Parent Digital Learning Resources

To access Gmail, go to mail.google.com, click on the Gmail icon on the Chromebook screen, or press the “Search” (Magnifying glass) key on the keyboard and type in “gmail”.

Please note: Your child’s email account is managed by Hampton City Schools. This means your child will only be able to send and receive emails from @hampton.k12.va.us or @students.hampton.k12.va.us domains. There is no expectation of privacy on this account.

Google Classroom

To access Google Classroom, go to classroom.google.com or press the “Search” (Magnifying glass) key on the keyboard and type in “classroom.” For more specific questions about Google Classroom, please contact your child's teacher(s). To learn more about Google Classroom in general, click here (for a general search regarding your issue) or here (for tipsheets and more).

How can I see what my student is doing in Google Classroom?

You may contact your child’s teacher to request access to a regular, automatic email summary about Google Classroom. Read more about Classroom email summaries here.

Google Docs

Google Docs is Google's word processing application. Your child's teacher(s) may provide you with links to Google Docs assignments in Google Classroom. To access Google Docs directly, go to docs.google.com or press the “Search” (magnifying glass) key on the keyboard and type in “docs”. For more help with this resource, click here.

Google Drive

Google Drive is the platform where your child's files are stored. To access Google Drive, go to drive.google.com or or press the “Search” (magnifying glass) key on the keyboard and type in “drive”. For more help with this resources, click here.

Google Calendar

You child can schedule assignments, reminders, and events on Google Calendar. To access Google Calendar, go to calendar.google.com or or press the “Search” (magnifying glass) key on the keyboard and type in “calendar”. For more help with this resource, click here.

Google Slides

Google Slides is a platform for making presentations. Your child's teacher(s) may provide them with links to presentations in Google Classroom. To access Google Slides directly, go to slides.google.com or press the “Search” (magnifying glass) key on the keyboard and type in “slides”. For more help with this resource, click here.

Google Sheets

Google Sheets is a platform for making spreadsheets. Your child's teacher(s) may provide you with links to spreadsheets in Google Classroom. To access Google Sheets directly, go to sheets.google.com or press the “Search” (magnifying glass) key on the keyboard and type in “sheets”. For more help with this resource, click here.

Google Keep & Tasks

Tasks allows you to create to-do lists and track your tasks. To access Google Tasks, click on the blue icon with a white pen and yellow dot on the far right side of most Google app windows.

Google Keep allows you to save notes, images, links, or sketches in one place. To access Google Keep, go to keep.google.com or click on the yellow icon with the lightbulb on the far right side of the Gmail window of most Google app windows.

For more information about Google Keep and Google Tasks, click here for tipsheets and tutorials.

Can my child use Microsoft Office on a Chromebook?

It is not possible to download Microsoft Office applications for use on a Hampton City Schools Chromebook. While use of the web-based versions of Office is technically possible, it requires numerous additional steps and some data may not transfer correctly at all. As a result, students should use the G Suite (Google) applications (such as Docs, Slides, Sheets, etc.). These can be accessed using “the waffle,” which is the square made up of nine dots at the top right corner of a Chrome browser window.

Can my child download resources onto a Chromebook?

Students will generally use web-based applications and will not need to download any resources. These applications store information and documents "on the cloud," and can therefore be accessed by any device as long as the student logs in with their HCS account. When a student does need to download something as part of an assignment like an image or a document, it should be downloaded to Google Drive rather than to the device itself. Saving everything to Google Drive ensures the resource will still be available to the student in the event the device needs to be replaced.

Other Useful Web Programs

What is Clever and how do we use it?

Clever is an efficient way for your child to log in to several of the online programs they use at school. To log into Clever, go to the Clever portal and select “Log in as a Student” at the top right. From here, your child can log in using their Google email and password or by scanning their badge provided at school.

How do we use BrainPop?

BrainPop is a group of educational websites with short animated movies for students in grades K-8, together with quizzes and related materials, covering the subjects of science, social studies, English, math, engineering and technology, health, and arts and music.

To access this site, go to BrainPOP Jr. (K-3) or BrainPOP (3-8) and click on “Log In” at the top right. Teachers will provide students with a link to Brain Pop activities through Google Classroom and/or a username and password for your child’s school. For more information, please contact your child’s teacher(s).

How do we use Canva?

Canva has tons of free images and beautiful templates that can be used to create things such as flyers, infographics, logos, and much more. Go to Canva and click "log in." Choose "log in with Google" and then have your student enter their HCS full email and password. For more information on how to use Canva, click here .

How do we use Khan Academy?

Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization that provides free video tutorials and interactive exercises. To use this resource, go to Khan Academy, click “Login”, select “Continue with Google”, and have your child select/enter their HCS email account and password. For more information on using this platform, click here.

How do we use MackinVIA?

MackinVIA is a digital content management system, providing easy access to eBooks, read-alongs, audiobooks, databases, and videos. To access this resource, go to MackinVIA, and have your child scroll to find the correct school, then enter their Hampton City Schools username and password. MackinVIA can also be accessed through the Clever portal. For more information, contact your school’s library media specialist(s).

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