Are you looking for something to spice up your classroom behavior management system? If so, I have the deal for you…BRAG TAGS! They have changed the way my kids behave in my classroom!
Prior to using brag tags, my kids were not nearly as motivated to work hard towards their behavior and academic goals. I was constantly spending money on refilling my treasure box. As teachers we spend enough of our own money on things. Brag tags helped this cause for me AND they are a much more effective behavior management tool!
So, what is a brag tag you must be thinking? A brag tag is more than just a means for positive reinforcement for behavior management. They are something any child can receive for making good choices. They also make excellent rewards for meeting goals!
At the beginning of the school year, I give each child a necklace with their first tag already on there. The necklace chains can be purchased on Amazon for about a quarter a piece. The tag has the child's name on it. The kids get so excited about earning these tags. They have worked out really well for me and my students and I think they could work for your classroom too!
Try Brag Tags
Download Editable Brag Tags HERE
What teachers are saying about Brag Tags
Brag tags have been transformational in my classroom. Other teachers repeatedly come to me to thank me for creating this system.
Caroline Wilson says, “Brag tags have been a real game changer in my class! I love how I can use them to reward academic and personal successes that my kids may not think I notice. I also love our class rule that someone else has to nominate you for a brag tag, so it is creating such a positive environment of celebrating one another!”
Chrissy L. says, “My first graders love them. I use them to acknowledge their hard work and growth. I also use them whenever they've exhibited positive character traits and behaviors. My kiddos want to wear them all the time to show off their success, not only academic but socially as well.”
Betty Culp says, “My kinders love brag tags! We don't use the necklaces though, we put them on our backpacks! Students can get them for many many different things. Moving up reading levels, monthly homework packets, being a bucket filler, being super for the sub and much more. I love that they also can earn them for social portions of the classroom as well as academic! I randomly put one on the board and that's what I'm looking for that day! They love getting them and showing them off to their friends and family! This is my first year using them and I plan to continue to use them.”
Courtney Wood says, “I teach 25 kids who come from nothing. Their homes lives are more than any 8 year old should have to bear. I have a kid who isn't doing his homework tonight because he doesn't have power. I have another who isn't allowed to go outside past 4 because of the violence that happens in his neighborhood. Praise isn't always something that my students get from their homes so when they step into my door I make sure that each student feels loved, appreciated, and successful. Brag tags have been an amazing way to do that.
A simple brag tag becomes a big victory in the eyes of my 3rd graders. They can't wait to put on their necklaces and show any visitor their accomplishments. Our brag tag board has become a focal point of our classroom and a way to set goals for ourselves. Who knew a copied piece of paper and some lamination would have the power to transform my 4 walls?!”
Learn More About Using Brag Tags
If you are curious to learn more about brag tags, how I organize them, store them, hand them out, and manage them in my own classroom, be sure to visit frequently asked questions about brag tags for all the details!
If you are looking to purchase brag tags to use as behavior management tools in your classroom, I have created 16 different sets that you can grab today.
This is a great idea!!! Can't wait to try this with my class! What are the necklaces made out of?
Carrie
Table Talk with C & C
I LOVE the brag tag idea!!! Your tags are super adorable! I am definitely going to have to try it out…now it's just a matter of where to hang them. I love your display 🙂
Colleen
Totally Terrific in Texas
Thanks Colleen! I appreciate it! Just another idea…if you are short on space for displaying them…I have hung 5 on one hook before and then labeled all 5 names above the hook. It did seem to work out just fine if you are having a hard time finding the space!
What are the containers called?
Hello Amy, Here is a link to the containers we used in the photographs in this post.
I really love this idea!! Do the kids ever wear them? What do you do when it gets all filled up? How often do you give them out? Daily? or as appropriate? Thanks for the feed back.
Hi Michele! Thanks for your inquiry! Yes, my kids ask to wear them from time to time. At the beginning of the year they wanted to wear them all the time so I had to limit it a bit more. If we go to an assembly, we wear them. We have a Camp Read-a-Lot Day a few times a year and they wear them all day on this day too. The necklaces never get completely filled up…it would take hundreds of tags to fill up the whole necklace. I give them out for amazing behavior that I catch, perfect spelling tests, all homework turned in for the month, etc. Does that help? Let me know if you have any questions!
I love this idea! How do you incorporate the beads?
Hello Kailey! Great question! The colored beads are just a fun way of personalizing each chain and to create space between bunches of brag tags. Have fun with brag tags in your classroom!
Do these come in Spanish?
