15 SEL activities to empower students: teacher's guide

15 SEL activities to empower students: teacher’s guide

Why Teacher Buy-In is Significant in the Success of PBIS Programs

Why teacher Buy-In is significant in the success of PBIS programs

12 simple ways to integrate a social-emotional learning curriculum

Principles in Practice: A PBIS Training

Introducing Classcraft’s new School Houses feature

Why you need SEL activities for your high school students

View deep analytics around positive and negative behavior, collaboration, and absenteeism. Measure the impact of interventions in real time and make better-informed, data-driven decisions.

Receive fast, personal attention from Classcraft’s account executives team so you can save time and worry less.

Leadership teams have full control and visibility over Classcraft at the school level. Discover the power of the Engagement Management System, Engagement Score, and more.

Blizzard Entertainment Disclaimer

Students can mix and match gear to create unique characters that level up with their progress in class. Watch students transform into epic heroes and super learners!

- Darren McQuaid, South Korea, @darrenmcquaid1

Get your kids to cheer each other on! Motivate your students by making learning fun and fall in love with teaching all over again. Get started - it’s free!

Transform teaching by taking the video game mechanics that provide rich & interesting play experiences & applying them to the classroom setting. Learn more.

Keep the game safe and fun by enabling IP address tracking and profanity filtering for messages and comments.

Award students Gold Pieces for going above and beyond, and they can unlock tons of awesome gear and pets for their characters. Students can display pets next to their characters to achieve the ultimate look.

Students encourage positive behavior and 21st-century skills from teammates to earn game points and level up. As students become more accountable, you can focus on what matters: teaching.

Powerful tools gamify your lessons and build a positive classroom culture. Make formative assessment fun with epic Boss Battles, keep class quiet, and discover treasure with the Volume Meter, and lots more. 

- Jessica Anderson, Montana, @TriSciCurious

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Empower staff through custom professional development, both on-site and remote. These sessions help educators refine their teaching approach to achieve targeted outcomes.

To play Classcraft, each student must choose a character from three different character classes: the Healer, the Mage, or the Guardian. Each has unique properties and powers and is designed for different types of students. These are customizable as the game progresses and can be accompanied by pets.

Classcraft is played in teams of five or six students for the duration of the year. This encourages students who might not normally socialize to work together to win the game. All team members benefit from cooperative efforts and learn to consider the needs of others before they take actions in the game.


Character Classes

Teams &amp; Strategies

Over the course of an hour, game management occupies roughly five minutes. The Classcraft web-based and iOS platforms enable teachers and students to easily manage all the complexities of the game. The class is taught normally, and the game runs passively in the background, collecting points and managing powers. Classcraft can be played with one computer and a projector or deployed on every student’s tablet or laptop.


Classcraft is relevant to students because the risks and rewards in the game are real. Do well academically and help your teammates with their homework, and you can gain experience points that can unlock real powers like eating in class or asking a question on an exam. Show up late too many times, and you might fall and need to come to detention. In Classcraft, participation is a must to survive!

\* *Powers and consequences are customized by the teacher.*


Don’t change **what** you teach, supercharge **how** you teach it.

How it works

Playing in the Classroom

Real Risks &amp; Rewards

When I started Classcraft, my AP Biology scores were in the C range. The average increased to an A in a month.


My students' attitudes have completely changed: They're cheering each other on, and kids who weren't friendly before are eager to help their teammates.


The transformation has been profound. My whole classroom are enthusiastically trying to participate in order to get Experience Points and not let their team down!

Classcraft saved my classroom! My class immediately changed behaviorally and academically after implementing it in my courses.

Classcraft integrates seamlessly into your classroom work flow.

* Keep assignments and resources organized with interactive forums.
* Assign students points directly in the forums when they answer questions correctly and help each other out.
* Give parents a clear view of how their child is participating in your classes with integrated student analytics.


Teacher Tools

by placing students in teams and making their success interdependent.

by gamifying the classroom experience and making learning fun!

Increases student motivation

Teaches meaningful collaboration

Improves classroom behavior

Classcraft Works Because It:

Parents can follow along with their child's progress and extend the game experience to the home by awarding Gold Pieces on the parent app. Students can earn points for finishing homework and helping out with chores.

Pricing

As an implementer of Classcraft, I feel it is one of the easiest ways for new education gamifiers to start exploring and, resultantly, gamify their classrooms. As I ventured into gamification, I felt a need to separate my academic game from my behavioral game. I wanted my game to motivate and reach all of the learners in my classroom. As I explored avenues to do this, I found Classcraft to be the best fit.

