Letβs get ready! Letβs get set! Letβs make 25-26 a year of success!Β
This quick-start guide for teachers is organized with Focus and Canvas tasks π― to complete before, on, and after the first day of school. Watch the videos and/or read through the guides to learn the specifics to tackle each task. Beyond the Task training materials are also provided for many of the tasks.Β
BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
γ Login to FocusΒ
π―Confirm that you can login to Focus. Be certain to access Focus through Clever to ensure you are on the correct application, not the training version.Β
π How to access and login into Focus
π₯ How to Login to Focus
γ View Student Information
π―Look through your class roster(s) to learn about your students.
π₯ View Student Information
π View Student Alerts Glossary
Beyond the Task:
π Teacher Navigation & Preferences Guide
π Searching for More Than One Student
π More Search Options
π Comprehensive Student Search Guide
γ Set Up Seating Chart (Optional)
π― Create your initial class seating chart organized in Focus.
Seating charts can be grid (traditional) or freeform (non-traditional).Β
π₯ How to Create a Grid Seating Chart
π₯ How to Create a Freeform Seating Chart
Beyond the Task:
π Seating Chart Guide
γ Configure GradebookΒ
π―Gradebooks can be set up to calculate based on weighted categories or by points. Configure your gradebooks based on your grading preferences.
π₯ How to Set Up a Gradebook with Weighted Categories (optional)
π Gradebook Planning Sheet
π Gradebook Legend
Beyond the Task:
π Full CPS Gradebook User Guide
γ Create Gradebook Categories and Canvas Class Passback
π―Create the gradebook categories for your assignments. Assignments cannot be created without categories. Note that the spelling and capitalization must be exactly what you enter in Canvas, should you use it. Set up the class back if you will be using Canvas.
Use this gradebook planning sheet to pre-plan your categories and weights.
Returning teachers, consider importing last year's categories and assignments!
π₯ Grading Categories
π Gradebook Categories
π Set up Class Passback
π Import Categories and Assignments
Beyond the Task:
π Full CPS Gradebook User Guide
γ Create First Assignment
π―Create one or more assignments.
π₯ Creating Assignments
π Gradebook Assignments
Beyond the Task:
π Full CPS Gradebook User Guide
γ Print Class List & Schedule
π― Print your class lists(s). Print your schedule.
π How to Print a Class List
π₯ How to Print a Class List
π₯ How to Print a Teacher Schedule
γ Create a Caseload (IS/RSP Staff ONLY)
π― Create a caseload.Β
π Create a Caseload Quick Guide
Beyond the Task:
πOH Caseload & Services Full Guide
γ Print Clever Badges
π― Clever will be improving application security this school year. Teachers must print out student badges because of this update.
πHow to Print Clever Badges
γ Transfer Course ContentΒ
π― Transfer course content from another Canvas course, including a previously taught course.Β
π How to Import Course Content
π How to Validate Links
π₯Β
γ Choose Course Homepage
π― Select how to display your homepage. We recommend designing a front page or choosing the course module view. Utilize district-approved apps, such as Google Slides or Adobe Express, to design elements for your pages.Β
π Select Homepage
ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
γ Take Attendance
π― Taking accurate attendance is important. Be certain to complete attendance for your class(es) in the timeframe provided by your school
π Attendance Chart
π Add Absences
Beyond the Task:
π Teacher Attendance Guide
AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
γ Enter an Assignment Grade
π― After students have completed the first assignments, it's time to enter a grade. Enter the grade for the first assignment.
π₯ How to Enter Grades
π Gradebook Entries
Beyond the Task:
π Full CPS Gradebook User Guide
γ Submit a Referral (Optional)
π―Β At times, it is necessary to submit a referral. Complete this optional step if needed.Β
π How to Initiate a Discipline Referral
π₯ How to Initiate a Discipline Referral
π How to Complete a Log Entry
π₯ How to Complete a Log Entry
Beyond:
π CPS Discipline Referral Guide
γ Run a Published Report(Optional)
π― Run a Published Report
Note: Teachers will have different reports available from the reports menu. Additionally, teachers will be able to create, run, print and save an advanced reports. These reports could include different compoents of state reporting, such as students with 504 plans or students receiving with LEP.
Β
π Advanced Reports Guide
π₯ How to Run a Report
γ Validate Links
π― After students have completed the first assignments, it's time to enter a grade. Enter the grade for the first assignmentπ― Use the canvas link checker to quickly find broken, unresponsive, or deleted links in your Canvas course.
π Validate Links
Interested in additional training? Complete the ITM Training Request form and we will connect with you shortly!
