On the first day of the program, you briefly explain the rules and expectations of the classroom economy as you would with any classroom management system. You then give the students a syllabus they can take home and read as homework.

• Familiarize yourself with the classroom economy syllabus and customize it as needed for your classroom.
• Create student folders to be handed out at the start of class. (Items to include are listed in Preparing Materials.)
• Create any customized visual displays of your jobs, bonuses, and fines lists if you desire (posters, bulletin boards, etc.). Or plan how students can create these.

Welcome the students and inform them that they'll be earning and spending money throughout the year. Let them know that they will each be paid, in classroom dollars, for holding the job of "exemplary student" and that they can apply for additional jobs or a business license to increase their earning potential.

Hand out the folders you created and ask the students to take out the syllabus. Assign them a due date (potentially within the next few days) for reading Part One of the syllabus.