Classcraft focuses on team collaboration and competition and on conquering goals. Students work to collect Experience Points to level up and gain powers, which in return helps their teams prosper. Within my blended science classroom, I saw students' work ethic change as they made strategic academic choices in an effort to move up to the next power tier. I also saw a change in their vocalization of positive collaborations amongst their peers as they wanted to help their teams. Overall, I saw students embracing the game, working together to accomplish a common goal, and making academic leaps as a result. Whenever I'm asked how I gamify my class, I make it a point to recommend Classcraft! 


Science, Grades 9-12, Powell County High School, Deer Lodge, Montana, USA

Reviewing for AP exams is always difficult. Although the desire to score well on the exam is a motivator, many students are so worn down from the year of rigorous curriculum that they lose steam during this critical review period. Enter Classcraft. With the introduction of this amazing program in my AP Biology classroom this year, students had a renewed energy. The atmosphere during review sessions was alive with competitive enthusiasm. I had two students who struggled the entire year with the material and would become frustrated when they did not do well. ClassCraft made learning fun for them again. 

During our first review session, I had students come up to the front of the room to answer review questions, drawing out different biological processes using the white board. For each part they answered correctly, they earned points. At the end of the session, the team with the most points received Experience Points in Classcraft. My two frustrated students quickly went from an attitude of "What's the point? I won't do well anyway" to jumping out of their seats to cheer on their teammates and stifle their desire to blurt out answers to help. And they weren't the only ones! The class was so lively that other teachers and administrators walking the halls stopped and gathered at the doorway to observe the action. Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled. 

One student asked why we hadn't been using ClassCraft all year (I had just discovered it, unfortunately so late in the year). Another student asked if I would be using it the whole school year next year, and that I really should if I wasn't already planning on it. The level of student engagement and motivation when using Classcraft is reason enough for any teacher to try it in their classroom.

AP Biology, Anaheim, California

I am a middle school teacher of gifted math and science in North Aurora, Illinois. I had tried to gamify my classroom in 2012-2013 but got bogged down by all of the data collection and tracking it required. My students loved the idea, but I wasn’t able to sustain it. When I read about Classcraft, I thought that it sounded too good to be true. I had been looking for an all-in-one platform that offered all of the aspects of a gamified classroom, and Classcraft did not disappoint. My students love the user interface, engaging characters and powers, and the daily events. I loved the increased participation level and the motivation it gives students.

As we played over the first couple weeks, I saw some ways that the game could be improved for our classroom. The customization that is offered through the game was extremely helpful. Students were able to suggest events, and I could tweak how many points they got for various things. If there wasn’t an option for a change, I was able to share that idea using the online forum. Many of the ideas presented on the forum have been implemented this year. It is great to see how much the input of users is valued.

The improvements to the game this year excited my students. The pets and character customization will help drive students to keep logging in and being engaged throughout the week. I’m excited to see what other improvements Classcraft will have in the future!

Gifted Math and Science, Grades 6-8, Jewel Middle School, North Aurora, Illinois, USA

I have been teaching Chinese for about 10 years and have always been concerned about my students’ behavior, as well as getting them to participate and learn efficiently. I am also a teaching instructor who helps teachers when they have trouble. When I discovered Classcraft, I was thinking, “This is a little crazy,” especially in an educational system where innovation is not always seen as positive.

The result was so much better than my expectations. I am still amazed by the radical change in my students’ behavior. Since using Classcraft, they’ve learned how to work as a team and depend on each other. They all want to participate in a positive way. They run to come to class and are always happy to do a preparation or assignments. They feel they are involved in an adventure. They don’t see it only as a game, but much more as a fun and positive way to study and help each other while accepting risks and consequences.

My students’ reactions are so positive that some parents, who were sceptic at first, became convinced very quickly. They see their children spending time sharing knowledge. Even the dean of my school wants to see Classcraft with her own eyes.

The improvement is priceless, considering the little time needed to put it in place during class. I am so convinced by this concept that I am extending it to most of my class groups. It has been such a success that students I don’t even know want to come learn Chinese and play Classcraft. This experience overall is a great way to make learning interesting and fun, and students never get bored.

