Building Better Digital Habits: A 5th Grade Educator’s Experience with GoGuardian Teacher

In elementary classrooms, computers can open doors for learning, but they can also introduce a new layer of complexity. Teachers are not just delivering instruction; they are helping young students build responsible technology habits, navigate to the right websites, and learn how to manage digital distractions for the first time. At Sisson School in California, fifth-grade teacher Melissa Vargas experienced these challenges daily.

The turning point came when a colleague introduced her to GoGuardian Teacher.

“We had a teacher come in from another district who was teaching the middle school kids, and he recommended (GoGuardian) to us,” she recalls. “So, we tried it about two-thirds of the way through the school year, and we’ve never stopped.”

Before GoGuardian, helping her students stay digitally focused was a daily battle. But now, it’s become a way to gently nudge them to do what they’re supposed to be doing: Learning. “It removes the pressure of feeling like you have to choose between being ‘cool’ or being on task, because with GoGuardian Teacher, you really don’t have the option. You’re either on task or have to at least look like you are.”

However, the issue wasn’t just a distraction caused by the presence of devices in the classroom. It was the growing sense of digital overwhelm, both for students and for teachers like Vargas. “If they’re stuck on the sites they’re supposed to be using, nine times out of ten, they’ll do the work because they’re already there.”

The solution: A simple system that builds focus and safety

GoGuardian Teacher gave Vargas exactly what she didn’t know she needed: A straightforward way to create a focused digital learning environment, limit distractions, and support her students emotionally, all without having to hover over every screen. GoGuardian Teacher’s  Scenes feature was a huge help in this endeavor. 

“In fifth grade, students don’t need access to everything,” she explains. “If it’s math time, they need maybe three sites and Google Classroom, and that’s it. So when they only had access to what they actually needed, some of them even said things like, ‘Oh wow, I can focus now.’”

Vargas saw an immediate difference, even with groups of students who were typically harder to keep on task.

“It was almost like they were relieved when they realized they couldn't go anywhere else online.”

She’s now built out custom Scenes for every subject, providing clear digital boundaries that align with her instructional plan. This includes scheduled Scenes for math, language arts, science, and social studies, and even one for choice time, cleverly named “Mustard, Ketchup, Pickles,” where students must complete certain tasks before catching up or picking something fun. Each Scene defines exactly which websites students can access, removing ambiguity and saving instructional time.

And the best part? It all runs on autopilot.

“GoGuardian Teacher starts automatically every day at 8:00 a.m. with my default scene,” she said. “Then throughout the day, I switch between different scenes depending on the subject.”

Student buy-in: Less pushback, more purpose

Of course, there’s always an adjustment period. At the beginning of each school year, Vargas explained, students often push back a little with familiar phrases like, “Why can’t I go on this?” or “Why can’t I do that?” But that quickly fades.

“They start to realize there’s really no point in pushing back. They can either do something they’re allowed to do, or stare at the wall, which isn’t fun either.”

In fact, students even begin to watch over each other, alerting her if a peer finds a site that wasn’t meant to be accessible. This shift in classroom culture results in fewer disruptions and more time spent on learning. 

“The main thing is I know whatever they’re on is safe. I already have enough things to think about. I don’t need to constantly worry about what websites they’re visiting.”

Beyond academics: A tool for relationship building

GoGuardian Teacher’s chat feature has also become a key part of Vargas’ social-emotional approach in the classroom.

“I love being able to send a quick message to my students. A lot of times, kids will say things or respond in the chat that they might hesitate to say out loud.”

She uses chat to check in during quiet work time, give gentle nudges back on track, and provide encouragement without disrupting the class.

“I’m not trying to police them or hover,” she adds. “I try to use it to build relationships. To say, ‘Hey, I see you. Do you need help?’”

It’s an approach that’s paying off. GoGuardian Teacher’s chat has opened new channels for student voice and support. Two of her former students now reach out directly to their counselor via email, something Vargas believes grew out of the trust and digital communication skills built through her use of the chat feature when working with both students throughout the prior year.

“They got comfortable typing out what they were feeling and processing that way.”

Digital safety that works in the background

While Vargas doesn’t oversee the school’s use of GoGuardian Beacon, GoGuardian Teacher’s sister product that alerts designated staff to online activity indicating potential self-harm, suicide, or harm to others, she sees its value district-wide.

“We’ve had several incidents flagged by GoGuardian Beacon. Sometimes it’s just students being silly and typing in things to mess around, but others were serious. [School staff] caught things they never would have known about without GoGuardian Beacon running in the background.”

For a small district with limited resources, both GoGuardian Teacher and Beacon’s alert features offer invaluable peace of mind. “My students know their online activity is safe and protected.”

Empowering other educators

Recently, Vargas has been helping third-grade educators at her school onboard with GoGuardian Teacher. Features like tab opening for the whole class have been immediate wins.

“They were like, ‘Wait…I don’t have to say, “Go to www…” and have them type it out?!’ Because a lot of their kids are still learning to type their own names!”

She also helps peers see how Scenes positively shift the teacher-student dynamic. “Using built-in scenes takes the teacher out of the equation. Like, I’m not the one blocking YouTube. YouTube is just blocked. It really removes a lot of the power struggle.”

A must-have in any digital classroom

For any district weighing the cost or commitment of adopting this edtech, Vargas has a clear message: “There’s never enough money…But I really hope we never stop using GoGuardian Teacher.”

According to her, the time saved, the focus gained, and the safety net it provides make it worth every penny. “If we’re using computers, this really takes something off my plate. I don’t have to walk around and check every screen to ensure they’re on task. It’s all right there in front of me.”

Ultimately, that’s what makes GoGuardian Teacher stand out. “I do think sometimes teachers are a little intimidated by it. But once they get going, they realize it makes everything easier.”

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