Monday, January 28, 2013

Class Dojo and Our Clip Chart

Mrs. Wills (one of my absolute favorite Kindergarten bloggers) mentioned a great new app/website called Class Dojo in her most recent post.  I commented on her post about how much I loved class dojo and mentioned that I was using it in conjunction with our clip chart that had already been established in the room.  

Then later this evening a fellow teacher asked me to describe in a little more detail how I had made this work.  (Thanks, Jena, for inspiring this post! :)


Rather than respond in the comments section (I'm having some trouble figuring out how to change the font color on the comments on my blog so they are currently very difficult to read) I figured I'd do a quick post about this!  

Like many of you, my kiddos start on green every day (see the image above).  Prior to class dojo, they would move up the chart when caught doing the right thing and down after a warning or two... When we (my  instructional assistant and I) decided to give Class Dojo a try, we realized that we were frequently giving points but clips weren't getting moved as often and we didn't have a clear system for communicating points to parents.  

So we started looking at their point balance at the end of the day and moving clips up or down based on how many points they have.  Every 5 points (good points) equal one move up the chart.  So for example, let's say Susie has 8 points at the end of the day and was already on blue (when we were lining up for lunch she was the only one in 'traveling position' without a reminder so she got to move up for remembering the expectations when no one else was) so she will go home "on purple".   Once I explained that 5 points equals one move up the chart they were much more eager to earn those points!

In my newsletter I explained to parents that we were utilizing the new app and it would factor into their color for the day.  I also asked for updated email addresses so parents could be entered onto the website and a report could be sent to them each week.  

I love that Class Dojo makes it so easy to quickly provide positive reinforcement to several children at once. My instructional assistant keeps her iPhone with her at all times and can give or take points in a matter of seconds.  It eliminates the loss of instructional time associated with having to go over to the clip chart all day long!  By incorporating the two together, it gives me the flexibility to utilize either one at any given time and my students seem to be even more aware of their choices....  

The greatest thing about it is that you can tweak it to meet the needs of your kids!  Maybe some classes need to set the expectation at three points at first, some classes may get so many points in one day that they need to earn eight or ten... it just depends on your kids!   Please don't hesitate to comment if you have any other questions!  Or if you utilize Dojo another way, I'd love to hear about it too!  I love to hear new ideas!

25 comments:

  1. I have been using both, too, but didn't think about using them together. It was either/or until now. I may have to rethink this for next fall -- thanks for sharing!

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  2. Thanks for stopping by my blog! I've been using them together too! Usually, if I want to reinforce a behavior but don't have access to my dojo points quickly enough, I'll ask the student to clip up and then at the end of the day I give points for clipping up!

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  3. Do you reward the kids for reaching a certain number of points by the end of the day or week? How do you communicate clip movement and how that fits in with Dojo points to parents? Sorry - just starting to use Dojo and trying to figure this all out!

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  4. What a great idea to use both! I've used the clip chart in the past and this year, thanks to you, I'm going to utilize both. Quick question...do you send home a paper behavior chart that shows how each student did throughout the day or just rely on students to check their students behavior online? Wondering if I'll have some parents who don't have computer access.

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  5. Would you happen to have the letter explaining the system that you send to parents? wrapsbyjenno@gmail.com

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  6. I would love a copy of the letter also if you have it. jmpmeritz@gmail.com

    Also- if a negative behavior occurs do you move the clip down one color and then they have to earn 5 more positives to move back up? :)

    Thank you!

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    1. That's what I was wondering too -- if they are at +5 points and they have one negative behavior, do they lose ONE point (so still at +4) or do they automatically go down to yellow (or whatever color is below green) and have to start over earning points in +5 increments to move up a color?

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    2. I'd love a copy of the parent letter as well. I'm also doing both! I want them to have some type of accountability for their actions like moving a clip/card instead of me doing all of the work, ha. Thanks! cfrazier@hoover.k12.al.us

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    3. I'd love a copy of the parent letter as well. I'm also doing both! I want them to have some type of accountability for their actions like moving a clip/card instead of me doing all of the work, ha. Thanks! cfrazier@hoover.k12.al.us

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  7. Hey there! Just found this post.. I'd love a copy of that newsletter, if you are offering. :)

    mirandalarayne@gmail.com

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  8. I would also love a copy of that newsletter, if possible.
    jacoker@mpsaz.org

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  9. Do you have a copy of the parent newsletter? It would be a big help to understand how to use both in my classroom and explain to parents. Thanks!
    shelbyteaford@gmail.com

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  10. I would also love the parents newsletter correlating both. My students do better with the clip chart but my school as a whole has decided to use Class Dojo. So I am trying to figure out how to incorporate it.
    my email is: kmiller0217@gmail.com

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  11. How do you handle the color chart for orange, red, etc (poor behavior -- not on green)?

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  12. I am a ClassDojo lover! I think tying the points to the color chart is an excellent idea. I would love to read your newsletter explanation to parents, and I would love more info on how you manage the negative points.

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  13. I would love a copy of the newsletter and an explanation on your negative points!
    Meaganmaddox@yahoo.com

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  14. I would love to have a copy of the newsletter too!
    aftonodell@gmail.com

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  15. I would love a copy of the newsletter!

    morgancmcallister@gmail.com

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  16. Parent letter please?!?!?!
    brooke.byrd07@gmail.com

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  17. Can I please have a copy of the parent letter too please? emmakk8@gmail.com

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  18. I am starting Dojo this year and have always used the clip chart. I love how you put them together, but not sure how to explain this to the parents. If you would happen to have a sample letter home to give details, then I would love if you are willing to share. Thanks a bunch. jonesje@carthagetigers.org

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  19. I'd love a copy of the letter as well. amy.kathleen.miller@hotmail.com

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  20. May I please have a copy of your parent letter?? I've been trying to figure out how to use both. I love Class Dojo, but we are required to use a clip chart for our PBIS program.
    aimee.schauman@pccsk12.com

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  21. May I have a copy of you parent letter?
    marzenakaczkowski@gmail.com

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  22. I just started using Classdojo this year since we had to teach remotely and I have always used the clip chart. I have been trying to incoporate both together and use the behavior bucks my school uses. I would love to have a copy of your letter to parents. Thank you in advance!
    rhuss@tps.org

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