Choices Program

Children make choices every day. In this classroom children are encouraged to be good students. Students devote time and attention to acquire information and knowledge. If some children decide not to be students they must live with their decisions.

To teach children skills that will help them the rest of their lives they are introduced to the Choices Program their first day of school. This program introduces an economic system (somewhat like a Monopoly game) into the classroom. I implement the Choices Program in self contained (elementary school) classrooms!

Like the Monoploy game students learn about money, rent, ownership (delayed gratification), and taxes.

Unlike the Monoploy game students will learn about things their parents/guardians have to deal with every day like jobs, and organizing and planning. For example, students are responsible for keeping track of any money they earn and deciding how to spend their money.

.

Key components of the Choices Program:

• Job Board . Each student must apply for a classroom job and work because each student pays rent.
• Rent. Students pay monthly rent for their seat. Rent is more then money earned from jobs.
• Bonus Money. Students can earn additional money by doing well in class, displaying outstanding citizenship and participating in certain optional activities
• Ownership. Students may buy their seat or another persons seat at any time by paying three times the rental amount.
• Payday. Is the last Friday of each month.
• Auction. Student may use their money to buy school supplies, books, sports equipment and so on.

The Choices program is adapted from programs developed by Rafe Esquith (an American Teacher of the Year award winner) and Heather Renz (Microsoft Worldwide Innovative Teacher award winner at http://www.mrsrenz.net/).