When students enter the Wylie East Intermediate fifth-grade classrooms of Mrs. Julia Wishart and Mrs. Lisa Boeshart, they know it’s time to work. In addition to calculating density, solving math problems and writing essays, these students hold down a “paid position” in their classroom workforce. And, yes, the money is fake, but according to the kids the skills they are learning are as realistic as it gets.
Since the second six weeks of school, students have been applying for jobs to help their classroom run smoothly. Every six weeks, they get paid and then apply for another. There are 13 jobs available that range from zoologist to store manager to inspector to historian. Salaries run between $500-$625 depending on the task and frequency of the job.
“We do get to apply for our top 3 choices,” said Graham McLean, who currently works as an administrative assistant. He said the top favorite jobs are zoologist, banker and maintenance officer; however, he noted zoology isn’t the highest paying, but the other two jobs are, respectively, and then the job of inspector.
“Zoologist is the favorite because you get to feed Elton, the bearded dragon, and Matilda, the ball python, and clean their cages,” Graham added.
Each job description, including required skills and salary, is posted for students to see. Annabelle Neese, currently working as a maintenance officer, said when they apply for a job, they create a resume to include with their application.
Eli Ethredge, a banker this six weeks, believes learning about economics in such a way is helpful because it’s a glimpse of reality. “You get to see what your parents do, and if it’s actually that hard,” said Ethredge. “You also can change jobs to try new things every six weeks.”
Annabelle agreed, adding that having to work together in the classroom despite your attitude or circumstances teaches resilience and perspective.
“I think it’s good for kids to learn; in the real world, you can get overwhelmed…but you still have to show up and try your best. You also learn you get rewarded for hard work,” said Annabelle. “I wanted to be a basketball player, but as I get older, I realize that’s not as likely, so this expands our palate.”
Kamso Ezeoke, a store manager, feels that in addition to learning about different jobs, it also gives one the opportunity to help others in areas they are good in. “My parents have always said, ‘save your money’ so I have good management skills,” said Kamso. “I can encourage others to do better or explain how you do it.”
While the jobs vary in responsibilities, all require the students to learn and practice skills related to financial literacy like the value of earning a paycheck, record-keeping, allocating money for expenses and savings. The students pay rent and utilities, go shopping, earn bonuses and receive fines, which are all co-managed online by the students and teachers using a learning tool called ClassBank.
According to Mrs. Wishart, her students seem to genuinely enjoy working at their jobs, taking ownership in their learning.
“In the three years I’ve done this, I haven’t had any student complain about really any aspect of our classroom economy. We have so many jobs to choose from, each with different skills required, so students can always find their niche or can get out of their comfort zone and apply for something new,” she said. “I’ve also seen this really benefit the students who may have a tougher time academically because it allows them to shine in different ways. I think there’s a real sense of pride that comes from doing work and doing it well.”
Wishart said the only complaint is a mutual one, and it has to do with taxes. “The only thing I’ve ever gotten a few grumbles about is when they get their W-2 in April and have to calculate their tax returns during math class, but I feel the same way…so I can’t blame them!”
By Kristen Johnson
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