Sunday Fun-Day: Class Dojo

OK, so I've been reading about this all over the blogging world: Class Dojo.

I'm kind of obsessed!

Usually after the first 9 weeks (and once our procedures are down and practiced pretty well), I start a competition between every class that comes to music. I think my librarian may start the same thing and join my efforts, so I'm very excited about that, too!

How it works: I have a chart that lists every class, and I have students keep track and mark their stars once they line up. When they enter music, they are all awarded 5 stars as a class. It is their job to keep those 5 stars throughout our 30 minutes together. And then it all starts over the next day. (Since they come to me three times a week, a single class can keep up to 15 stars per week. After Friday at 3:00, it starts over the next week.)

Here are my 5 stars and what I require of them for their class to keep them:

Enter - come in quietly and go to their spot on the risers

Cooperation - work well with others, no disruptions, doing as they are asked, etc.

Participation - pretty self-explanatory, but if a couple aren't singing/clapping/etc., they lose this star

Attitude - a poor attitude towards fellow classmates, teachers, or the music = no star

Exit - line up quietly and ready for the hall

I've been posting these stars in the front of the room, so it is always visible to them, but I think this Class Dojo will be just as easy! I have it set up (for free, btw) for one class: Music, and then listed the classroom teacher's name as my "students."

You can add it to your smart phone AND pull it up on your SmartBoard anytime you'd like, too! I'm going to try it this week and see how it goes or if I need to stick with my old way. (Sometimes technology really is a fun time!)

Hope everyone's Veteran's Day Programs went smoothly - almost time for the Christmas ones! (Never a break... haha)