Before we begin working with Google classroom, you'll need to ensure that you are signed in to your Wayside provided Google account. If you are unfamiliar with this process, follow these steps:

Step #1
Click Here to navigate to the Google Classroom page.

Step #2
Unless you are already signed in to a Google account, you should be prompted to sign in once you've reached this page. If this is not the case, ensure that the account you are currently signed in to is your Wayside provided Google account, not your personal account.

Note: If you have never signed in before, your email should be first_last@waysidelearning.org and your password should be Welcome1.

Step #3
If this is your first time signing in to your Wayside provided Google account, you will be asked to reset your account password. If not or you have completed the reset, you will be brought to the Classroom home page. Awesome - now you're ready to go!

Before creating a class, ensure that you are currently signed into Google Classroom using your Wayside provided Google account. If so, take the steps that follow to create your first class:

Step #1
In the upper-right corner of the Google Classroom 'Home' page, press the '+' button to join or create a class and select 'Create class'.

Step #2
Upon pressing 'Create class', you will be prompted to provide details for your new class. While you are welcome to fill as many of these fields as you see fit, only 'Class name' is technically required to continue.

Step #3
Once you have finished filling out the details for your new class, press 'Create' at the bottom of the menu to continue. After a moment, you should be redirected to your new class's 'Stream' page. Great - now you're ready to work with your new class on Google Classroom!

Class Name • This field allows you to make changes to the class's name as it appears on Google Classroom at any given time, so don't worry if you made a typo or need to change things up!

Class description • Should you have any additional details to disclose about your class, the 'description' field is the perfect place to do so.

Section • Ideal for classes which may meet multiple times with different groups of students, the 'section' field allows you to clarify for which group this particular class is. (i.e. 'History Cohort')

Room • This field is relatively self-explanatory, allowing you to specify in what room your class takes place should it have an in-person meeting location.

Subject • For the 'subject' field, you may select a class's field of study from a premade list or, if you would prefer, supply your own.

Invite codes

Manage invite codes • This setting allows you to enable, disable, or reset your class's virtual meeting space on Google Meet.

Invite link • Assuming your 'Manage invite codes' setting is set to 'Turned on', this field will be populated with a link to join the Google Meet for your class.

Class code • The code provided here allows students to join your class on Google Classroom.

Class view • Simply providing the option to 'Display class code', this feature allows you to prominently present your class code on-screen. (i.e. Projected on the board for students to read.)

Stream and classwork

Stream • Provided the dropdown menu, this setting allows you to alter who can post and comment on the class 'Stream'.

Classwork on the Stream • The dropdown menu for this setting allows you to alter how classwork notifications appear on the class 'Stream', if at all.

Show deleted items • This toggle switch allows you to see deleted items on the class 'Stream'. As disclosed, this feature only works for teachers when enabled.

Manage Meet link

Classroom Meet link • Assuming that you have not used Google Meet yet, this option will appear as a button to 'Generate Meet link'. Once pressed, it will be replaced with a Google Meet link that can be copied, reset, or removed.

Visible to students • If a Google Meet link is currently active/generated, this toggle switch to make it visible for students in your class will be enabled. Links are visible to students by default.

Draft grade for missing assignments

Automatically apply a draft grade to Missing assignments • When enabled, this field will determine what grade (0% - 100%) will be automatically given to missing assignments.

Grade calculation

Overall grade calculation • Set to 'No overall grade' by default, this setting allows you to choose a grading system. Currently, Classroom offers grading by overall points and weighted category.

Show overall grade to students • When enabled, this setting allows students to review their overall grade in your class at any time.

Grade categories

Add grade category • Empty by default, this option allows you to create categories that assignments may fall under. This does not require grading by weighted category to be enabled, but it is how you would determine the weight of categories for that grade calculation option.

Select stream header image • This option allows you to select a photo to use as the header for your class from Google's curated options or your own computer. As a purely aesthetic feature, this allows you to give your class a more personal touch - or even celebrate holidays!

Select theme color • Often picked automatically to best match your header image, this option allows you to choose what accent color you'd like displayed across your class's pages.

If enabled and visible to students, Google Classroom will display a 'Join' button at the top of the sidebar. As a teacher, you should also have the following options:

Copy link • Allows you to quickly copy the Google Meet link to your clipboard for sharing with students, co-teachers, etc.

Manage • Upon selecting this option, a small pop-up window should appear that allows you to make changes to the 'Manage Meet link' section of your class settings. Turning off the 'Visible to students' setting will remove the 'Google Meet' section from the 'Stream' page's sidebar for students.

If joining your class by code is an option, the code will be displayed on the sidebar. You will also notice that, directly to the right of the code itself, there is a 'Display' button to prominently display the code on your screen, perhaps for projection, and a dropdown menu button that provides the following options:

Copy class invite link • Upon selecting this option, a link will be copied to your clipboard which, when shared, allows a user to join your class automatically without entering a code.

Copy class code • Selecting this option will simply copy the class code to your clipboard.

Reset class code • If, for some reason, you need to reset your class code, this is the option you would select to do so. (i.e. A stranger managed to get access to your class.)

Turn off • By pressing 'Turn off', you will disable the ability to join your class entirely - links and codes will no longer work. This feature may be beneficial if you've finished adding students to your class and would like to prevent any other users from joining.

