Labeling Things Trick - If you print out multiple things with students' names on them.

        If you are going through multiple files typing in students’ names as you create things for your classroom, here’s a tip – use the “Find and Replace” usually found under edit (works in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc).  I use Google Slides – I have 6 items I usually print out (not pictured – communications folder and a cover for a student binder).

 

1. Put everything that you type a student’s name on into one file – I recommend Google Slides or Powerpoint.
2. Click Edit > Find and Replace.
3. Type in the previous year’s student’s name in the FIND box, type in the new student’s name in the REPLACE WITH box.  Then, click REPLACE ALL.  It will then replace the previous year’s name with the new name through out the document – in my case saving me from editing 6 different files.

 

Seeing All Terms at Once for Report Cards

When you are working on report cards, sometimes you may want to see what what a student got in the previous trimester.  Here's how you see all terms on one screen.

1. After logging into PowerTeacher Pro Gradebook, go to STUDENTS.  Then, click on STANDARDS PROGRESS.
2. At the top, just below the students name, click on STANDARDS PROGRESS.  You will then see all three reporting term grades side-by-side.  

CLICK HERE for step-by-step directions with pictures.

Looking Up Student's Attendance for Cumm Files

1.  Log into PowerSchool.
2. Go to PowerTeacher Pro.
3. Click on Students.
4. Daily Attendance

Parent Teacher Conferences Setup with ParentSquare

 

To setup Parent Teacher Conferences in ParentSquare, you will use the "Appointment Sign-Ups" feature under "New Post."

• Click here to learn how to setup Appointments for Conferences!
• Here's some resources from ParentSquare about using Appointment Sign-Ups Feature
• (For Administrators) - How to create custom templates in Posts to share with staff

  

Using the 'Smart Text' Feature for Report Cards in PowerSchool

         Here is a huge time saver when it comes to report cards!  You can create a comment template in PowerSchool, then use it for each student!  PowerTeacher will change the name and the pronouns to match the student!  Click here to watch a video go through this step-by-step!

Getting to Report Card Comments Section

1. Go into PowerTeacher Pro.
2. On the left side, click GRADING > Standards.
3. Scroll right to go to Strengths and/or Goals (doesn't matter which one).
4. Click on the box next to the student's name.

Adding / Editing a Comment Template

1. After clicking on a box next to a student,  go to the COMMENTS tab on the top right.
2. Click on SHOW COMMENTS BANK.  The district's options will come up.
3. Click on the gear NEXT TO 'Show Comments Bank.'
4. Click on MANAGE COMMENTS.  Now you can add or edit your comment templates!
5. On the right side click ADD.  The 'Add Teacher Comment' box will open.
1. Code - Type in a simple code to label your comment.
• I do T1 LG for Trimester 1 Low Goal.  I do T1 LS if it's for Trimister 1 Low Strength.  This makes it easier to pick the right template later.  
2. Category - You can use a category like LA, Math, Science, but I just leave it blank.
3. Favorite - I leave this checked
4. Comment - Here is where you put your template!  The dropdown menu is if you need to put in the 'code' for PowerSchool to fill in.  I just put what I need between the arrows <>.
• Example: <first name> is able to identify some consonant and short vowel sounds and some of the sight words already introduced. <He/She> knows that letters carry a message and is starting to use beginning sounds in <his/her> writing. While reading, <he/she> uses the pictures to tell the story. In Math, <he/she> is able to count objects to 10.
6. Click SAVE when you are done!  Now, you are ready to use your template for report cards!  Hit back on the browser or Go back to GRADING > STANDARDS > and click on a student you want to add a comment for!

Adding the Comments in For Each Student

1. After clicking on the comment box next to a student's name, click on the COMMENT Tab (far right side).
2. Click SHOW COMMENT BANK on the bottom.  All of your 'templates' will appear on the bottom.  Just click on the + to add it for the student!  Then, just proof read it and adjust the template to match the student!  

