Brag Tags: 7 Tips To Help You Get Started!

Hello again, friends! My name is Anna from Hanging with Mrs. Hulsey, and I'm so excited to be sharing my first official blog post for All About 3rd Grade!

Today I wanted to share with you a classroom management strategy that has recently become more popular: brag tags! (Side note: If you have never heard of brag tags-- you can read this post or this one for more basic information) 


Essentially, I have found brag tags to be a good replacement for rewards like candy or a class treasure box. My students LOVE their tags-- and they love organizing them and looking at them! 

I have found brag tags to be great motivators-- especially during certain seasons when classroom management is strained (think: Christmas, spring break, end of year, etc.) As we near the end of the school year, I often find myself choosing 4 or 5 random tags and laying them on my desk before school starts. Then I remember to hand them out throughout the day and motivate my students to keep working (even though the end is in sight!) 

Thinking about jumping aboard the brag tag wagon? Here is what I suggest you do NOW for next year:

1. Order your necklaces now-- then you won't be waiting for them to ship on time (Mine came a week after school started, so I should have allotted more time!). Order these from "School Life"-- they cost $0.27 each (order extra for those that get lost or broken) I've heard a few people like to use keychains (also a good option). I would avoid necklaces from Etsy-- I ordered a set and the clasps were too hard to open/close (remember, you want students to be able to use them independently). 

2. Buy your brag tag in BUNDLES. Find tag creators you love-- and go back for more! I love my tags from Lucky Little Learners and Not So Wimpy Teacher

3. Think about how you praise your students-- then print brag tags that match (example: I printed some science and social studies tags, but I've never used them. Now I know to replace them with something else next year). Also, do you want to give tags for holidays and birthdays? Plan for those as well! 

4. Print and laminate NOW (then you can spend all summer cutting them out-- your fingers will thank you at the start of the school year when you are SUPER busy). 

5. Organize your tags. Buy a plastic organizer like mine from Lowes, Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Michaels (whatever matches your style and needs).

6. Think about your display. Plan it ahead of time. Do you want to hang them on a bulletin board? Do you want to hang them from hooks attached to a wall? Think about the materials you will need to do this. 

7. Print these end-of-year freebies and be sure to use them! :) I've included 3rd grade tags as well as a generic "last day of school" tag for all grades. I've also added a "first day" tag to help you get started on next year! 

Thanks for stopping by-- and I hope I've inspired you to try something new or to be more prepared for next year! 

4 comments

  1. Selecting a few random ones in the morning to pass out is a GREAT idea! Totally doing that. I'm planning to use brag tags for the first time this year and I am very excited!

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  2. When do students get to wear/show off their brag tags? Do you let them take them home at the end of the school year?

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    1. Hello! I let my kids where them anytime we are in the classroom! But some teachers specify only certain times or days of the week (whatever works best for you and your teaching style!) I also let them take them home at the end of the year-- I think it's a fun reminder they can keep for 3rd grade! :)

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