Imagine this— you created an engaging lesson that you’re positive your students will connect with. However, the moment you begin teaching, your plan gets derailed. Then it’s suddenly the end of the period and you only got through half your lesson.

Sound familiar?

Teachers know that Classroom Management is the key to effectively educating their students. Classroom management refers to a variety of strategies teachers can use to organize students, space, time, and materials so successful learning can take place.

Using technology can help students know what is expected of them, increase their engagement, and maximize instructional time. There are several different classroom apps for teachers that aid in improving classroom management.

But which one is the best app for teachers to use in their classrooms?

To answer that question, we went right to the source! We turned to a member of our Trusted Advisors Group and asked her about her experience with classroom management tools. We broke down the top 9 Classroom Management Apps so you can decide what will work best in your classroom and for your students.

Why Use Classroom Management Apps?

Before we dive into the best classroom management apps, it’s important for teachers to understand what they should be looking for in each app. With so many apps available, it can be difficult for teachers to narrow down which ones are most suitable for their needs and goals. Below are a few uses for classroom management apps.

• Save & manage time. Some apps can be your time-saving secret weapon by helping you instantly deliver and assess learning, improve students’ behavior, and set timed tasks to make your classroom run efficiently.
• Track engagement & participation. Other apps can help you manage class engagement and get a clearer picture of participation and students’ comprehension.
• Assess & adjust student learning styles. No two students learn at the same pace or in the same way. Classroom management apps can show you if you need to adjust your lessons for a different learning style or if a  skill needs to be retaught for better understanding.
• Stay up-to-date on news & events. Teachers may be looking for something to help them stay on top of news, activities, and events.  Classroom apps can facilitate communication with families so that everyone is on the same page.

Top 9 Classroom Management Apps

Now that you’ve learned about classroom management apps, let’s take a closer look at some teacher favorites. Below are some of the most popular apps that teachers use.

Apps For Data Collection

For teachers who are looking for an app that will give them the ability to easily collect data and track their student’s progress, they should consider one of the following.

1. Equity Maps
This app enables teachers to track individual participation during small or large group discussions. Equity Maps allows teachers to choose from a limited number of seating configurations and add participants. Using names and symbols, teachers are able to assign each student a specific icon to represent where they’re sitting.

When a discussion starts, teachers hit the record button and can click on each student’s icon as they speak. It will then track the flow of discussion and generate reports so teachers can see which students (or groups of students) are oversharing or being left out.

2. Google Classroom
Even though it wasn’t originally designed as a full learning management system, Google Classroom works with Google products and accounts for seamless integration. The platform helps teachers manage workflow and communication with their students. It offers more flexibility in learning because it can be accessed on multiple devices.

In addition, Google Classroom can be beneficial for substitute teachers since all of your information can be found in one space. This platform includes features that allow teachers to prepare and schedule tasks, assignments, and even quizzes, across multiple classes. There are also many add-ons teachers can purchase and integrate into their classrooms.

Apps For Family Communication

Sometimes, it can be difficult for teachers, students, and parents to stay on the same page. If you are searching for an app that encourages parent and student communication, consider one of the following.

3. Remind
This communication platform helps teachers reach out to students and parents easily and efficiently. Remind allows teachers to send messages and announcements to a single person, a small group, or the entire class.

Messages sent by the teacher can be in a variety of formats such as attached files, photos, or texts. Plus, it has a feature that will translate messages into over 70 different languages, making sure everyone who is receiving a notification understands what it’s about.

Benita Afonso, an ENL /Building Point Person for grades 1 &2 in Sleepy Hollow, NY says, “Another app that we use [in our] district is the Remind App. Not only does the district send out a blast to all the families in regard to district-wide events or happenings, but the school also has the capability to send notices to parents about what is going on in the school internally. Teachers/parents also have the ability to send messages via Remind as well. This app has the capability to translate which makes it easy for our non-English speakers.”

Remind allows for two-way communication so parents and students can respond to each message. In addition, there is a feature that offers one-on-one online learning support from experienced tutors and teachers.

4. Seesaw
This digital platform allows teachers to create a meaningful multimedia learning experience for students. With Seesaw, teachers have the option to choose tasks and activities they create or pull from an extensive library of teacher-created and rated content.

