App of the Week: The essential classroom management app

Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best ed-tech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly. Click here to read the full app review.

ClassDojo

What’s It Like? 

ClassDojo is an online classroom-management platform that helps teachers record and track their students’ behaviors in real time while also giving students instant feedback. Much of this happens publicly through the use of a visual tracker, often displayed to the class on a screen or interactive whiteboard. Teachers can keep some information private depending on how they choose to set things up. The platform is designed to help individual students, as well as entire classes, identify areas for improved behavior and set related goals.

Price: Free

Grades: K-6

Rating: 4/5

Pros: Convenient combination of student feedback and parent communication features.

Cons: Effective (and ethical) use is largely dependent on how teachers utilize the program.

Bottom line: With thoughtful classroom implementation, it can help students, teachers, and parents support students’ growth through goal-setting and celebration.