These 11 Free Classroom Management Software Programs Will Help Students Succeed

The teaching profession has become much more technology-driven and focused than it was when I was a new teacher. Though change can be challenging, I have seen a lot of benefits of incorporating more technology into my planning, lessons, and student practice.

Classroom management can be a challenge for even the most experienced teachers. When I heard that there were free classroom management software options out there, I was immediately excited to try them out.

I’ve tried a few different software programs over the last few years, and I have found them to be very helpful with keeping my students on-task, motivated, and excited to learn. Using these tools has helped me to decrease some of the behavior problems I was seeing too.Would you like to read more about the different classroom management software programs available to you? Keep reading, and I’ll share:

• The best classroom management software programs you can try for free →
• Important things to consider when choosing the best classroom management software program →

You can watch this video, it will briefly retell the content of the article.

Here’s a list of software for Classroom Managment.

Now lets take a closer look to each one.

11 Free Classroom Management Software Options

Whether you’re recording a lecture for an observation or looking for day-to-day organization and management, a classroom management software program may offer exactly what you’re looking for.

In the few sections, you can learn more about my top picks for the best classroom management software programs that are available for teachers. All of these programs are free to use, though some may include additional features for paid subscriptions.

1. Class Dojo

Class Dojo is one of the most popular classroom management software programs out there. And, even better, the website says that is it “free for teachers, forever.”

Class Dojo is designed to help teachers connect with both students and their parents to enhance the classroom community.

Teachers can use Class Dojo to reward positive behaviors, group students randomly for partner work, play quiet background music to help their students focus, and more.

You can also set up a digital portfolio for each student. If you choose this option, students can add their own images and videos to their portfolio, showcasing their learning for the years. For example, if your students are working on a follow-up worksheet on one of the best chapter books for 1st graders, they could snap a picture of their work and upload it to their portfolio.

This incredible 4th grader from 4M, Keeyanah, traded in her Class DoJo points (earned for making good choices) to read to Mrs. Stewart’s class. Third graders really enjoyed Keeyanah reading, “The Office.” ❤️#MartinStudentsRock #LoveNorthSchools pic.twitter.com/VSi2jPpk3p

— JWMartinSchool (@JWMartinSchool) June 17, 2022

Many teachers love Class Dojo because of how easy it makes it to stay in communication with parents. You can share class announcements, images, and videos with all the parents in your class or just an individual with ease. Translations into over 30 languages are also available to remove the language barrier for parents who may not speak English as a first language.

Pros

• Can help improve the overall classroom climate.
• Makes it easy to communicate with parents.
• Works on all computers, with iOS, Android operating systems, and Kindle Fire

Cons

• No student to teacher communication options.

Best For: Elementary school teachers

2. Mythware

I also like Mythware’s classroom management software. This software program is available for download for five different operating systems: Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android, and Linux. Additionally, it offers support across platforms, meaning it will work if your device is on one operating system and your students are using a different operating system.

There are a few features that I really like about Mythware. It allows teachers to do a screen broadcast and share resources to their students’ computers. Teachers can also select one student in the classroom to do a class demonstration and share that students’ computer screen to the classroom board.

The interactive whiteboard feature is one of my favorites. With this feature, the teacher invites a few students in the class to solve a problem on their computer screen. What each student writes is then displayed on one section of the interactive whiteboard in the classroom.

If you’d like to learn more about Mythware, watch this video. It helps explain some of the benefits of the program and how it works from both a teacher’s and student’s point of view.

What do you think? Is Mythware right for you and your students?

Pros

• Makes it easy for teachers to monitor what their students are working on.
• With the broadcast feature, teachers can share resources with their students.
• If needed, teachers can restrict what their students are able to access through their computers to keep them on task.

Cons

• Not as suitable for younger students.

Best For: Middle school and high school teachers.