No, I am sorry Yolanda but they do not. Sorry I couldn't be more of a help! 🙂
Thank you for this great idea! Something on Pinterest last summer inspired me to switch to laminated, reusable reward cards for things like 'sitting in the teacher chair' and that has worked well this year and really cut down prize box costs. I can't wait to move on up to Brag Tags!
Do you allow the students to remove their necklaces if they want to wear them?
Also, have you experienced too much bragging? I would like for this system to be used as a motivator, and encourager. However, I can see it easily becoming a competition, and students feeling upset or offended. How to you foster that community sense of accomplishment with these brag tags?
What an insanely brilliant idea! I've been using a treasure box this year (just filled with pencils/pens/erasers etc) and it has worked very well! But I like this idea a whole lot more!
Just a thought though… I don't love the name "brag tags"… Like Jenelle said above, could the bragging be a negative side?
I'd be inclined to change the name to something like "fab tags" instead.
I’m starting these this fall but I’m going to call them WOW Tags. Wonderful Outstanding Work. I wanted to get away from the “brag” word too.
I'd call them Swag Tags, I think!
That's a great name change! It puts a more positive spin on it, in my opinion.
I love this idea! Are you printing them on cardstock to prevent curling or does printer paper work since they are so small? Thank you for your help!
The regular printer paper definitely works just fine and seem to stay on their necklaces all year too. I'm glad you love the idea and hope that you love it in your classroom too!!!
How do you purchase these?
Hey Amanda! If you click on any of the pictures in this post, it will take you to the product in my TPT store. You can purchase them there! Let me know if you have any more questions!
Do you have a link to the organizer you use? I can't seem to find it. I love your brag tags!
I LOVE it! Am starting my board RIGHT NOW!!!! I can even use my STAR awards from last year with the character trait circled. This is a great visual for the teacher to see who we forget about and who we seem to focus on more than others when giving awards. Now ALL kids will be honored for their strengths 🙂 Also, I really like the positive idea for "SWAG BOARD" with my "cool" 5th graders!
I saw something similar in a classroom a while ago which gave cards but these are much nicer looking. I think i will try this out with my kids next year.
I love these! This looks like a wonderful idea and I might just try this next year! My only question is can the students get the same tag more than once? Or is it like once you have it, you have it type deal? For example if a kid is good for the sub on multiple occasions…do they get one each time? Or is it like a boy scout badge where they earn it, keep it the rest of the time and move onto another one?
Cute idea!!! How could these work as a specialist?
I have 4th and 5th graders. I use tags like this on their lockers. They love having things posted on the outside of their locker and they get really competitive.
In your photo, I notice a letter (at least I think that is what it is). Does this explain Brag Tags to parents? I would love to see what it says. Is it part of one of your brag tag packs?
Hi Jennifer. Yes, the brag tag letter explains to parents what brag tags are and how they are used. This should be offered for free in this post by clicking on the hyperlink. Let me know if you need any more help with this.
I love this idea!
What do you use the beads for? I like how they look on the necklace with the tags. Do they get beads for certain things or just as you feel led to give them.
Hi Anne. I give beads for their AR points but I know that some teachers have given beads for class compliments, number of chapter books read, number of 100% on comprehension quizzes, and reading homework minutes. Hope that helps!
Loooooove the idea. Was getting tired of the “prize box”…..do you have any for music? I teach group piano
Hi Rita. At this time I don’t have any brag tags specifically for music but I think that several of the brag tags from my School Days Bundle would be adaptable for music class. Here’s the link if you want to take a closer look: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/BRAG-TAG-BUNDLE-Addition-Subtraction-Math-Fact-Master-2295413 I’m thinking “My Teacher is Proud of Me”, “100%” “I Have Stamina”, “Great Effort”, etc… Hope that helps!
I am a PreK-6 librarian and have just purchased your AR Brag Tags and Animal Brag Tags to use as AR incentives the upcoming school year. Do you have any pointers or suggestions as to how they can be used in a school library setting? Our school has an enrollment of about 750 students.
Hi Patty. I have had several librarians reach out to me about these brag tags this week! Crazy! My suggestion for other librarians would be to give the kids their brag tags to take home or add to a necklace that they keep in their locker and wear when they come to library. If this is too hard to manage, the tags could just be added to their necklace on their own after earning them from you. Hope that helps! I love this idea!
Any ideas on how to use these for students who meet with their mental health clinician at school? I have students work through some hard stuff as well as things like friendship and honesty. I’m not sure how to use the tags if the student is the only one working with the provider in that class. ideas?
Do any of your brag tag packs have growth mindset tags?