• If you have 9 templates, you can use the Filter option to thin down to this trimester!  So, if I put in T1, only the codes with T1 will appear!
• Some teachers have shared that they have 1 template, then use the fill option to fill in the rest with one template.  

Printing from a Stick on School Copier's

 Follow these steps to print from a memory stick...

1. Scan your badge and insert the stick into the USB slot.
2. Scroll right til you get to 'Accessed Stored Files.'
3. Select 'Memory Media.'
4. Select the file you would like to print and print it!

At this time, you may be only able to print PDF files, not Word, PowerPoint, or Excel from a USB Memory stick.  

ClassFlow - a great FREE resource for live and interactive lessons!

ClassFlow is a free resource.  Here's an introductory video that gives you a sneak peak of it's features!  It's an online version of ActivInspire, designed to be used completely online.  It works on all devices with internet access without requiring any downloads.  Teachers are able to present live lessons and have students interact with the lesson either in-person, virtually, or on their own time.  

Different Ways of Interacting

The level of interaction that students has depends on how the teacher wants to setup the lesson.

• A teacher can present information on the screen and students just view.
• A teacher can add in games/activities/YouTube videos etc that students can click and play.
• A teacher can use the different polling options for students to respond back and the class sees each other's reponses on the teacher's board. 
• A teacher can create sorts or writing activities and send the slides to the students using the 'creative' poll feature to complete and return.
• A teacher can share the link to a lesson and all students are able to work in the lesson at the same time (great for any activity where you want multiple students work on one activity at the same time).  
• ****A teacher can differentiate by creating different slides within the same lesson for different students.  During the lesson, they can select which student gets which slide.****

Two Setup Options for Your Class

• Google Classroom Type Setup - students log in with their Google information and add the class code.  The format is just like Google Classroom.  (There are many options with this setup).  Teachers can post activities, assignments, games, resources, etc, for students to see in their feeds.  Students can also use the feed to go back to review past lessons!  To join a live session, they click on the 'Join Class' button.  They can also boomark the 'live session' link to their Booksmark bar during their first live session.

• Pick Your Name Setup - great for young students.  Students go to a 'class link' and click their name.  Students can only see what you send to their screens.  This method only allows students to interact during live sessions though. Once a teacher ends a live session, students won't see anything on their screens.   

Built In Lesson Building Options / Tools

Instant Whiteboard - can use with Quick Poll or by itself.  Can add resources from your Classflow Resources library.

Create Lesson - can use Quick Poll, Quiz/Assessment, or Activities features in a lesson, create your own lesson, embed content from other files (including Google Drive), or embed websites into the lesson.  

Polling Options During Live Lessons: Creative (Drawing/Sorting), Word Seed (students submit multiple words), Text (students submit one word), Number, Multiple Choice (up to 5 choices), Scale (Agreement, Confidence, Generic), True/Flase, Yes/No/Don't Know.  

Activity Options: Categorize, Crossword, Flashcards, Labeling a Diagram, Matching, Memory Game, Sequencing, Timeline, Venn Diagram, Word Search.  You can embed these into your lesson or assign them seperately to students through their class feed.  

Create Quiz or Assessments:  You can create questions to create a quiz or assessment or embed them into a lesson.

Other Options

• Creating assignments for students.
• Creating rubrics and attaching them to assignments for students to reference.
• Built in resources teachers can use to build lessons - spinners, graphic organizers, templates, etc.
• Marketplace - lessons / materials that other teachers have shared (Classflow's version of Promethean Planet).
• Ability to send students 'badges.'
• Ability to save website addresses into Classflow Resources to reuse in different lessons.  
• Ability to embed YouTube videos into a lesson.  

Learn More:

Learn Promethean's YouTube Playlist on Classflow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTTWdUcy0p-4jTg7Lba_qpQEyj3VjHG4m

Classflow Channel (this is an older playlist and hasn't been updated in a while - https://www.youtube.com/user/MyClassFlow

Check Out Classflow - to register - select 'I'm a teacher' and click 'SIGN IN WITH GOOGLE.'