Classroom Economy Setup Guide
Build a simple, motivating money system for your students with Pocket Money.
What is a classroom economy?
A classroom economy turns everyday school life into a safe, real-world money practice. Students earn classroom currency for jobs, positive behavior, and academic effort. They can spend, save, or share their earnings. It builds responsibility, delayed gratification, and basic budgeting skills.
Earn
Students complete classroom jobs, meet goals, or help classmates to earn currency.
Spend
Students use earnings for rewards, privileges, or small prizes you define.
Save
Students set aside money for bigger rewards, teaching patience and planning.
Step 1: Set up your class
Start by creating your class in Pocket Money. Each class gets its own PIN for the teacher and a unique PIN for every student. Parents share the same PIN, so families can check balances from home without needing a separate account.
- One class per teacher makes reporting simple and private.
- Student profiles include a photo for easy identification.
- PINs can be reset anytime from the teacher dashboard.
Step 2: Define jobs and rewards
Make the economy concrete by listing jobs and rewards. Keep the numbers small and consistent so students can remember them. For example, a classroom job might pay $2, a kind act $1, and a completed homework streak $3. Rewards can range from a no-homework pass for $10 to a special helper badge for $20.
Step 3: Let students log their own money
Pocket Money lets students tap in their own received money, spending, and savings moves. This builds ownership and reduces the teacher's workload. The teacher review step keeps the records accurate and safe. At the end of the day, parents receive an automatic summary by email.
Tips for inclusive classrooms
For students with autism or moderate learning needs, use large text, emojis, and short sentences. Keep instructions under six words when possible. Pair symbols with words so students can log money independently. Celebrate effort over speed.