How to Stop Using ClassDojo: A Teacher's Switching Guide

Maybe the parent messaging became too much. Maybe you're uneasy about data privacy. Maybe you just want a reward system that feels less like an admin tool. Whatever the reason, switching away from ClassDojo doesn't have to be disruptive if you do it in the right order.

Here's a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Decide what you actually used it for

ClassDojo bundles several things: behaviour points, parent messaging, class story/photos, and student portfolios. Before switching, get clear on which of these you actually relied on. Most teachers use one or two heavily and ignore the rest.

This matters because no single replacement covers everything ClassDojo does — you'll pick a tool based on the part you actually need. Our guide to ClassDojo alternatives breaks down which tool fits which need.

Step 2: Export your data before you leave

Don't delete your account until you've saved anything you want to keep. In ClassDojo you can typically:

• Download student portfolio work and photos from the Class Story
• Screenshot or note behaviour point totals if you want a record
• Save any parent contact information you'll need elsewhere

Check ClassDojo's current account settings for their data download options, as these change over time. Save everything to a folder before doing anything else.

Step 3: Pick your replacement and set it up first

Set up the new system before you announce the switch. Have your classes created, students added, and points configured so that on day one of the change, everything just works. A half-built replacement is how switches fall apart.

Quick matching:

• You mainly used behaviour points and want students more engaged → a virtual pet or gamified system like PetClass
• You mainly used parent messaging → a communication-first tool like Bloomz
• You want simple points across a whole school → LiveSchool

Step 4: Tell parents — briefly and positively

Parents are used to ClassDojo, so frame the switch as an upgrade, not a complaint. Keep it short. Something like:

Give them one clear way to contact you that doesn't depend on the old app. That's the main thing parents worry about losing.

Step 5: Introduce it to students as something new and fun

Students adapt fast — often faster than parents. Spend ten minutes on day one showing them how the new system works and what they can earn. If the new tool has a visual hook (like pets that grow), let them see it. Excitement on day one carries the system for weeks.

Step 6: Give it three weeks before judging

Every new system feels slightly awkward for the first week or two while everyone learns the rhythm. Don't abandon it because day three felt clunky. Three weeks is enough to know whether it's working.

A note on timing

The cleanest time to switch is at a natural break — start of a term, after a holiday, or the new school year. Mid-week switches mid-term work too, but a break gives you setup time and a clean "we're trying something new" moment.

If you're switching specifically because you want students more motivated and engaged, PetClass is built for exactly that — points that hatch and grow virtual pets, free for 1 classroom of 30 students. Setup takes about ten minutes.

Last updated: June 2026