3. Edmodo

With Edmodo’s free classroom accounts, it is another top choice for teachers looking for the right software. As one of the best classroom management software options, Edmodo makes it easy for teachers to communicate with their students are share necessary materials.

Send messages to your students and distribute all the materials they’ll need for the day or week with ease. You can send whole class messages, or communicate with individual students regarding their performance or any questions they may have.

Edmodo also makes it easy to keep parents informed about what is going on in the classroom. Teachers can send messages to parents, and parents can also log in to see what’s happening in the classroom and keep track of their student’s grades.

Edmodo can also help you enhance the quality of your lessons and the way you communicate with your students. Visit the “Discover” section of the website, “Spotlight section,” or follow Edmodo hashtags to see how other educators are using the software and all it has to offer to help their students succeed.

Pros

• Easy to use platform.
• Allows you to communicate with individual students or the whole class.
• Helpful with keeping parents up to date about what is happening.

Cons

• Doesn’t let you monitor students’ computer screens.

Best For: Upper elementary school, middle school, or high school.

4. Veyon

Veyon is designed for teachers in this digital age where we are living. In so many classrooms and schools, each student has their own computer, and it can be very challenging for teachers to monitor what they are working on.

Veyon allows teachers to view a student’s computer screen from their own device. They can even take a screenshot of a student’s computer screen with one click from their device as well.

Students seem distracted by their computer and aren’t listening to what you’re explaining? Simply press a button, and it will lock all of the individual computers in the room, helping you to grab the attention of your students.

With Veyon, teachers can also use the demo feature to share what is on their screen to each of their students’ screens. This feature can come in very handy when making presentations or trying to explain a concept to your students.

Wondering if Veyon may be what you’re looking for? This video walks through some of the different features the program has to offer.

Veyon certainly has a lot to offer, especially if you work in a classroom where all of your students have their own devices.

Pros

• Controlling and view what is on your students’ screens is easy.
• If your students aren’t focused on what you are saying, you can lock their screen.
• Share your screen with each of your students using the demo feature.

Cons

• No messaging functions with students or parents.

Best For: Any grades where students have their own personal computers.

5. Google Classroom

Google Classroom is designed to help simplify some of the many responsibilities teachers hold. It can be used for assigning work, helping students collaborate, and improving communication.

With Google Classroom, teachers can manage their classes, the assignments they have, and even student grades all online. Create and post assignments for your students to work on, then upload or link to YouTube videos, Google Forms, or other resources to help students complete the work.

Google Classroom also allows teachers to provide real-time feedback to their students as they are working.

You can ask parents to sign up for an email summary of the assignments their students completed and those that are still outstanding.

Killer Features

• Ability to keep classes, assignments, and student grades easily organized online.
• Teachers can set up assignments and add materials to them for their students.
• Post announcements and start online discussion boards with your students.
• Can provide real-time feedback to students.
• Can start video meetings.

Pros

• Google Classroom Makes it easy to manage classes and assignments.
• You can provide feedback in real time to your students.
• Parents and guardians can receive emails with the status of their children’s assignments.

Cons

• Unable to monitor your students’ computer screen.

Best For: Elementary and middle school classrooms.

6. Classcraft

Classcraft is another of the best classroom management software options. This software is designed to help teachers learn motivating and positive methods to help manage behaviors.

Teachers can input information about their students into the program, and school administrators can view the data. This will help them to identify which students could benefit from intervention services.

Another top feature of this software is that it uses gaming principles to help teach students intrinsic motivation. These principles will also help with developing independence, social emotional competency, and more.

Classcraft is designed to be intuitive and easy to use. Teachers can seamlessly integrate it into their day and experience huge gains with the confidence, motivation, and behaviors of their students.

Pros

• Gamifies learning and behavior and motivates students to try their best.
• Administrators can monitor behaviors and identify students who could benefit from early interventions.
• Schools have seen up to a 91% drop in disruptions in the classroom.

Cons

• Does not allow teachers to monitor the computer screens of the students in their class.

