What is Night Zookeeper?
Night Zookeeper is an online learning program that improves children's reading and writing skills, and unlocks their creativity.
Through gamification and competition, children are encouraged to practice their grammar, spelling and composition skills. The program offers the ability to assign pre-made lessons and assignments, as well as set customised writing tasks. Subscriptions are available for use at home and in the classroom.
Night Zookeeper is the perfect way to boost any child's reading and writing skills!
Recommended Usage
Students should try to use Night Zookeeper a minimum of 30 minutes a week to get the best out of the program. This will give them time to complete their weekly assignments and check feedback from their tutors.
Educational Impact
 Company | Business Name: Night Zookeeper HQ Location: United Kingdom Founded: 2011 |
| Age Range | 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 |
 Features | Progress TrackingPersonalized FeedbackAdminister AssignmentsGive Student FeedbackSentence Building GamesWriting ChallengesMarking Done For You |
 Languages | English |
 Accessibility | Robust features |
 Policies |  Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyGDPR |
 Requirements | Internet - Low BandwidthInternet - High BandwidthDesktop - MacDesktop - WindowsDesktop - ChromebookMobile - iPadMobile - Windows Night Zookeeper is a web-based program, therefore any device and browser will work for the trials. The optimum environment is a 1:1 device to student ratio. |
 Set Up | Instantly |
 Training | In PersonLive OnlineWebinarsDocumentationVideos There are a number of online and offline resources available for training and familiarisation with the program, for either home or school use. These include documentation, videos, and live interactions. For schools, we do usually request that schools take part in some form of training before using the program, such as in-person workshops and online live video demos. |
 Support | EmailFAQs/Forum |
| Home Learning | Parent Access Parents can create the account. If a parent signs up for Night Zookeeper, they are given access to a dashboard to monitor their child’s writing, achievements, and the feedback they are receiving from our tutor team. If a school is using Night Zookeeper, teachers can invite parents of their class to become a "Follower" of their child's progress, with the same visibility of the dashboard as a parent subscriber. |
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Night Zookeeper PricingPricing Plans Free TrialPaid Subscription Night Zookeeper pricing starts from £9.99 / month All subscription types include a 7 day free trial. Pricing varies by region, but average at: - £9.99/month for monthly; - £9.33/month for quarterly (paid upfront as £27.99); - £8.33/month for yearly (paid upfront as £99.99). We often have a variety of special offers and discounts available, so keep your eyes peeled! Prices for schools & large groups are customised based on needs, and include a 14 day free trial.  Optimised for a quick response | |
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Night Zookeeper Reviews
from 54 Verified Reviews
User rating
Country
Aug 2021
I value the creativity of your program and find it to be the most unique literacy program I have ever used. I am really disappointed that staff are not interested in any online program that they need to pay for.
Caren found Night Zookeeper:
- Moderately increases student collaboration“Good writers inspire others through free writing and comment function Star writing has been a weekly expectation for my students. I let it go for a while and they started asking to do this again.”
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency“Star writing inspiration for students Started reading your books and because students knew the characters I was able to practice inferring comprehension strategy because they have collectively knowledge through being online in the night zoo”
- Significantly improves attainment“Leader board vocab count and punctuation as a tool to see gaps in writing. Your word of the day has encouraged me to choose new words relevant to students daily”
Dec 2020
We enjoyed the material. Some direct contact line of communication which is more personal would be helpful. Also the option to pause a student rather than cancel would be better.
Joseph found Night Zookeeper:
- Moderately improves attainment“More inspired to write and understand grammar. Help create characters.”
- Slightly increases student collaboration
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Easier to have kids start writing.”
Oct 2020
Not only would my wife and I recommend it to friends, we HAVE already! Our daughter loves math and reading, but didn't like writing as much. Night Zookeeper made her much more interested in the prospect of writing and explaining, and she does it better and better every day. She loves making up the creatures and telling stories about them. As a result, she's using her imagination more and learning the functions of punctuation and spelling.
Bill Gauthier found Night Zookeeper:
- Significantly improves attainment“My daughter didn't really like writing her thoughts or ideas but Night Zookeeper's platform has made her excited about doing so. She has written in some form nearly every day for two or three months as a result.”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“My daughter enjoys reading other Zookeepers' stories and leaving comments, and gets excited by the comments left by others.”
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency and productivity“My daughter is more willing to talk about and learn reading and writing with this program.”
Feb 2019
I love Night Zookeeper. I can create lesson or use lessons that are already created. I can see each student's progress. It is user friendly.
Sherry Willis found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Students enjoy writing. I have students grow as writers.”
- Significantly improves behaviour or wellbeing“My students love to use this program in center time.”
- Significantly improves attainment“Students make connections with classroom curriculum and the lessons on Night Zookeeper.”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Students often help each other with lessons. They also enjoy the competition between classmates.”
