Class Dojo
Where classrooms become communities
ClassDojo is a community-centered learning website and application that provides a platform for teachers, students, and parents to collaborate and build a community together. Having multiple uses, ClassDojo is “actively used in 95% of all K-8 schools in the U.S. and 180 countries” (Class Dojo Press, para. 2). While ClassDojo is most commonly known for its practical teacher/parent communication application (with text translation to over 35 languages), it can also be a useful tool to build classroom culture, practice positive classroom management, and let students showcase their work on their digital portfolio. Teachers can use ClassDojo to share classroom updates and announcements with parents privately or “publicly” (within their classroom). Additionally, students can display the work they are most proud of to their parents in their personal portfolios in ClassDojo.
Learning Activities
Social and Emotional Learning/Character Building
The Class Dojo website gives access to a series of themed activities that include videos and prompts to fuel thought-provoking, motivating, and self-reflecting discussions. Students can share their ideas on their portfolios to get feedback. Some of the themes are:
English/Language Arts
Students can be asked to record and upload a video book review/character analysis. They can be encouraged to dress up as their favorite character from the book too.
History
Students can be asked to draw a chronological timeline of the history of transportation using the drawing tool.
Math
By making color-coded teams/groups, the teacher can play a mental math quiz with the students. Correct answers will get the entire group a reward – this would encourage students to collaborate with their group members to come up with the correct answer, thus promoting teamwork.
Other
Teachers can create classroom tasks such as clean-up, helping a friend, perfect attendance, lunchtime manners, and making someone laugh or smile, to promote citizenship and a sense of classroom camaraderie.
How to Use ClassDojo
Go to www.classdojo.com.
Click “Sign Up” and register for an account as a teacher.
Add students.
Invite their parents via print outs, text, or email.
Decide what meaning to give your “Dojo Points.”
Start giving out points for positive behavior and participation!
Optional:
Explore student portfolios, try creating an assignment.
Explore the toolkit – think about what might be useful in your classroom.