Seesaw is also flexible when it comes to uploading and sharing work, teachers can use videos, photos, text, images, files, and drawings. However, one of the biggest advantages of Seesaw is its accessibility to parents and families.

At home, parents can log in to see their child’s progress using the Parent and Family app. This feature allows teachers to send one-on-one messages to parents or start group messages with students and their families.

5. Bloomz
Another digital platform that allows parents, students, and teachers to easily communicate is Bloomz. This app allows teachers to share information in a variety of ways including posts, events, activities, assignments, and photo albums. At home, parents are able to sign up to receive app, email, or text notifications pertaining to their child’s work and progress.

Bloomz also includes features that allow parents to schedule parent-teacher conferences, request or organize volunteer help, and send out their own visual updates on their child’s activities. In addition, the app has a behavior management and reporting feature that gives teachers the opportunity to award students for good behavior and set class goals.

This app is also great for ELL students or parents who use have limited English-speaking abilities. Bloomz has a feature that automatically translates messages into the user’s selected language, with over 100 languages to choose from.

Apps For Behavior Management

Behavior management and communication are key to maximizing learning. Teachers who are looking for behavioral management tools should consider one of the following options.

6. Class Dojo
This free online classroom management platform comes with an app where teachers can share information and communicate with parents. Class Dojo allows teachers to record and track student behavior, present classroom activities, and curate student portfolios. It also acts as a classroom points tracker where teachers can award or deduct points for positive or negative behaviors.

One of Class Dojo’s advantages is that it allows teachers to assign and submit activities in several forms including videos, audio, text, files, images, or drawings. There is even an option for teachers to store students’ work in portfolios that will follow their progression from year to year.

Benita Afonso, an ENL /Building Point Person for grades 1 &2 in Sleepy Hollow, NY says “The application that I enjoy using along with the classroom teachers is Class Dojo. This application helps the teacher and the parent stay connected on how many points the child has accumulated throughout the day – whether it is for behavior, work completion, etc. The parent can log on to see how many points the child has. As an educator, you also have the capability to communicate with parents via the app.”

Parents also have the option of purchasing a yearly subscription for personal use at home. Doing this will give them the ability to set goals and award or deduct points for household tasks like completing homework or doing chores.

7. Classcraft
This unique online and app-based platform mixes fantasy-themed behavior and learning management with a role-playing game theme. Classcraft allows students to choose from a variety of avatars that have special powers. These avatars can earn or lose experience, gold pieces, crystals, and health points depending on their performance.

Teachers can set up tasks and assignments in the form of games, quests, or battles, and manage their student’s work on a dashboard. Classcraft also offers tools for teachers to track student engagement in discussions they may have during games/quests. There is even an option for parents to create an account so they too can watch their child’s progress.

Apps For Increasing Student Engagement

Classroom management begins with student engagement. Management issues are minimized when student engagement is high. Not only do the following apps help teachers increase participation, they can also collect helpful data as formative assessments

8. Kahoot
This interactive tool allows teachers to run game-like quizzes and build presentations with embedded quizzes. Kahoot is a student-response tool that can be used for all platforms. The quizzes can be presented live or assigned, depending on each student’s learning speed, and teachers have the option to either create their own quizzes or use pre-made ones.

Kahoot offers a variety of paid options that present more classroom features, but for teachers who don’t want to purchase a subscription, there is also a basic level available for free.

9. Socrative Teacher
An interactive web-based student-response system, Socrative Teacher is a great tool for teachers who need to create multiple quizzes, classroom polls, or mini-competitions to assess their students’ comprehension. It also keeps track of their learning in real-time.

Socrative Teacher comes with a feature that makes links shareable so they can be sent through emails to all the students enrolled in the course. This offers flexibility and makes it easier to encourage student collaboration in the classroom. Similar to Kahoot, there are multiple paid-tiered options, but Socrative Teacher also has a basic level available for free.

Any of the apps discussed can help you effectively reach your students and support them on their learning journey. Which ones are the best apps for teachers? That depends on your students.

Test out different free trials and see which one has the features that will integrate with your classroom. Each year brings a new group of students— the more management strategies you have in your toolkit, the more easily you can figure out what works best for you and your class.

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