expert

=Use your lessons in a classroom economy=

STEP-BY-STEP directions for setting up your classroom economy / microsociety:

 * FIRST**, have students set up a simple spreadsheet to track their currency. You can use Google Docs (recommended), MS Excel, OpenOffice Calc, etc. I guarantee they will no longer dread learning spreadsheets!

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 * SECOND**, turn your students into "IRS Auditors"! A very simple and effective technique to ensure everyone is "playing by the rules". This also enhances student independence and self-regulation, a requirement of participation in 21st century society, by allowing the freedom to negotiate and navigate within the standards of the greater learning community.

Simple instructions on how to conduct an audit:
 * 1) Every couple of weeks announce an upcoming audit. Only conduct "Surprise Audits" if you have told them to expect such.
 * 2) On audit day have students switch seats - "move "x" seats to your right" seems to work pretty well. I recommend allowing the last 40 min. of class for the very 1st audit.
 * 3) Now, each student should check the spreadsheet of the person whose seat they are sitting.
 * 4) If they find a mistake, they may negotiate a "correction" fee of up to 50% of the other student's total account balance. If the offender has $0, the auditor may charge up to $500 - money must be borrowed, with possible interest, from either another student or the "bank" (teacher). Some are nice and charge nothing, while the aspiring "Donald Trumps" of the room will always charge full price for corrections. Very fun and interesting to watch.
 * 5) Special Rule 1: If the auditor finds the mistake, but doesn't know how to fix it, they must negotiate a price and sub-contract another student to help fix it. If the teacher has to step in, both parties automatically get charged 50% of their total account balance.
 * 6) Special Rule 2: If the auditor MISSES a mistake, and it is found by the student being audited within 5 minutes of audit end, the audited student may levy a "reverse charge" against the auditor of up to 50% of the total account balance.
 * 7) Simply put, their spreadsheet is just like a simple checkbook in that it needs to reflect a description of each transaction, track MONEY IN and MONEY OUT, and contain an accurate balance.


 * THIRD**, create a "map" of your classroom that identifies property like desks, objects, "special" spots in the room, etc. I recommend Google Spreadsheets becuase it is EXTREMELY simple to learn and use and it **automatically updates** changes to your spreadsheet if you post it online for your students to see (see below). How cool!


 * 1) Special Property Rule 1: Property transactions should only occur during the last 5 min. of class on a first come basis. This allows the teacher to open the spreadsheet, record transactions, and keep students focused.
 * 2) Special Property Rule 2: Require students to "pay rent" on their desks at predetermined times (every 1-2 weeks seems to work well). Rent may be paid to the "bank" (teacher) or another student if they own the seat.

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Once you have your basic economy set up and functional, make it your own by experimenting with adding fun "extras". Remember games like "Candy Land", "Monopoly", "Payday", "Life", The Sims, etc.? These games are great resources for coming up with fun little "extras" to further "gamify" your classroom and engage students in a simulated "real world" environment.

Example of an "extra" I think I got from the game "Life" - project a picture of flooded carpet at a random point in your class with the caption "Oh No! Your house flooded! Pay $100 for new carpet!" Maybe add that "Only uninsured homeowners pay - renters are covered by their landlords! I hope all the little Donald Trumps in here purchased insurance for their rental properties :)" Sound effects are always fun, too. Now sit back and watch their reactions!