Bring in the Bucks: A Fun and Effective Behavior Management System
Every classroom needs a consistent and flexible behavior management system, especially in special education settings. Over the years, I’ve tried several systems point charts, checkbooks, and more. One of my favorite strategies was inspired by my early teaching days in a low economic school setting: the Bring in the Bucks system. This simple yet effective method made behavior expectations clear and fun for students—and most importantly, it worked.
What Is Bring in the Bucks?
Bring in the Bucks is a classroom-based reward system that uses fake money to reinforce positive behavior. It’s easy to set up, flexible for all students, and provides a real-world connection to money and life skills. My students LOVED this system. Some competed to collect the most money, others wanted lots of small bills to appear rich, and some went straight for the big bucks. It was incredibly motivating and a great tool for behavior management.
Getting Started
Before implementing this system, gather the following materials:
- Bring in the Bucks Freebie
- A savings account sheet for each student
- One envelope per student for storing their money (let them decorate it then laminate for durability)
- Laminated classroom money in various denominations (recommend using different colors for each amount)
Tip: Yes, laminating the money takes time but it’ll last for years. I still use my original set!
How Students Earn Money
In my special education resource room, students could earn up to $5 per day by:
- Walking in quietly and gathering their belongings
- Avoiding disruptions or distracting others
- Following directions the first time
- Completing work or asking questions when needed
- Asking permission before walking around
That adds up to a maximum of $25 per week.
Weekly Routine
On Fridays, students:
- Bank their earnings
- Record deposits in their Savings Account book
- Choose to spend or save their money
This routine provided a meaningful structure and built anticipation throughout the week.
Reward Ideas
Be sure to check out my full Effort Tracker blog post for more reward ideas. You don’t need to spend much, some of the most popular rewards were:
- Chromebook choice time (10 minutes is a hit!)
- School supplies
- Grab bag surprises
- Books
- Food or small trinkets
Academic & Life Skill Benefits
One thing I love about this behavior management system is that it goes beyond just managing behaviors it also teaches real-world life skills:
Math Skills
Not all my special education students received direct math support, but this system allowed us to practice:
- Adding and subtracting with and without regrouping
- Working with one- and two digit numbers
Money Skills
Students learned how to:
- Count mixed bills
- Transition between tens, fives, and ones
- Practice money skills in partners, small groups, or independently
Saving vs. Spending
Some students spent their money weekly, while others saved for bigger rewards. Watching peers save and “buy” more expensive items motivated others to rethink their strategy.
Life Skills
Many of our students don’t get opportunities to practice handling money at home. This system gave them exposure to a valuable, practical life skill they will use forever.
Adapt and Modify
Over the years, I’ve adapted this system for group and individual use. A friend used a version with laminated piggy banks and coin cutouts for her reading groups. I’ve also tied the system into individualized behavior charts students earned money instead of points or stickers. The flexibility of this system makes it one of my all-time favorites.
(And yes, I’ve found plenty of fake money in students’ laundry over the years!)
Final Thoughts
Both the Effort Tracker and Bring in the Bucks systems were highly effective in my classroom. The key to any behavior management system is consistency, flexibility, and student buy in. Make it meaningful, keep it fun, and don’t be afraid to adapt it for your classroom’s needs.
Calls to Action
- Download the Bring in the Bucks Freebie to get started.
- Print and laminate money and envelopes for durability.
- Introduce the rules and expectations clearly to your students.
- Model how to earn, count, and bank money during the first week.
- Set up a reward menu with student input to boost motivation.
- Stay consistent and review expectations regularly.
- Track progress and celebrate both behavior and academic growth.
- Reflect and adapt the system based on your students’ needs throughout the year.
- Check out a previous blog post on another behavior management System: Effort Trackers
- Other Special Education Resource:
Let this system become a powerful, positive force in your classroom!
