Brag Tags and What They're REALLY Doing To My Students

Well, I did the unthinkable today...I ventured into my classroom.  I know...it's JULY. This is the earliest I have EVER gone into my classroom to work BUT I have some things I'd like to do this year, so I thought if I could at least get my furniture placed today I'll be happy and will be able to visualize everything else NEW I want to do this year.  I did get the majority of my layout done, so I guess I should feel accomplished.  Only now I keep thinking about all the redecorating and decluttering I need to get done (that is one of my many goals this year-PURGE, BABY, PURGE!)

 Beautiful view, isn't it? Sigh...

Anywho, as the school year approaches, I like to think about some classroom management techniques I'd like to alter, change, or just get rid of.  One thing my students look forward to the most year after year are Brag Tags.  I thought I'd do a little Q&A session to explain how I use them in my classroom the STRESS FREE WAY incase you're on the fence about using Brag Tags in your classroom as well!

A: Brag Tags are an inexpensive way to motivate, recognize, and build a community within your classroom.  Brag Tags are a great way to recognize students for a job well done throughout the week, or whatever time frame you chose to distribute your tags.  These tags are a great way for ALL students in your classroom to feel accomplished and recognized for something they've done-big or small! 

A: Let me begin by saying, when I first started using Brag Tags, I struggled to find a hassle free and time saving way to make these work for me and my students...well let's face it...ME! I often found myself sitting at my desk Thursdays  after school, looking through my boxes and boxes of tags, matching a tag to the student who I thought deserved it the most that week.  As you might imagine, this can get a little hairy.  I didn't' want the same students earning a tag EVERY WEEK nor could I remember who did what!? I also didn't want my well behaved students to expect a tag week after week either.  I wanted to instill in my students it's just as important to be happy for those who DID receive a tag, instead of just simply waiting to see which one they would be adding to their necklace.  *I've used the tiny "ball necklaces" from Amazon in the past to house their tags, but this year I'm thinking of using a bit of an easier clasp.  Most of them can handle it by the middle to end of the year, but I might be considering a switch-a-roo to nylon ones.Still pondering that one...

My Solution: I thought to myself (or knowing me I probably said it out loud one morning while drinking my coffee), "What if I chose a few tags on MONDAY to hand out on FRIDAY?  This will allow students to see my expectations for the week AND it will alleviate my Thursday after school stress of having to chose tags!?!" So, I purchased a light box from TJ MAXX (a few summers ago) for around $5 and got to work.

 *You can find light boxes almost anywhere these days. At the beginning of each week, I displayed the tags on the light box.  I used my Silhouette machine and vinyl from Michaels to create the heading.  Flower and Unicorn magnets are from Target. 

After watching our Class Dojo Growth Mindset Video for the week each Monday morning, I would go over this week's Brag Tags with my second graders.  I would mostly leave the box lit during the day because the light signified I was "searching" for a recipient for each of those tags.  Once I DID find someone deserving of that tag, I would write their name on the back using a tiny sticky note and turn the tag over, meaning that tag had been awarded to one lucky winner in the room! It really kept the students motivated and excited throughout the week to see the tags slowly disappear.  More than one student deserving of that tag? No problem! Just add their name to the sticky note and you're golden!

A: I held a "Brag Tag Ceremony" every Friday morning (which honestly lasted only a few minutes).  When students came in that morning, they were able to grab their necklace from our Brag Tag Board and wear their necklace for the day. I used craft paper from TJ Maxx and a piece of foam board from Michaels or Hobby Lobby. I've included the bunting and labels in my brag tag set HERE. 

*I also used these necklaces for our Reading Beads, where students earn a bead for every 100 minutes read that week, but that's for another post!  

In the past, I've created a tag for each student using clipart that resembled them! This has worked well for me, seeing as I don't typically get new students very often, HOWEVER, I am thinking of making a more uniform name tag to save myself the time.  I have a feeling my "not getting new students in the middle of the year" luck is going to run out...

I would show each tag on our document camera for the whole class to see and then I'd give a quick (literally 5 second) explanation of that tag and if there was something that stood out to me as I observed the student completing that particular task. For example,iIf I handed out the "iShare because iCare," tag I might say, 'I saw this person sharing their crayons with someone at their table this week who didn't have a red to use. I thought that was just so thoughtful of them and I know that made their friend happy!'. I'd read the name, and without me having to ask, my students would start clapping-every year for four years they clap!   The first time it happened, it really made me smile and also made me realize, "Ok...I am loving these!"

Q: ARE THEY EXPENSIVE?