Best For: Elementary and middle schools

7. Netop Vision

I think you’ll also really like Netop Vision. This classroom management software is designed to help teachers keep each of their students focused, engaged, and motivated to learn.

Netop Vision allows teachers to view and monitor their students’ computer screens to ensure that everyone is on-task and working on what they are supposed to be. Additionally, with the web filter feature, you can narrow down the list of websites your students will be able to access as they work.

Some of the other key features of this software include the ability for teachers to free their students’ screens to make sure they’re paying attention, opening a URL or each students’ computer with ease, share their screens with their students, showcase a students’ computer screen to help them present what they’ve been working on, and more.

Pros

• Teachers can control and monitor their students’ screens.
• You can share a website to each computer, reducing the amount of time it will take students to type in the web address.
• You can share your own screen or that of another student to present/discuss work or a concept.

Cons

• No ability to communicate with parents.

Best For: All grades where students have their own devices.

8. TeacherEase

TeacherEase is designed for use in any kindergarten through 12th grade classroom, particularly those where students each have their own computer or device.

The software is designed to support teachers who may be having some trouble adjusting to a technology-rich classroom. It can help them create digital assignments and send their students work electronically.

With the software, teachers can also stay on top of the entire learning cycle, collect assignments online, and more. When needed, they can also differentiate assignments for their students.

As you’ve been using TeacherEase more, you can even use it to create a digital library for all of your lessons, assignments, assessments and more. This will help you share these same materials for future groups of students.

To help teachers monitor what their students are working on, TeacherEase also offers a status console. This will help you assess what each of your students are working on with their individual computer screens.

Pros

• Designed to help teachers who may be having trouble adjusting to a more digitally-reliant classroom.
• Teachers can easily create assignments that their students can access online and make modifications as need to differentiate for other students in the classroom.
• You can create a digital library of all your assignments, assessments, plans, and more for easy access in the future.

Cons

• Doesn’t allow for messaging or communications with parents.

Best For: Any grade where students have their own devices.

9. Nearpod

Students, teachers, and administrators alike all love Nearpod. This classroom management software is designed to help teachers craft interactive lessons that will help enhance their students’ understanding and learning.

Nearpod gamifies learning to help motivate students to do their best. You can also share interactive videos to further engage your students and reach them where they are.

Nearpod is ideal for in-person learning, virtual learning, or schools that use some combination of both.

Pros

• Helps to keep students engaged and excited to learn.
• Gives teachers a lot of options to customize each lesson.
• Easy to use.

Cons

• Doesn’t let you view and monitor what your students are working on from your computer.

Best For: Elementary and middle school students.

10. Socrative

Socrative is designed to help teachers keep track of their student’s progress and learning. You can use it to send out quick quizzes in the middle of your lessons to get a feel for whether your students are understanding the content. Check their progress immediately using the app, so you can adjust your teaching strategies if needed.

Choose from different types of questions based on the content and available time, including multiple choice, true/false, and short answer.

Once students turn in their quizzes or exit tickets, you can view reports to check on their progress. These reports can also be downloaded, emailed, or moved to Google Drive to help you with your grading and communications with parents.

Socrative also allows teachers to set up different virtual rooms to help engage students. You can even set up a friendly competition between groups of students to review important concepts with Space Race.

Pros

• Socrative helps to free up more of your time to focus on what is important.
• You can view the answers from quizzes instantly.
• The Space Race game can help engage students and encourage them to collaborate with their team to win the race.

Cons

• You cannot monitor what is displayed on a student’s screen.

Best For: Upper elementary school and middle school classrooms.

11. Insight

Last, but not least, take a look at Insight. The classroom management software from Faronics can help teachers spend less time monitoring their students and more time teaching and keeping students engaged in learning activities.

With Insight, simply glance at your screen to be able to see what each of your students is doing on their own device. You can also communicate back and forth with your students to respond to questions or share a motivating commend.