Hi Sarah. I don’t have any growth mindset tags but I would be happy to make a set for you if you can help me put together a list of suggestions! I would need about 15 different brag tag sayings to make a set. If this is something that you’d be interested in collaborating with me on, please email me at angie@luckylittlelearners.com. I would happy to send these to you for free once they are finished if you can help me with the ideas! 🙂
I love growth mindset! Please let me know if you make a set.
Can Kinders easily open these chains and self manage this by themselves? I have added all your things to my wish list but I really want this to be self managed.
Hi JJ. I have a lot of kindergarten teachers who use brag tag necklaces with their students. My suggestion is to start the year by showing them how to open and close the necklaces and allowing them to practice for about 5 minutes each day for about a week or so. Typically, about half of your kinder will be able to do this independently. The rest of the students are then instructed to ask a friend who knows how to open and close them when they need to add a tag. The kids are really good about knowing who can help them with this task since they will be adding to their necklace on a weekly basis. Hope that helps!
I’m curious how you handle AR. When students earn their points, they receive the corresponding brag tag, right. Do they earn anything else along the way?
Hi Rebecca. The only reward that my students get with the AR program is the brag tags. I am trying to do away with as much treasure box rewards as possible. Hope that helps!
I love all the information about brag tags! I recently came across many Pinterest ideas about using them, which I had never heard before. I was sold immediately, but I am limited in time because our school year starts in 2 weeks. I have searched Amazon for the chain necklaces and stumbled upon these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NA5CDF2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=AAAUH3AR4JBK&coliid=I2L4HKHXP65ZFZ (13 cents a piece) do you think they would work well?
Hi Juliet. Thanks for your message. I think those necklaces are a great price but I would worry about the number of brag tags you’d be able to fit on that little hook. That being said, you might be able to just send them home at the end of each grading period. Hope that helps!
I love your brag tags!! I spend so much money on treasure box items it is ridiculous. I informed my principal about the brag tags. She wants me to present this fabulous reward system to the rest of the teachers when we return on the 11th. I am kind of nervous.
Hey Elise! How exciting about your brag tag presentation! BTW, I can completely relate to the $$$ towards the treasure box problem…I did it for too many years! If you need anything for your presentation, please don’t hesitate to ask! I would love to provide any input I can with this! My email address is angie@luckylittlelearners.com if you want to chat about this further!
There may be a comment about it but how do u use the beads?
hi I really like your brag tag idea. I have spent sooo much money on my treasure box. im not good at this stuff so I want to purchase your tags please let me know exactly how to do so thanks a lot denise smith
Hi Denise!
I have placed a link below that will bring you directly to my best selling brag tags for purchase on TpT. Thank you for reaching out, I appreciate it! Have a great day!
http://bit.ly/2l4wpq6
Angie Olson
Lucky Little Learners
Hi! I really love this idea and have already gone and bought the big bundle. How do you use the holiday-themed ones?
Hi Sarah!
Thank you for your message.
I use the holiday brag tags as a behavior incentive. For example, on the day of the Halloween party, I wear a class set of Halloween brag tags on my teacher lanyard. I tell the kids in the morning that I will be looking for the following good behaviors throughout the day. For those who show me those good behaviors, they will earn a Halloween brag tag.
They work great because typically the holiday party days tend to be a bit more hectic. The brag tags are a nice incentive because they are brand new to them and the kids are excited to add one to their necklace.
Angie Olson
Lucky Little Learners
Hi there, I love the “brag, swag tag” idea and I’ve been using with my kids all year. They love it!! What are the colored beads for?
Thanks.
Hi Mabel!
It is out understanding that the colored beads are just a fun way of personalizing each chain and to create space between bunches of brag tags. I hope this helps! Have a great day!
Bailey J.
Lucky Little Learners
I want to purchase these but which do you suggest for my first time using brag tags? There are so many options and bundles! Also, do you have the digital page of the explanation of brag tags that I can place in my students binders? I’m so excited about these!
Hello Britt! Thank you for your interest in brag tags! The brag tag bundle #1 is a good one to start with because it has a good mix of tags. You can view it here: https://shop.luckylittlelearners.com/product/brag-tags-bundle-195-pages/ Best of luck using brag tags in your classroom this year!
I came across an ad on FB about your brag tags and think they’re a fun way to give the kiddos some intrinsic motivation. I teach 5th grade, is this too kiddish for upper elementary? Also, do the kiddos keep the rags all year or does it start over every week?
Hello Tabitha! Kids keep the brag tags all year! I have no idea if 5th graders would like them or not but I bet if you used the editable ones and wrote things on them that they were interested in they would like it. Thanks for these great questions!
Any ideas on how to incorporate these into a middle school classroom?
I LOVE this idea but I have 3 year olds. How could we use this idea with them.