A: No! Brag Tags are one of the least expensive "rewards" you can do for your students! I do use Classroom Coupons in my classroom, but we'll talk about that at a later date, too!  Determine how/ where you want your students to store their tags, storage for your tags, and that's basically it!  The good thing is if you download from a TPT seller, you're able to reprint them year after year!  If you do not hav access to a colored printer, print onto colored paper using the black and white option on your printer settings.

I've created monthly themed and all year long Brag Tags to use with my students. I honestly find myself only needing to reprint the themed tags from year to year since those are typically the ones I hand out to my whole class. (If I am giving out whole class tags, I'll leave those on their desks Friday morning).  I try not to hand out the same tag over and over and over again to keep each tag sacred and special! I do have many types of tags that basically reiterate the same things, so I assure you, you won't have trouble finding tags to hand out each week. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed with Brag Tags and just not quite sure if they're for you, these monthly themed tags pictured above are the way to go. This will limit you to only handing out those particular set of tags for that month-less burden on your for prepping, storing, and distributing. 

How cute are these Wizard of Oz tags?! They are included in my WOZ unit HERE! It's always one of our favorites :)

Students always get really excited for the themed tags because I tell them they are, "Limited Edition," and won't be given out again for the rest of the year!!!

Q: ARE THEY A LOT OF PREP WORK?

A:To start off, I'd say, "Yes", but after that, "NO!"  When I first started, I had some parent volunteers help me with cutting, laminating, and hole punching. I feel like I've been using some of these same tags pictured here from four years ago! There are so many different varieties I don't need to be constantly printing out tags at the start of every year.  Like I said, mainly the ones I need to reprint are the seasonal tags, since those are what I typically distribute to my whole class. 

You can choose to print on cardstock without lamination or on regular paper with lamination.  I've done the regular paper with lamination only because cardstock is a little pricey.  

If you use the seasonal tags, you can prep as you go! Give some parent volunteers your November tags in September or October and you'll be set.  Or do what I do and bust out your paper cutter and turn on Golden Girls-you'll be done for the entire year in NO TIME! :P

Q: HOW DO YOU STORE THEM?

I use these amazing containers I found at Michaels a few years back (they still carry them) to store my tags.  I'm able to fit 2 months of my seasonal tags in one half of the box (with the exception of Christmas time of course which needs an entire half! :) ).  #ILoveChristmas #SorryNotSorry

A: YES! I've been  using Brag Tags for about 4 years now and EVERY YEAR so many of my students tell me Friday is their favorite day of the week because we hand out Brag Tags! They get so excited to cheer for their classmates telling them, "Congratulations!" or "Can I see the tag you got?" after our little Friday ceremony.  It really made me think that these are doing so much more than simply recognizing them for positive things being done in and outside the classroom. 

1. It's making them aware of other people other than themselves, which tends to be a difficult thing these days. 

2. They are able to celebrate someone else for their accomplishments. 

3. Strive to do what's right knowing they might be the first one to earn a "Limited Edition" tag! 

4. It's not about having something tangible for doing the right thing. "Well isn't a tag tangible?" In a way...yes.  But it's not a toy they will lose or get bored with in a few hours.  They get super excited to count how many tags they've earned throughout the year, too! I love the fact they are proud of their accomplishments and seeing the smile on their face when I call their name on Friday morning just makes my teacher AND all of my students' hearts smile the biggest, most gigantic, goofiest smile ever!!!

A: If a tag tears, I will repair it one time.  To repair, simply place a piece of tape over the hole and hole punch through it (if you don't want to relaminate the entire tag again).  If it rips a second time, I simply have them take the tag home.  They often times will keep the tag in their pencil case if this happens, which I think it super sweet, but at the same time, I'm not going to spend 80% of our Friday repairing tags.  I model at the beginning of the year how to treat your tags while wearing them, how NOT to sit while wearing them, and so on.  You might be surprised at what good care they take of their special tags.

Well...I think that will at least give you a head start when it comes to using Brag Tags in your classroom.  If you have any other questions concerning Brag Tags please contact me using any of the methods in my sidebar or in the comment section below-I'd love to chat with you!!

I can honestly say I'm sooooo happy I started using these tags with my second graders.  It really is teaching them how to be excited and proud of their efforts as well as the efforts of those around them.  I love seeing my little ones congratulate one another and not "pouting" when they have not receive a tag for the week. I really have had maaaaaaybe one or two TOTAL instances of that happening over the past four years.  But with a simple conversation about what Brag Tags are and what they are meant for, it hasn't happened past that (knock on wood... :P). 

Feel free to check out the tags I use in my classroom with my students HERE.

Thank you for stopping by-Have a great week!