- One-sheet Summary for Teachers
- 90-second "Getting Started" video
- FAQs for Administrators
- Parent Take Home Letter
- Back-to-School Night Presentation
- Free Decoration Pack for the Classroom
- Student Introduction Video
- Tips from other Teachers
- The Basics of Student Accounts
- Professional Development Pack
- 24/7 Teacher Support
- Privacy Act
ClassDojo was created in 2011, and since then they continue to make great improvements. They encourage teachers to give feedback to make ClassDojo even better! Once teachers set-up an account there will automatically be a Demo Class available. Teachers can practice using the Demo Class before setting up their own class. Teachers will also notice five tabs located on the bottom of the page.
Teachers can keep track of attendance and tardies by using ClassDojo. This can be very convenient when teachers need to know haw many absences and tardies a student has. Usually the teacher would have to contact the Data Manager to obtain that information from PowerSchool. Not any more! That information will be readily available on ClassDojo.
The second tab available is "Award Multiple" students. Usually the teacher would have to individually select the students they want to give points to. By using Award Multiple, teachers can set-up groups or tables, that way they only have to click the group name once, and it will award all the students in that group at once. This is a time-saver feature!
The Random tab allows the teacher to randomly select a student. One click on Random and ClassDojo selects a student. The students love it! It makes a clicking noise as it shuffles through the monsters landing one one student and showing their name and monster on the screen.
ClassDojo added a timer for teachers. Since ClassDojo is displayed at all times, using the timer through ClassDojo makes it easier for the teacher. The timer will be displayed for students without having to close down ClassDojo.
Lastly, "Big Ideas". This is the newest addition. This was introduced in January of 2016. These videos are amazing! Not only do the students love to watch them, an important lesson is learned. It doesn't stop there. ClassDojo provides a discussion guide for each episode. The discussion guide also includes "take-home" questions for parents. This encourages them to watch the video at home and reinforce the concept at home. Teachers can also have the option to add the new skill to the classroom positive feedback board.
After the teacher adds his or her class roster they can name their classroom. Teachers will notice that the positive skills will already be created. Teachers can change the skills they want to focus on by deleting or renaming the recommended skills created by ClassDojo. They can also edit the weighted point. For example, each positive skill is worth one point. That can easily be changed based on the teachers discretion. Even though ClassDojo conveniently sets everything up for teachers, it can easily be modified by the teacher.
ClassDojo also offers a communication board between parents and teachers. This is separate from "Messages". The communication board is called Class Story. This feature allows teachers to send parents pictures of what's happening in the classroom. The pictures sent cannot be saved or downloaded. Parents can only view it on their device. After 12 months it will automatically be deleted for privacy.
The best way to communicate to parents before, during, or after-school hours is through messaging. This is a great tool for parents to communicate with the teacher without the teacher having to give his or her cell phone number. Since the app is downloaded on their phones an alert will notify the teacher and parent if a message is in the inbox. This makes it easier for teachers to help parents with any questions, especially homework.
My personal experience using ClassDojo has positively changed the communication between me and my students parents. I can easily contact the parent with any questions or concerns. Also, parents can see what their child is doing throughout the day. Every time I award a point to a student the parent can view the report. It is real time, therefore as soon as I give the point it shows up on the student report.
ClassDojo has changed the behavior of my students. Although there is a "Needs Work" tab, where I can take away points, I prefer to just add points. If a student doesn't do what they are asked to do, then they would not receive a point. Otherwise they would get a point.
Students love receiving points because at the end of the week they can choose from the treasure box. If they have 20 point per week they get a prize of their choice. Students work hard to earn points. Classroom management has become so easy.
I have been using ClassDojo since 2013. I am able to invite teachers at my school to join. I have now earned my ClassDojo Mentor badge. This allows me to help other teachers with any concerns they may have.
If teachers are looking for an easy to use classroom management tool, I highly recommend ClassDojo. It keeps parents informed and students on task. It's too good to be true.
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