Insight also allows teachers to create tests for their students. Then, after the students take the test, you can immediately view their results.

Some of the other key features of Insight include the ability to restrict their internet browsing to specific websites, lock their computer screen, share your screen or that of another student, and more

Pros

• You can share your computer screen to give a demonstration or explanation.
• The features will help you reduce off-task behaviors.
• With the test feature, you can administer tests and view the results as soon as students finish.

Cons

• Insight doesn’t allow you to communicate with parents.

Best For: Upper elementary, middle, or high school students.

8 Things to Consider when Browsing for Classroom Management Software

Before making a final decision about which classroom management software you want to choose, there are a few things you’ll want to consider. Taking time to really compare the different options out there and see how well they align with your goals for using a software program can help make sure you make the best choice for you and your students. Continue reading, and I’ll share some of the most important considerations to keep in mind before choosing a classroom management software program.

1. Overall Goal

The first thing you should consider is your overall goal for the program you choose. Think about what is making you search for the best classroom management software in the first place.

Are you looking for a tool that will help your students stay organized? Are you more concerned about student behavior problems? Keep these goals in mind and look for a software program that will help address what you are looking for.

2. Ages of Your Students

Another important consideration is the age of the students you teach. Clearly, the best tool for a group of 1st graders will look much different from the best tool for high schoolers.

Consider how the software program works and whether it assumes that students will have their own technology to use when interacting with it, or if it is something that is primarily controlled by the teacher or projected on the classroom interactive white board.

3. The Number of Classes You Teach

Do you have one group of students all day, or do you have different classes of students rotating through your room. If you teach more than one class of students, it may help to narrow down the software choices for you. Some programs don’t allow teachers to enter multiple class lists, especially with the free version, so you’ll need to be purposeful about choosing a program that does allow for this.

4. Software Features

It is also essential to take a close look at the specific features included with each software program. Considering your needs and those of your students can help you determine which features are most important to you.

Here are some features that you may see included with different classroom management software programs:

• Functionality across different device types
• Ability to monitor and control student devices in the classroom
• Inclusion of internet security measures
• Ability to update the software quickly and easily, even from remote locations
• Access to customer support for troubleshooting problems

5. Free vs Paid Features

Checking out the run down of features with each classroom management software program is important, but you should also confirm which features are included for free. Some free programs may not include all the features unless you sign up for one of the paid plans.

6. Ability to Communicate with Parents

Do you want to use the software management program you choose to communicate with parents? Choosing a software program with this option can streamline communications, keep parents up to date about what is happening, and make it easier for you to stay on top of parent communications.

If you think you will want to use the classroom management software program you choose to stay in touch with parents, be sure to choose one that offers this ability.

7. User Reviews

Every software company is going to tell you that their classroom management software is the best. So, who are you supposed to believe?

Looking through reviews from past customers can help you learn a lot. You can find out important information about how effective the software program is, how well the various features work, and really get a feel for what it will be like to use it with your students.

8. Ease of Use

Finding a user-friendly classroom management software program is so important. You want to spend your time using the software to make your life easier, not learning how to use it. Reading through user reviews, watching videos about the software, and looking at images of the different features can all be helpful when deciding whether a particular program will truly be user-friendly.

Useful Recourses

• Basic Computer Skills: Installing Software on Your Windows PC
• Using Apps & Software in the Classroom
• How to Create Digital Lessons That Support Students With Learning Differences | Edutopia

Closing Thoughts

One of the free classroom management software options I shared above can simplify your job as a teacher. You’ll be able to help your students stay on top of their assignments, monitor their online behaviors, and motivate them to do well in class. Which of the software programs are you most excited to try?

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Paulie Ivanova

Paulie Ivanova is a novice teacher. She recently graduated as a teacher at the university and is full of new teaching ideas. She teaches elementary school students, so she doesn't get bored at work. Working with children Paulie is not afraid to experiment and is constantly applying new techniques.

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