Troy students learn about real world math with Classroom Economy

Students at two Troy School District 30-C schools are broadening their understanding of how mathematics relates to the everyday world by participating in Math Room Economy programs this year.

The students earn “money” by working jobs in the classroom and for good behaviors and spend their earnings on rent or mortgage, insurance, property taxes and such optional items as having lunch with the teacher and a friend.

At Troy Shorewood:

Bridget McMahon, Accelerated Specialist teacher at Troy Shorewood Elementary School, has had her own classroom economy program the past 10 years. It’s an excellent way to teach the mathematics of money and spending, she said, as well as a tool for behavior management.

“Using classroom currency,” McMahon said, “students earn money for their classroom jobs and will be paying rent or a mortgage each month for their seats. They can also earn cash bonuses for helping others, doing well on assignments and participating in extra activities.”

In addition to the math skills, McMahon’s classroom economy program helps her students learn valuable life skills, such as saving money for spending goals and the value of delayed gratification.

“The children in my classroom have been part of an economy system that parallels the real world,” McMahon said. “This year, the children will also be invited to be a part of the interview team for next year’s social work intern. I thought this was an amazing story because the children have always taken pride in being interviewed for their job, but this year they also got to be on the other side of the interviews as well.”

Shorewood teacher Becky Lara also incorporates classroom economy into her curriculum.

At Troy Hofer:

Jennifer Komosa, Troy Hofer Elementary School Accelerated Specialist, also has a classroom economy system in her math classes of third- and fourth-graders. She got the idea from her colleague McMahon a few years ago.

“It’s a great management system that teaches economics,” she said. “It’s a huge part of my classroom.”

Each student in Komosa’s classes holds a position.

“Each student has a classroom job to perform, such as an accountant, clerk, officer, librarian, technology supervisor, custodian, messenger or homework monitor,” Komosa said, “and they all get a salary. Our clerks write the ‘paychecks.’ We also have monthly auctions for big ticket items and a classroom store they can buy things from.”

During the first half of the year, both teachers rotate their students through the various classroom jobs. When they’re all trained, they dress up and bring their resumes to the teachers to interview for the jobs they will hold the rest of the year.