BP3_Zefty

Well, I have to say that this was NOT the type of Web 2.0 tool I was looking for when I began perusing the Go2Web2.0 site!  I was planning on finding a fluency or reading site that I could add to my toolbox.  What I found instead was Zefty.com, a website designed to track and manage the allowance of your child online in addition to teaching responsible money management to children.  I immediately realized that while I thought I should be looking for something more "academic" in nature, this was the solution to a problem I've had since the beginning of the year.  

We have a cash currency system tied to a school-wide Positive Behavior System.  When students behave and/or make good decisions (doing homework, quiet in hallways, anything "good," etc.), they earn cash.  Although the system is good one, there are definitely some drawbacks.  The two that are ongoing issues are the expense of printing "cash" and the issue of "cash" being lost or stolen. 

With some tweaking, this site is the solution to my problem.  Zefty is intended for parents to use with their children, however, I don't foresee any problems with converting it to use in the classroom.  I created an account for each student which allows me to add a dollar amount at any time I need to.  Students do not have the master password which would prevent them adding cash to their own account.  

When a student is ready to make a "purchase" from the school store, they write a check online, print it out, and can spend it like cash.  While not fully operational at this time, the Zefty site plans to create accounts online so that students can experience the visual credit/debit process that happens when they write a check.  This process has the potential to be an excellent money management teaching tool.

I have my student's accounts set up and we are ready to go.  Come November 1, we will be opening up Zefty.com to make deposits and withdraws and put an end to the cash crisis we are currently facing.  Web 2.0 tools are abundant on the web, and I know my students are going to benefit from the discovery of this tool.