How Stash101 Saved My Classroom
Stash101 kept my students engaged during the challenges of virtual learning.
Don’t miss my job list! You can duplicate the file and add your own custom jobs.
Discovering Stash101 Right on Time
Thanks to Stash101, teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic became manageable. By integrating Stash101’s virtual banking and classroom management platform into my own curriculum, I was able to replace my outdated paper economy system, which meant turning away from my outdated, inefficient routine.
Before using Stash101, my students were lacking motivation, skipping class, and failing to reach benchmark achievements. I needed a way to support my students’ success, accomplish curriculum milestones, and manage the evolving hardships of virtual and in-person teaching. And after reviewing the features of Stash101, I couldn’t deny the potential value that it could bring to my profession, my students, and our classroom environment.
Creating a Digital Classroom Economy
Stash101 became our go-to financial literacy tool, but more importantly, it supported our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). I was able to create a digital token economy system that integrated into our learning topics, with customization options that brought immeasurable value to my teaching and propelled my class into autopilot. Thanks to the abundant features for various learners, Stash101 let me create a classroom that was accessible to all of my students, especially when it came to managing their conduct and outcomes.
My students began to more eagerly participate in class by independently reviewing main ideas, arriving on time, collaborating on projects, monitoring phone use, and holding each other accountable.
A classroom economy puts a system in place for students to earn meaningful incentives for wanted behaviors—and with the help of Stash101’s short training videos, I was easily able to create and tailor my behavior-management system. The platform empowered my students to apply for real (in-person or virtual) classroom jobs, receive a paycheck, earn bonuses, and avoid fines—all with simulated money. I’ve included the list of jobs that I created for my students. These jobs can work in in-person, remote, or hybrid classrooms.
To make your own copy of this list, you can open the Google Sheet with the link above, click “File” in the top left corner and then click “Make a Copy.”
Integrating the Curriculum
Combining multiple curriculums was not an option for me, considering that I was doing all that I could just to stay afloat while teaching during the pandemic. I needed methods and strategies that would excite my students while supporting my classroom management. How could I best reach my students without sacrificing class time? How would I be able to synthesize my own curriculum with Stash101?
The challenges presented by virtual teaching allowed me to explore my students' needs from a new perspective. Low attendance rates, low student participation, boring district-imposed learning modules, and a world of disarray prevented my students from connecting to meaningful learning when classes suddenly became remote. Implementing Stash101 became the best possible solution and a dream come true for virtual teaching.
With jobs, paychecks, lively discussions, and rewards for engaging in class, I suddenly had my students back. Attendance rates and engagement increased, on camera behaviors shifted, and my students were grateful for the opportunity to learn money and decision making skills.
Their positive emails and messages about their excitement for Stash101 continued to validate the benefits of the education this platform provided. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the platform is to navigate and integrate into our curriculum. I had the ability to create and grade my own quizzes, assign relevant jobs, reward my students for their efforts, redirect unwanted behaviors, and give my students control of their learning.
After using Stash101, I’m confident that teachers of all subjects can supplement their curricula by using the platform as part of their daily, weekly, or monthly classroom routine. For example, if I were to use Stash101 with my ELA Special Education self-contained middle school students, I would create accessible jobs like Class Tutor, Library Manager, Daily Topic Instructor, Volume Supervisor, and Vocabulary Manager. There is an infinite number of ways to customize Stash101 to support your students’ unique needs.
Putting My Class on Autopilot
Stash101 gave me the power to establish a classroom economy that motivated my students to collaborate and act. They were eager to take part in their jobs and supported each other with few or no prompts.
After delegating some of my teacher tasks to students, I watched as my classroom became our classroom and my responsibilities became our shared responsibilities. Students began taking attendance, monitoring hall passes, delivering messages, discussing main ideas, and applying bonuses or fines.
I used paychecks and bonus cash to incentivize students to maintain their job responsibilities and complete their assignments. I was also able to keep them focused and motivated by using the Stash101 auctions and marketplace, which let students spend their simulated earnings on real items and experiences. For example, they could bid on or buy gift cards, snacks, drinks, homework passes, phone passes, and free-time passes. Being able to get tangible items in exchange for their simulated earnings gave my students the motivation to participate and contribute.
Overall, we functioned as a team, holding each other accountable and implementing fines for unwanted or distracting behaviors. For instance, if one of our classmates used their phone inappropriately, the Phone Supervisor would inform the Banker, who would then add a fine to that student's account. My students now had more control of their class than ever before, especially since the redirection of their behaviors was applied by their peers.
To extend the PBIS, I created QR code cash tickets that students could scan on their phone to support good behaviors in the cafeteria, and our administrators used QR code cash to motivate students in the hallways or whenever they observed wanted behaviors.
Our classroom economy became a broader school economy with the support of the Stash101 platform—and by creating a classroom jobs system that worked in-person and remotely, I gained back the time I needed to teach!
Accommodating All Learners
Beginning the school year amidst a pandemic presented many challenges for the aspirational goals I had set for myself and my students. I knew I needed an abundance of resources to help my students achieve their academic and social-emotional goals.
By creating incentives within Stash101, I was able to empower my students to see their learning in a new light. For example, many of my students with ADD/ADHD began to experience positive support from their peers more often than negative interactions. In my Spanish-speaking class, students with the job of Tutor or Human Resource supported those who had limited English proficiency. Also, some of my SLD and ASD students became more engaged and communicative, crushing their IEP goals.
To make all of my students feel welcome in our class, I created jobs for social-emotional learning as well as jobs for students functioning at a lower grade level. Our Positivity Coach and Calm Coordinators began the class with mindful music and discussion, which allowed struggling learners to participate in our non-curricular routine. And jobs that occurred less frequently, with fewer requirements, gave all students the chance to participate and feel connected to their peers.
Looking Back
By stepping into new, unknown territory, I allowed space for my ideal classroom to blossom. Now, reflecting on my year with Stash101, I feel incredibly fortunate to have had such a rewarding experience with my students. Looking ahead, I feel confident that my learning experiences with Stash101 will continue to bring exponential added value to my teaching.
I am using this for the first time this semester. Still working out the kinks. I love your job list and how you have it organized in one spot. I have some similar jobs.