Chinese, Grades 7-12, Chevreul School, Lyon, France

I discovered Classcraft by chance from an article on a gaming website. As an avid gamer myself, I am extremely interested in integrating video games in my classes as both my undergraduate and postgraduate thesis was on using video games to teach the English language. I tried Classcraft in my Grade 7 English class, and to my surprise the kids were extremely excited from the very first day until the end! My lessons became much more interactive, engaging, and fun. Classcraft enabled me to insert role-playing game elements into my lessons, and it turned my assignments, homework, assessments, and quizzes into fun quests and missions.
One of my best moments from implementing Classcraft was seeing one of my most disengaged and socially awkward students working together with his teammates to complete quests. As a result, I saw a jump in grades and the quality of work among my students. I look forward to playing Classcraft with my Grade 8, 9, and 11 students. I’m also looking forward to conduct CPDs (Continuous Professional Development) to introduce Classcraft to the rest of my colleagues.

MYP English, Grade 7, Fairview International School, Malaysia

When the computer was first introduced to my grade 5 class, I thought to myself, “What a useless thing,” and quickly dismissed it. Obviously, I was wrong. I quickly learned not to dismiss new ideas without giving a second thought as to how they could impact my life. That idea still holds true today when I look at new ideas that come and go in the field of education.

Gamification and specifically Classcraft has been one of those amazing ideas. After reading about it and discussing it with a colleague, I decided to jump in. Gamification has always been present in our classrooms in some form since childhood, and Classcraft takes it to a whole new level. 

My students took to the game right away. Participation, while always good in my classes, really shot up, with quieter children taking chances at answering questions or jumping in to protect teammates in the event of someone losing Health. Minor behavioral issues faded away slowly, and the kids really enjoyed the daily events and randomness of what would pop up on the screen. 

Overall, Classcraft has had an immense effect on my classroom. It’s an easy way to start off classes on the right foot, and it allows kids to work together and help make decisions that can benefit the team as a whole rather than the individual. The foundation of teamwork and the ability to simply realize that education can be fun and rewarding, which Classcraft helps build, will no doubt continue to serve the children as they move ahead in the future.


Health Grade 6, Geography Grade 7, and Modern World History Grade 8, Korea Kent Foreign School, Seoul, South Korea

I found Classcraft pretty close to the end of the school year, and you might think that would be a disadvantage, but it was actually really good timing. It’s often hard to keep 5th graders engaged even when things are “normal," but the last three days of school are even worse. They know it’s almost over, and they begin to get lazy … even the star students! I introduced my students to Classcraft with four days left in the school year, and it had the effect of a shot of adrenaline.

Instantly, they cared again and wanted to do well because Mr. Peoples was offering quadruple Experience Points! My shy student was suddenly directing her teammates on strategy and helping them choose their characters. My troubled child was polite and attentive, even giving praise to other students when they earned Experience Points. The rest of the year went by with no problems whatsoever, and I was even able to get my students to help me tear down the room in preparation for summer. All for a little extra Experience. I am incredibly excited to start the next school year with Classcraft.

I’ve also been pretty successful using Classcraft at home with my own children. The possibility of earning Experience Points and new powers that will earn them privileges and treats has made it so much easier to keep them off the video games and TV and to read more and care more about avoiding the summer slump. Plus, giving my son a big XP boost is definitely cheaper than paying him to mow the lawn!


All Subjects, 5th Grade, North Lakeland Elementary, Lakeland, Florida, USA

Classcraft has revolutionized my classroom. The game mechanics play a significant role in student engagement, both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. The game creates a perfect blend of teamwork and collaboration within the groups/teams but also provides an element of intrinsic motivation to individuals to work hard to earn more gear for their characters, level up, and earn more powers. I can’t tell you how many times my students were discussing among themselves about not forgetting their homework, studying for tests, and going the extra mile to complete some challenges that I created for them to earn extra Experience Points. 

Since my implementation of Classcraft, my students have had fewer reminders to stay on task, a higher rate of completed work, and a renewed passion for learning.


Math, Language Arts, and Science, 5th Grade, Literacy First Charter School, El Cajon, California, USA

I had a student in my Computer Engineering that was struggling with the material. As a caring teacher, you do all that you can for students, but they still have to drink from the water. And as you may know, the students who need it most don't like to admit they do not know, ask for help, or come for tutoring. 

After one young man fell and dealt splash damage to his party for the second time, they rallied around him and forced peer tutoring on him. He was destined for a D; he earned a B.


Computer Engineering, Network Engineering, and AP Computer Science, Grades 9-12, Northern Guilford High School, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

I have been stalking Classcraft since the very beginning or so. As an ex-gamer myself (I have a family now, no time to play … for now bwouah ah ah ah), the idea was so appealing to me, I HAD to use and integrate it into my classroom. I teach English to students with learning disabilities, and I was sure it would enlighten them as well.