- Significantly reduces attainment gap
Feb 2019
The ease of use, the student engagement, the outstanding and personal customer servive
Phillip Davis found night-zookeeper:
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency and productivity“I can allow students to work at their own pace on a given task/assignment freeing me up to intervene with struggling students.”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“Engaged students are better behaved and Night Zookeeper keeps most kids engaged.”
- Slightly improves attainment“I don't have enough data to give a well considered answer. ”
- Does not significantly increase student collaboration“My students are often too shy to comment on one another's work. Additionally, they lack the writing skills to know what to comment on constructively. ”
- Moderately reduces attainment gap“Targeted skill lessons ”
Feb 2019
It's fun, engaging, motivational...and aligned to learning standards!
Julie Russell found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Lessons for specific needs/skills”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“increases student engagement so there's less time for off-task behavior; used as reward for good behavior”
- Significantly improves attainment“reaching different NZK levels; reaching personal goals in writing (evident in their writing)”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Students will sometimes work together on their writing. They like to talk about the animals they have created or collected. ”
- Significantly reduces attainment gap“Writing has been an overall weakness in our school. Since using NZK, our scores have begun to climb. Last year, 68% of our students met or exceeded standards in writing.”
Feb 2019
My students' really enjoyed the zookeeper writing challenges and drawing their animals. I found it much easier to give editing feedback with all of the student work in one place.
Dan found night-zookeeper:
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency and productivity
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing
- Slightly improves attainment
- Significantly increases student collaboration“students love to comment on each others writing”
- Slightly reduces attainment gap
Feb 2019
Night Zookeeper has been a game changer for my students' writing. They write more and have improved significantly as a result of using this engaging platform.
Matt Peebles found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“It allows students to creatively interact with their writing and each other through writing, commenting, etc”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“We are more appropriate with our online treatment of others”
- Significantly improves attainment“Students write more”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Students work together and provide feedback for each other”
- Significantly reduces attainment gap“Students are able to see fellow students work and improve their own writing as a result”
Feb 2019
Because you guys are so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have had several student who don't like writing, but Night Zoo has increased their desire to write.
Julie Fisher found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Our district targets can be matched to activities in The Night Zoo, and gives us instant data to differentiate teaching targets. ”
- Significantly improves behaviour or wellbeing“Student engagement, students who don't like to write gaining confidence through this program”
- Significantly improves attainment“Students are building their stamina.”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Students are more willing to make positive comments that will impact students writing.”
- Does not significantly reduce attainment gap“No, maybe one student who is not reaching their goal. This program is so engaging, students want to reach their goals and beyond.”
Ann Story
Used night-zookeeper for Hmmmm..... I think 3 years???
Feb 2019
I purchased NZK out of my personal funds this year as our school/district do not support it. YES, I think it's that important for my kids to have. I have watched even the most reluctant writers bloom.
Ann Story found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Kids are learning to write more and enjoying it. We use it as Center Work when I teach small groups and as work for early finishers.”
- Significantly improves behaviour or wellbeing“Keeps kids focused and engaged while I work with small groups”
- Significantly improves attainment“I think most kids by 4th grade dislike writing and think they can't write. NZK has changed that for every student in every class I've taught over past 3 years.”
- Moderately increases student collaboration“They enjoy reading and commenting on each other's work on the BLOG.”
- Significantly reduces attainment gap“Even my struggling writers attempt to write on NZK. I publish ALL work so the at risk kids can still have a voice.”
Feb 2019
The only thing that disappoints me is that the students can't use the tab button on their iPad to indent their paragraphs. Their rough drafts don't show indented paragraphs.
Brenda Bowman found night-zookeeper:
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency and productivity“So great to look at student writing one after another in your portal.”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“Students don't complain when it comes time to write!”
- Moderately improves attainment“I can assign lessons on skills that are lacking.”
- Slightly increases student collaboration“They like to read each other's writing.”
- Moderately reduces attainment gap“Reteaching and revising helps greatly!”
Feb 2019
It is something I believe in, have given a PD on, and think it is good for kids.
Stacie found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Students have more writing opportunities and practice.”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing“Maybe if it was used as a incentive when other work has been completed”
- Significantly improves attainment“Students like to see how many words they have written. They also like to see their individual, class, and team rankings. ”
- Moderately increases student collaboration“Making comments on each other's writing. Working together to help make writing better or offering ideas. ”
- Slightly reduces attainment gap“I think it depends. In my classroom it is sometimes an option and some students don't get to it. ”
Feb 2019
Children sometimes spend too much of their time on devices and I would rather see more cooperative and team building activities not related to technology
Anna found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Improves writing skills”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing“not really”
- Moderately improves attainment“creative writing skills targets”
- Moderately increases student collaboration“sharing stories, creating and sharing animals”
- Slightly reduces attainment gap“not sure”
Feb 2019
It is interesting and fun for both students and teachers whereas at the same time educational
Ritsa found night-zookeeper:
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency and productivity“More interesting ”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing“Can't think of any ”
- Moderately improves attainment
- Slightly increases student collaboration
- Moderately reduces attainment gap
Feb 2019
It is a excellent tool and the children love it.
