FAQs and Technical Stuff
FAQs and Technical Stuff
🧩 General Use
Q: What is the AR ELA Secondary Pacing Tool or AR Math Secondary Pacing Tool?
A: It's a Google Sheets-based extension built for Arkansas educators to plan, track, and align secondary ELA or Math instruction with state and AP standards. Available directly from the Google Workspace Marketplace, it automates pacing calendar creation, standard insertion, and export functionality.
Q: Who is this tool for?
A: It’s designed for Arkansas teachers in grades 7–12, but it's flexible enough for any educator who wants a clean, standards-driven pacing system.
Q: How do I install it?
A: Go to the Google Workspace Marketplace and search for AR ELA Pacing Calendars or AR Math Pacing Calendars, or use this link to install it into your Google Sheets workspace.
⚙️ Technical Help
Q: I clicked a standard in the sidebar, but nothing showed up in the cell. What happened?
A: Make sure you’ve selected the cell (blue box visible), not just clicked inside it. On Chromebooks especially, clicking inside a cell (blinking cursor) won't trigger a full insertion.
🔎 Pro Tip: Try clicking outside the cell, then back in again to reselect it.
Q: The custom menu is missing. How do I bring it back?
A: Simply refresh the spreadsheet. If needed, click Extensions > AR ELA Pacing Calendars > Manual Setup to reload the sidebar and menu manually.
Q: Can I edit or rearrange the pacing tabs?
A: Yes! All tabs are fully customizable. Just don’t remove the column headers (like "UNIT", "STANDARD CODE/DESCRIPTION", etc.) or the tool’s functions may stop working.
📤 Exporting and Sharing
Q: How do I export pacing tabs for backup or sharing?
A: Use the Export Current Pacing Tab button from the custom menu or select multiple tabs in the sidebar to email a copy to yourself. Each export creates a new Google Sheet with the selected tabs.
Q: Why am I getting emailed exports when I didn’t ask for them?
A: You may have used an older version of the tool that had an auto-run trigger attached to the spreadsheet. To fix it:
Go to Extensions > Apps Script > Triggers — if you see any triggers like exportSelectedTabs or onOpen, remove them.
🔐 Note: This option is only available if you're the original owner of the spreadsheet.
If you're using a shared template, make a fresh copy of the pacing calendar using this link (force copy) to ensure no leftover triggers are embedded.
📚 Standards & Curriculum
Q: Are Arkansas standards fully included?
A: Yes! The tool includes all Arkansas ELA standards for grades 7–12, along with AP Language and AP Literature skill categories.
Q: Will there be a Math version too?
A: Yes! The AR Math Secondary Pacing Tool is coming soon to the Marketplace. Check our Updates section for release info.
🛠 Troubleshooting
Q: I clicked the “Reset” button — can I undo it?
A: Reset only clears rows below the header. If data was removed by mistake, go to File > Version History to restore a previous version.
Q: I deleted a sheet by accident. Can I get it back?
A: Yes! Use File > Version History to revert the document to an earlier version before deletion.
Q: Can I use this tool if I’m outside of Arkansas?
A: Absolutely. While it's optimized for Arkansas standards, the pacing format is universal and easily adaptable.
1. What is the AR ATLAS Writing Tracker?
The AR ATLAS Writing Tracker is a Google Sheets-based tool designed to help Arkansas teachers monitor student writing performance aligned to state writing standards. It includes dashboards, automated score summaries, progress visuals, and export options.
2. Who is this tool for?
This tool is for Arkansas ELA teachers (grades K–12) who want to:
Track writing scores across domains (Argumentative, Informative, Narrative)
Monitor student completion and progress
Export progress as PDF or CSV for meetings, reporting, or collaboration
3. What do I need to get started?
A Google Workspace account
Access to the AR ATLAS Writing Tracker sheet
Authorization to use Google Sheets, Drive, and Mail integrations
4. What does the dashboard include?
Each grade-level tab includes:
Two score columns for each mode (e.g., Argumentative and Argumentative #2)
Completion status dropdowns (✅ Complete / ❌ Not Complete)
Visual progress bars for each student
Automated headers with domain averages
Timestamp of last update
5. What does the “Writing Tracker” tab show?
The Writing Tracker provides a grade-level summary for each prompt:
Mode
Date
% Complete (e.g., 6/8)
Average Score (auto-calculated if any scores are entered)
6. How do I export data for a meeting?
Use the “Export Sheet as PDF” or “Export Sheet as CSV” options in the custom ATLAS Dashboard menu. These will be sent directly to your email.
7. What happens when I click “Reset All Data”?
This clears all student writing scores, completion statuses, and progress bars from the active sheet — returning it to a blank starting point while preserving header formats.
8. Can I customize the dropdown or scoring system?
No. If you change those specific columns, the formatting won't work. You don't need to change those columns.
9. Is this tool FERPA-compliant?
Yes. No student-identifiable information is transmitted externally. All data stays within your secure Google account.
10. What if something breaks or doesn’t work?
Reach out to the creator or your district’s designated curriculum support. Also make sure you’ve enabled necessary permissions and authorized the script upon first use.