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.

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.  

Previewing Report Cards through Power School

If you would like to preview / proof read your report cards, here's how....

1. Log in to Power School. 

2. Click on the printer icon to the right of your class name or click on REPORTS in the left menu bar.

3. Select the first pull down menu.

4. Select "aGrade (your grade)RC - 11."  Click SUBMIT.

5. Wait a minute or two, or click refresh.  "Completed" and "View" will show up in the menu.  Click VIEW to see a PDF of all of the report cards in your class.

Organizing and Printing Student Roster from PowerSchool

1. Open Gradebook.  (Click here for how to access Gradebook through Power School).

2. Click on REPORTS.

3. Click on STUDENT ROSTER.

4. A new window will open:

5. Choose what information you would like and how it is organized.  The blank boxes under Parent Info are for if you want to put in your own column headers.  A sample of what the headers will look like will appear on the bottom.

• Option - you may click on the LAYOUT tab and add additional notes, headers, or footer notes.

6. When ready to run the report, click on RUN REPORT.

7. A window will open.  Choose if you would like to open the report or save the report.  Then, click OK.  If you select SAVE REPORT a window will open to choose where to save it.  If you select OPEN REPORT, a PDF will open for you to print out.  Click OK.  Then, you should be all set.  If the chart is off the paper in preview, check that the scaling is set to FIT TO PAGE in the print dialog box.

Viewing IEP's Using Power School

1. Click on the backpack.

2. Click on a student's name (must have an IEP).

3. Click on SELECT SCREENS on the right side.  Then, select CENTRIS GROUP - IEP VIEWER.

4. An IEP Direct window will open up.

5. The IEP will then open in that window once it loads.

Putting F&P Scores into PowerSchool

Click here for directions on how to upload scores to Gradebook in PowerSchool for F&P's.

The column for entering F&P's is on the reading page, last two columns.

First Name Labels in PowerSchool!

         If you would like to print out a set of labels with your students' first names, you may now go in to PowerSchool and print them out!

1. Go to PowerSchool.
2. On the homepage, click on REPORTS (the printer icon).
3. Next to "Which report you would like to print?" select Kindergarten_Labels.
4. Click SUBMIT.
5. Click VIEW once the report is ready (you may need to hit the refresh button to see VIEW).
6. When printing, select FIT TO PAGE to get the names to fit within the labels.  Then, click PRINT.  A class set of labels will print out.  They are not all exactly centered, but saves you time from having to input your class list into another program :).

Power School - Reports for BYOD and AUP Permissions

A new custom object report in Power School has been created that will enable ALL teachers and staff to get a listing of students with the dates that their BYOD and AUP forms have been signed/returned.

The name of the report is BYOD-AUP dates signed.

First you select a class/group of students (from the backpack area, go to print reports) and find the above named report.

(From Joann at Central Office)

Power School Apps for Teachers

    If you have tried to log in to Power School through their mobile apps and it said invalid username or password, try using proper capitalization.  For example, Jane Doe would be JDoe.  Same rule applies when signing into Gradebook using the desktop short cut.

Powerschool / Programs Tidbit

      Since we use Powerschool everyday, I recommend pinning it to your task bar at the bottom of the screen.  Open Internet Explorer and go to https://powerschool.groton.k12.ct.us/teachers/pw.html.  Click and hold on the icon at the beginning of the address bar and drag it down to your task bar, then let go!  You can do the same thing with any website you use a lot.  For a program you use a lot, right click on the icon and click PIN TO TASK BAR.  For example, I have Powerschool, Internet Explorer with the PV news as my start page, iTunes, Exchange (Mail), ActivInspire, and Chrome on the task bar next to the start symbol.

New Way to Access Gradebook (Updated)

       There is a new way to access Gradebook besides logging in through PowerSchool.  This new way puts a shortcut to Gradebook on your desktop.  This way you can double click the Gradebook icon, then log in using your PowerSchool username and password.  Do this through Chrome as Internet Explorer and Firefox seem to have a problem with this process.  Please note that you may do this at home as well.  This also works on MAC!  Make sure you log in with proper capitalization (first letter of your first name and first letter of your last name must be capitalized: example: JDoe).   Click here to see a Google Doc version of this post.

1. Log in to PowerSchool.

2. Click on INSTALLER on lower left side (do not click Launch at this time).

3. Click on DOWNLOAD INSTALLER.

4. Click on INSTALL.

5. Click on FINISH.

6. Now you will have a shortcut on your desktop to access Gradebook.  Or you can still log in to PowerSchool and click on LAUNCH.