Liz Morgan found night-zookeeper:
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Engagement in writing. Boys particularly”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing
- Moderately improves attainment
- Slightly increases student collaboration
- Moderately reduces attainment gap“Students feel a sense of accomplishment. Takes away the barrier of paper and pen for many kids.”
Feb 2019
Too early to tell efficacy
Neil found night-zookeeper:
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency and productivity
- Does not significantly improve behaviour or wellbeing
- Slightly improves attainment
- Does not significantly increase student collaboration
- Slightly reduces attainment gap
Feb 2019
I just find it a very usable program and the kids love it
Trish best found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“children very keen to use the program. Incentives and enjoyment of the programme are very motivating”
- Significantly improves behaviour or wellbeing“The boys in particular seem to enjoy the fact that they are using a device rather than pencil and paper but also appeals to their competitive side where they can see their word count mount up”
- Significantly improves attainment“They can see their errors and can share theie work more readily”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“My students spend a lot of time reading or showing their stories to their friends”
- Slightly reduces attainment gap“If anything less able students are proud of their work and don't perceive the gap so much”
Feb 2019
The only problem I have is the kids can’t indent their paragraphs by tabbing on our iPads
Brenda Bowman found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Easy to search out lessons and grade and give feedback”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing“No effect noticed”
- Moderately improves attainment“Not sure what you mean by attainment. Writing proficiecies?”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Love the blog!”
- Moderately reduces attainment gap“Can key in on deficit skills”
Feb 2019
Bronwyn Clegg found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity
- Significantly improves behaviour or wellbeing
- Significantly improves attainment
- Significantly increases student collaboration
- Slightly reduces attainment gap
Feb 2019
I love Night Zookeeper and the impact it has on my students. It is easy to see the engagement of students across age levels.
Jodi Hill found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Conferencing with students about their writing is simpler and can be done with minimum interruption to the class.”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“Students reluctant to write enjoy using the gamification aspects of Night Zookeeper.”
- Significantly improves attainment“The feedback from peers and teachers is more likely to be read than that when it is in a book.”
- Moderately increases student collaboration“We offer opportunities for students to work together and collaborate on writing.”
- Slightly reduces attainment gap“Have not measured this to be able to comment. ”
Feb 2019
It motivates the students to write and use their imagination more!
Brittany Seibert found night-zookeeper:
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency and productivity
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing
- Moderately improves attainment
- Moderately increases student collaboration
- Moderately reduces attainment gap
Feb 2019
It is a useful tool to add to any primary classroom.
Liam Murphy found night-zookeeper:
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency and productivity“The writing text type lessons allow follow up writing opportunities to the writing done in English lessons. ”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing“Children's behaviour is generally very good. The children do find the website and its contents very engaging. ”
- Moderately improves attainment“The more children write, the better writers they become. This is an engaging place from them to try our and refine their writing skills. ”
- Slightly increases student collaboration“Students read each other's work and leave comments. For in-the-moment collaboration, we use G Suite. ”
- Slightly reduces attainment gap“Have no evidence of this. ”
Feb 2019
This is the best interactive writing tool I've come across in 24 years.
Laura found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“My students have written more this year than any other year in my 24 year career! ”
- Slightly improves behaviour or wellbeing“NZK gives the students who finish other things early something productive to work on.”
- Slightly improves attainment“The students are remembering different forms of writing easier than before. ”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Many times students are working together on stories or asking each other questions about their writing. ”
- Slightly reduces attainment gap
Feb 2019
When teaching English to student's first language is not English teaching writing is one of the main ways that students show independent progress. If a student has the ability to write their thoughts clearly you know as a teacher that the student has the tools they need to succeed in the regular classroom. NZK just makes this process of writing so much easier for both the student and the teacher.
Sacha Curry found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Students expand their vocabulary”
- Significantly improves behaviour or wellbeing“Writing scores continue to improve”
- Significantly improves attainment“Using NZK as a tool to measure comprehension of the text that was read while embedding focused vocabulary. ”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“students work together to edit and revise stories that have been written as well as showing their finished product so that others may comment on their work.”
- Significantly reduces attainment gap“Because writing gives a concrete lens into a student's comprehension the teacher can easily look at the a student's strengths and weakness”
Feb 2019
I have recommended Night Zookeeper to several teachers/colleagues.
Tami found night-zookeeper:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Students are engaged, therefore they are learning without really realizing that they are learning.”
- Significantly improves behaviour or wellbeing“Student engagement, keeps their attention and focus, less time for behavior issues.”
- Significantly improves attainment“Students are writing and rewarded for their writing. This helps them to want to continue to try and be successful at writing.”
- Significantly increases student collaboration“Students, when creating games, will often look at each others' characters and then learn how to utilize them in their work.”
- Significantly reduces attainment gap“Students learn from others as they work, and this reinforces skills that others may have learned and helps teach those that don't.”
