Each school year brings a whole new class of different students than the years before which creates a new classroom environment. Each year, classroom management systems you have used in the past will work again and sometimes they do not. I have used ClassDojo in my classroom since I began teaching four years ago and every year my classes respond well to this web 2.0 behavior management system, more so than other management systems I have spent days creating or came up with on the fly.
ClassDojo is free for teachers and a great way to positively interact with students and parents, who can join your class for free as well. This is a “device agnostic” tool (Moorefield-Lang, 2014) which can be accessed online or through the ClassDojo app (Apple or Google Play) using a computer, iPad, or smartphone. This allows teachers and caregivers the opportunity to use the tool anywhere, anytime.
How to Use ClassDojo:
- Create your class(es) with student’s first and last names. Once created, each student will be given a fun, colorful Dojo monster avatar that can be changed if you or the student wish.
- Within each class, you can add positive or negative feedback based on a 1-5 point scale. You can edit the feedback within any class at any point (increase/decrease point value, add new feedback, delete feedback, etc.)
- Teachers can give feedback to individual students, the whole class, or multiple students at a time.
- Students can save or redeem points to earn rewards set by the teacher. The rewards could be daily, weekly, or monthly. There is also an option to reset points and start over, if desired by the teacher.
- Students and teachers can take pictures or videos to upload to the classroom portfolio or individual student portfolios.
- Caregivers are able to join the class by inputting a code via their smartphone, tablet, or computer to check the feedback their child, pictures/videos posted to their child’s page or the class page, and message (similar to SMS text messaging) the teacher.
- Teachers can take attendance on the main page so that absent students do not get feedback that day
- The toolkit feature allows teachers to set timers, randomly group students (there is also a “Don’t group together” feature for students who may not work well together), use a noise meter for classroom noise, and more.
- Teachers can also create groups (boys/girls, table numbers, etc.) as another way to give feedback to students
Stumbling upon the Elementary Librarian blog, I was exposed to how ClassDojo could actually work within a school library, and I was not disappointed! This podcast from Elementary Librarian was rather helpful in understanding exactly how to use ClassDojo in the library and the benefits the school librarian and students can gain by implementing this system. In the podcast, it is shared that students can learn how to be a good library citizen and learn library skills through providing them with positive feedback on ClassDojo for things like helping keep the library clean and tidy, returning books on time, being careful with resources and materials, etc. One thing to be considered is if the school librarian does decide to use this tool, they will have to create a class for each homeroom class. Although this is time consuming at first, I think it would be a really great benefit in the long run for the library’s management as well as behaviors.
Reasons to Use ClassDojo in School Libraries:
- Easily establish rules and expectations of school library with students
- Students can redeem points for fun library treats and incentives (bookmarks, extra time with makerspaces, book fair gift cards, etc.)
- Parents can get involved in the happenings of the school library via videos or pictures posted by the school librarian
- Students learn how to become good library citizens as they behave and interact with the library and librarian through a positive, reinforcing way
References
Moorefield-Lang, H. (2014). An exploration and explanation of device agnostic tools. Library Media Connection, 33(1), 8-9.
All Things: School Libraries 
Hey Rachel-
I have seen Dojo used in classrooms and always hear teachers talking about it with their students. I had not thought about using it as a library tool. That’s a very interesting idea. I have one or two classes wgo always need an extra reminder to be quiet for storytime and wait until I call on them to speak. ClassDojo could be an excellent way to reign them in and have them be accountable for their actions. The older classes could use for keeping the shelves tidy and not leaving their trash for sure!
thanks for sharing-
Mary Rhett Davidson
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Mary,
I had not thought of using it for libraries either but now I feel like it is definitely worth trying out! I feel like it’d be a great way to not only teach library procedures and skills to students but they can see the library as a fun place to be with various rewards in place.
Thanks for stopping by!
Rachel
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