Announcements / Sep 28, 2018

How One Teacher Created Her Makerspace With ClassTag Rewards

As schools throughout the country resumed their classes this year, ClassTag announced the 10 winning teachers of its Parent-Teacher Engagement Contest. Each winner received $1,000 in ClassTag Rewards, redeemable for free classroom supplies ranging from learning technology to the basics like pens and notebooks.

Parent-teacher engagement is often the single greatest factor in student academic success, yet teachers still struggle to get parents plugged into their child’s classroom activities. As part of the contest, teachers were asked to share their personal stories of measures they have taken to engage their students’ parents in their classroom.

One of these teachers, Christina Curlett from New Jersey, told us that every week, her students collaborate on a newsletter using Google Classroom and Google Docs. They write about what they’ve been learning in class and the finished newsletter is sent home to parents at the end of the week. Parents love reading content created by their children!

Christina currently teaches Grade 2 at James H. Johnson Elementary School and has been teaching for 16 years. She used her rewards to fund her classroom’s makerspace.

When I found out I won, I couldn’t believe it! I was so excited, because I had wanted to create a makerspace in my classroom, and now I’d have the funding to do so. – Christina Curlett

She began using ClassTag at the beginning of this school year. “I love all of the options for activities – events, conferences, volunteers, etc. It’s such a great way to keep class communication organized!” she says.

So far, Christina has redeemed her ClassTag Rewards for two robots: Cubetto and Code & Go Robot Mouse, Roller Coaster Challenge, E-Blox, LEGO Chain Reaction parts, Snap Circuits, and a Gears! Gears! Gears! Building set. Everything she needed to get her students started with engineering and coding in her classroom!

When asked what advice she’d pass along to other teachers regarding classroom funding and expenses, she replied: “Look for all kinds of opportunities for funding … you’d be surprised at what’s out there!”

 

Vlada Lotkina, Founder and CEO of ClassTag, says, “At ClassTag we want to assure every teacher is equipped with the tools they need for the success of every student. We are thrilled to award such amazing educators who go above and beyond as we approach the new school year.”


ClassTag is the free, easy-to-use collaborative platform that lets teachers effortlessly engage with parents and earn ClassTag Coins when parents and teachers communicate, volunteer, or attend school events like parent teacher conferences. Now teachers can not only improve parent engagement, but get much needed supplies while doing so. Explore ClassTag today!

Share this

Related Posts

ClassTag Gazette: October 2020
Newsletters / Oct 20, 2020

ClassTag Gazette: October 2020

  Happy October! Fall breeze, autumn leaves! Or is it stressed, blessed and pumpkin-obsessed? Either way, grab…

by 3 min read
EdTech Toolkit for Remote and Hybrid Learning
Uncategorised / Sep 25, 2020

EdTech Toolkit for Remote and Hybrid ...

There is an overwhelming amount of educational technology (EdTech) choices this school year. You’re having to choose…

by 7 min read
Ditch Email: Jumpstart Parent Participation
Uncategorised / Sep 25, 2020

Ditch Email: Jumpstart Parent Partici...

With many teachers moving to remote learning or hybrid learning, the need to communicate and share information…

by 5 min read
App Store

Parent Teacher Communication Made Easy With Our Free - User Friendly App