be really fun. Here are a few positions students will be happy to fill:

• Helping Hands
  Create a chart. On the left side, list student jobs. (Print and cut out the Classroom Jobs download for icons if desired.) When listing jobs on the chart, space them 5-6" apart. Next to each job, attach the hook side of a hook & loop fastener. Rather than using name tags, invite each student to trace their handprint on construction paper. Encourage students to cut out and decorate their handprint before they return it to you. After you’ve written students’ names on their handprints with permanent marker, place the other side of the hook & loop fastener on the back. Fasten each handprint on the chart next to the student’s responsibility. Rotate jobs by changing the placement of the handprints. Many hands will make light work…and a strong classroom community!
• Busy Bees
  Print the Busy Bees hive and bees download, and label each space on the hive with a different class job. Color the hive a golden yellow color. Cut out the bees and give one to each student. Then, provide students with markers so they can decorate their bee and write their name on it. Using hook & loop fastener, place the bees on the hive area that corresponds to the students’ newly assigned jobs. Rotate the Busy Bees jobs accordingly. If you would like to show more classroom jobs on your hive, try printing the hive on an acetate sheet and projecting it onto a posterboard. Trace the hive outline but not the job title boxes. Color the poster and add your job titles. Be sure to leave enough space for the bees.