Brag Tags Review

I am so thrilled to get the opportunity to review some Brag Tags from imagestuff.com.  I was given the opportunity to pick Brag Tags from their website or create my own.  I decided to create my own. Click the picture to follow imaginestuff.com on their blog for for free downloads and tips.  You can also find them on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/imagestuff/pins/ and https://www.facebook.com/imagestuff

The first one says Kindness Counts and has my name at the bottom of it.  I wanted this one because as a substitute teacher and even when I was a teacher (hope to be again soon), I try so hard to get children to be kind to everyone.  There are many children who have gone over and beyond to be kind to me.  I also see children help others who are crying, go play with children who says they have no one to play with, sweep up the room without me asking, be the only one to clean up a mess, etc.  I wanted to find something that I could hand to these children for being so kind and I thought a Brag Tag would work in any grade level.

The 2nd one I had imagestuff.com make was Best Effort.  As a sub there are times when I get children who just won't try to do their work.  They whine or say "I can't."  I wanted something to be able to give a student who shows that they are going to try no matter how hard the work is.  The brag tags seemed to be the best bet so I had them design me for Best Effort.

I have so far subbed in classes with Kindergarten through 2nd graders and their eyes lit up each time I handed a child one.  They thank me so much and say that they love it.  They love that I included my name.  I was told by one teacher the child wore is Best Effort one to school the next day.  This was a child who typically whines at me because I won't spell a word for him.  He didn't whine once the whole day so I surprised him with the Brag Tag!

You can get brag tags for attendance, character, academics, awards for field trips, etc.  They come in a variety of different shapes: hearts, shamrocks, dog tags, skateboards, circles, etc.  You can pick from ones that are already designed or personalize your own!  The delivery was quick.  They hold up well with the chains that you can purchase for an additional cost.  Children can wear them or put them on their backpack.  They are a hit for me as a sub and I have no doubt they will be for you.  I plan to use them with all grade levels through 6th grade!

Have you ever used Brag Tags?  If so how did it go?  If not, how could you use the Brag Tags in your classroom?

Disclaimer: I was given some Brag Tags to use for this review.  I was not paid any money and I gave my own honest opinion. 

Thanks for hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings.  Keep on smiling!

Positive Behavior Plan/Money and Pin It To Win It!

First off do you want to win some of my teaching products?  It's pretty easy to do. 

Go to my Pin It To Win It Pinterest Page http://pinterest.com/topcntryfn/pin-it-to-win-it/ 

Pick a pin or more than one and pin it to a board of your choice. 

Next click on the picture of the pin and go to that blog post about that product. 

In the comments type in your e-mail address just like you would do for a contest and a link to your pin.  You have until Sunday Feb. 24th at 7pm Eastern to enter!  Good luck everyone.

Now how about a really awesome positive behavior plan that I used while teaching 2nd grade.  I stopped using it part way through my last year of teaching 2nd because the school developed another positive plan and 2 were just too hard to juggle.  This one incorporates money, which fits 2nd Grade Common Core Standard!  On yeah!!!

First you'll need plastic coins and some Crayon Banks like these ones from Party Palooza.  If you google it you can find many places that carry them.  Click the picture for the ones from Party Palooza.  I forget where I got mine.

Next when your students are making good choices, maybe only a few opened their book, or some were quiet in line when others weren't, etc.  you would give them a coin.  I started with pennies in 2nd grade and then nickels and so forth.  Then every other Friday, I had my students count their coins and go shopping in my treasure chest store.  I had prizes valued at everything from 5 cents (plain pencils and erasers) up to $6 or $7 for an inner tube from the Dollar Tree, Teddy Bear, etc.  I had many prices in between. 

Besides teaching children to make good choices, this also taught my students to save money for something they really wanted and it helped reinforce counting coins!  You could start this even in Kindergarten using pennies and I've heard of teachers using it in 1st grade.  My students learned to tell me how much change they should get back!  I believe this would work for any grade level!  Older students put a student in charge of cashier every week or two instead of you doing it!

I know many classes don't do treasure chest anymore, but you could do this with your other rewards.  Assign money amounts for no shoes, eat with teacher, wear slippers, etc.

Is this something you'd like to try?  Have you tried it before?  Tell us about your behavior plan in the comments.