The game was easy to integrate, and after a couple of weeks, it had become a second nature. The students liked it and were really enthusiastic. They made teams right away, signed everything, and got into it in a blink of an eye! They liked most of the game, how to use the powers and earn Experience Points. Students are always eager to attend the class to get more Experience Points and see what happens with the ‘Event of the Day’. It brought a lot of positivity to the classroom, academically and socially. It’s now a huge part of my planning, and I couldn’t teach without it.


English as Second Language, Grade 5, École Secondaire St-Martin, Laval, Quebec, Canada

I am beginning my 25th year of teaching; after 22 years of elementary, this year will my 3rd year of middle school. When I went to a technology conference in February, I heard about Classcraft and I thought, 'Wow! This would be something students would really be interested in playing.' When I returned home on Friday, I immediately went to the website and started looking into how to play the game. On Monday, I introduced the game to my students. When I brought the website up to show the students the characters and explain the rules that I had set up, they got really excited.

When we started playing, I noticed that I was not having as many students tardy to class, as many late assignments, or assignments not turned in. The students also started doing a lot of peer tutoring because they wanted the points in Classcraft, and they did not want to let their teammates down. The teams were starting to really work well together by the end of year. This year, I will have a prize for the team with the most points and the individual with the most points in each class. 


Robotics, Eco Architecture, and Computer Graphics and Animations, Grades 7-8, White Oak Middle School, Porter, Texas

We're a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) school, and computer management is not always easy. Students always want to be online to check for email or look at their Facebook accounts as soon as they get in class. 

Class management improved as early as the third period that I used Classcraft. Behavior also improved, and free time on the computer is now a reward for good behavior. Furthermore, students were waiting for the daily random event and were ready to begin class. They were eager to work to gain experience points and use their powers, like eating in class. Students were keeping their lunches to eat in my classroom, and some even asked me if they could bring take-out from a restaurant. 

I knew that Classcraft was a hit when one of my female students asked me why the other teachers didn't use Classcraft in their classroom!


Physics Grade 11, Science and Technology Grades 8-10, Collège St-Bernard, Drummondville, Québec, Canada

Classcraft has become an integral part of our classroom program because it's helped us to better organize the classroom and allowed me to evaluate learning skills in the process. It is a great way to involve all students in fun and engaging activities, both in groups and as individuals.

Initially, we created class groups to help manage class material organization and clean-up. The class management system occurred when some challenges resulted in students randomly falling. This caused batch damage (usually), which resulted in many students being assigned pledges from Oron's Lantern (eg., plug in devices to charge, answer the phone for the day, stack the chairs, fill a friend’s water bottle). No one ever worried about Oron's Lantern's responsibilities because they were simple tasks to complete, and all students helped each other complete them anyway. 

We played challenges using ClassCraft that we created as a class. Some of the challenges were related to goal-setting homework or in-class exploratory activities (such as being an active group member). We would start a ClassCraft challenge, and players would do their best to complete their challenges (some of which were used for Learning Skill evaluations, too). Students were never penalized if they performed poorly in a challenge. They just earned fewer points, but they always won to some degree. Performance challenges always resulted in great peer dialogue related to how to improve student performance on the same task next time (group reflective practice).

I am a proud user and ambassador of Classcraft, and I am always willing to share my experiences with others as well as find innovative ways to use Classcraft in the future.

Core Subjects, Technology, Social Studies, and the Arts, Grades 6 and 8, Centennial Sr PS, Peel District School Board, Brampton, Ontario, Canada

I can’t actually remember how I found out about Classcraft, but I was hooked immediately. I signed up and started thinking about how I would use Classcraft in my classes. Since there was only the English version available back then, I decided to use it in my ESL classes, and we had a blast.

The thing is, lots of people ask me why I’m such a big fan, and I always answer with the same reason: because it challenged me to think about the way I teach. When I had read through the powers, I wasn’t sure about using a cheat sheet, giving students extra time, etc. But why not? There’s no reason why you shouldn’t reward students when they’re working hard … and those powers are REAL rewards. Yes, they do need to pass a test, but why not do it extra motivated or with a little power? Seeing silent students find the courage to speak up because they can earn extra Experience Points, or watching students smile when they get back a good result because they could ask their teacher if they were right on a test ... those moments are worth a lot, and that’s what I like about Classcraft.

Today, I’m an ambassador for Classcraft, and I’m proud of it. I’ve worked hard on the Dutch translation, and I’ve started my quest to tell people about Classcraft in Belgium, a country where there’s always room for an extra adventure! Even an adventure that has nothing to do with chocolates or waffles …
