PreK-2 Canvas Checklist
Resources

General Recommendations

🏫 Given the needs in the Pk-2 learning environment, the use of Clever is highly recommended for it’s added accessibility benefits. By delivering content and communication through Canvas, along with utilizing the single sign-on (SSO) application accessibility of Clever, teachers will have the digital tools to design authentic, learner-driven environments that recognize and accommodate learner variability. We hope this document will serve as a great resource or starting point.

🏫 For PK-2 environments, students benefit from image/icon/button based navigation. The Elementary Canvas Dashboard pairs all navigational tabs with its name and a unique icon. It is recommended that students are introduced to important course navigation by both name & icon. Use this slide deck template to print visuals to introduce your course and course navigation.

🏫 Beginning digital skills must be explicitly taught in the PK-2 environment. It is recommended to sequentially introduce digital skills, reinforcing them with daily practice (~10-15 minutes), and ensuring proficiency before adding new skills to reduce frustration and ensure a positive learning environment. See this list of suggested PK-2 Tasks & Ideas.

🏫 Utilize the Canvas for Elementary Observer Guides when communicating to families in order to facilitate their use of the Elementary Dashboard.

Announcements

🏫 PK-2 Announcement Considerations

Support emerging readers by using video format when creating announcements. Teachers can quickly record a video when creating an announcement.

Visual cues can also be helpful. See suggestions on this Document.

Homeroom Announcement Ideas:
- Recorded Morning Message
- Daily/Weekly Overview (to answer “What are we doing today…”)
- Support Observers with links to Observer Guides

Subject Announcement Ideas:
- Give assignment/assessment click-path directions (i.e. First you are going to click..)

Support Observers with links to Observer Guides

Homeroom and Subjects

🏫 PK-2 Homeroom & Subject Considerations

Homeroom Navigation

🏫 PK-2 Homeroom Navigation Considerations

Reduce confusion and navigational choices by disabling the Grades tab. To do this, the Grades page must be hidden through the Course Navigation of all subjects for the student. To adjust subject course navigation, click here. This will remove the Grades tab from both the subject where hidden, as well as on the Home tab if hidden in every subject.
Foundational Resources in every Homeroom should include: (1) Meet the Teacher Link (e.g. Bio, Background, Photos, etc), (2) Preferred method of contact (i.e. How to contact the teacher), (3) Main means of teacher communication (i.e. How the teacher will communicate to families), (4) Homeroom Guidelines/Rules, (5) Homeroom Schedule, and (6) School Supplies Link.

Best Practice Resources include: (1) Class Newsletter, and (2) Quick Links for Clever, ParentPortal, & School Website (Remember, for PK-2 students direct to Clever for most links to take advantage of single sign-on advantages, as well as to build routine; more options is not always better for this age).

Schedule

What is the Schedule

🏫 PK-2 Schedule Considerations

The Schedule is not recommended for use by PK-2, student agency in a digital environment requires a great deal of modeling and practice. It is still recommended that teachers build age-appropriate student agency in the traditional classroom environment.
Disabling, or hiding, the Schedule from both the Homeroom and Subject Navigation is recommended.

Settings

🏫 PK-2 Settings Considerations

Use a wide banner image to welcome your students virtually, much like your classroom welcomes them physically.

Subject Navigation

🏫 PK-2 Navigation Considerations

See General Recommendations for introducing navigation icons & locations.

PreK-2 Canvas Checklist Resources