"Guess what? I have 15 panther dollars!" I hear almost daily from any of my 174 students.
"Can I buy a pencil? It's one panther dollar, right?" says the student who has lost his only pencil again.
Seventh graders are always looking for an opportunity to shine whether it is through classroom content or positive interactions with other students.
The positive behavior program we have started at my school, rewards students with school currency which we call Panther Dollars. Students can earn a dollar a variety of ways including helping a fellow student with a problem or participating in class. Students become extremely excited once the first dollar is handed out and strive to be better students and model positive behavior.
Through the use of the Panther Dollar system, students are actively involved in an economics lesson and are learning how to budget money. Students can spend their money on a variety of incentives including buying an extra day on an assignment, purchasing pencils, or buying a ticket into different activities during our monthly Panther Parties.
My Project
The ultimate goal is to have a Panther Dollar store where students can purchase snacks and school supplies. The store will be stocked with pencils, pens, highlighters, and snacks so students have an opportunity to be prepared for every class and the ability to warn the supplies themselves.
Students will be learning real life budgeting and responsibility. Students will have to set aside money if they want to participate in the monthly party and always make sure they have enough money to cover an accidental mistake such as forgetting their homework at home.
By giving my 174 seventh graders another opportunity to spend the money he or she has earned, students will continue to strive to earn dollars through positive behavior and classroom interaction.
When students are excited to participate in class, his or her learning becomes interactive and encourages lifelong learning as well as motivates students to continue to improve.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Kitzmann and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.