Entirely managed by your class's Google Calendar, this section of the 'Stream' page's sidebar simply displays personalized summaries of upcoming dates and deadlines for your class.

Creating an Announcement

As Google Classroom's primary means for communication, the 'Stream' page allows you to create announcements in a way similar to a posting on social media. Here's how they work:

Step #1
Click on the box directly beneath your class's header labeled 'Announce something to your class' in order to begin composing your announcement.

Step #2
Above the main text area for your announcement, you will notice a For section. By default, your new announcement will be posted to 'All students' in your current class, but you are welcome to make changes should you need to. For example, posting a reminder to a group of students about an overdue assignment.

Step #3
Compose your announcement! Classroom provides a small selection of formatting options for these posts and, in addition, you may attach material from Google Drive, YouTube videos, file uploads, and links.

Step #4
Once you've composed your announcement, it's time to post! Pressing the blue 'Post' button will publish your new announcement immediately, but if you'd prefer to save the announcement as a draft or schedule its posting for a later date, you'll need to press the blue down arrow to the right of the 'Post' button and select the appropriate option.

Note: The default behavior is to allow both students and teachers to post and comment, but this can be changed in this section of your class's general settings.

That's it - that's all there is to it!

Announcement Options

Just because an announcement has been posted to the stream doesn't mean that it's set in stone. In fact, there is a small handful of options in the dropdown menu for announcements:

Move to top • This option, when selected, will move the announcement post to the top of the stream. This may prove useful for reminders, upcoming events, or important announcements.

Edit • By selecting this option, you will be provided a menu where you may edit every aspect of an announcement even after it has been posted.

Delete • If you would like to remove an announcement post from the stream entirely, this is the option to do so. Keep in mind, however, that if the 'Show deleted items' setting is enabled, teachers will be able to see the post (marked as deleted) for another 30 days but it cannot be restored.

Copy link • When selected, this option will copy a permalink to the announcement post you have selected to your clipboard.

When the 'Classwork on the Stream' setting is enabled, you will notice that any classwork you assign is posted to the stream automatically. If you would like to remove these posts, you will have to turn the setting off, but you otherwise have a few options in the dropdown menu for each post:

Move to top • This option, when selected, will move the classwork post to the top of the stream. This may prove useful if the assignment's due date is upcoming or you'd like to remind students.

Edit • Unlike the 'Edit' option for announcements, this option will not directly change the post on the stream. Instead, it will bring you to the page for editing the assignment itself. Any changes in the assignment will be saved to the respective post on the feed.

Copy link • When selected, this option will copy a permalink to the classwork post you have selected to your clipboard.

Similar to social media, Google Classroom offers up the ability to write comments under announcement and classwork posts. By default, these comments are enabled for students and teachers alike, but that can be modified in this section of your class's general settings. Regardless, the options for comments remain the same:

Edit • If you are the author of a comment or a teacher in the class, the 'Edit' option allows you to make changes to it even after its initial posting. For teachers, this may be beneficial if you would like to keep but alter a student comment.

Delete • As the author of a comment or a teacher in the class, you may delete the comment at any time. Once again, however, teachers may be able to see the comment (marked as deleted) for up to 30 days after deletion. That said, comments cannot be restored.

Step #1
Press the blue 'Create' button in the upper-left corner of the 'Classwork' page. You should be presented with a list of options.

Step #2
Select the type of classwork you would like to create. If you are unsure or would like more information about classwork types, review this section of the guide.

Step #3
Fill out the fields required to create your classwork. Generally, this includes a title and a point value, but fields will vary based upon which type of classwork you selected.

Step #4
Press the blue 'Assign/Post' button in the upper-right corner of the page. Alternatively, you may press the blue down arrow directly to the right of this button to save the classwork as a draft or schedule its posting for a later date.

Considering that different classwork may have different expectations, Google Classroom offers a small handful of classwork types. In this section, we will clarify the use case for each of these different classwork types.

Assignment • As the name suggests, assignments are pieces of classwork that expect a student response - generally by file upload - and provide the student with a grade. As a teacher, you may attach whatever you feel necessary to assignments. For example, you may attach an instructions document and a video for students to watch.

Quiz Assignment • Similar to regular assignments, quiz assignments expect a student response, but in this case to a Google Form. Once the student has completed the quiz, Google Forms will automatically report their grade to Classroom where it will be reflected.

Question • With options for both short answer and multiple choice responses, questions are essentially assignments where, instead of uploading responses, students are expected to either write or select their response entirely on Classroom. Questions need not be graded, though they can be just as with any other assignment variant.

Material • Unlike other options, materials expect no response. Instead, they are meant to be used for sharing resources with students. (i.e. Class rules, supplementary reading, etc.)

Step #1
Press the blue 'Create' button in the upper-left corner of the 'Classwork' page. You should be presented with a list of options.

Step #2
Select 'Topic' from the list, ignoring the various classwork types.

Step #3
Provide a title for the new topic using the pop-up menu that has appeared.

Step #4
Press the blue 'Add' button on the pop-up menu.

That's it - your new topic should appear at the bottom of the 'Classwork' page!

In practice, the 'Classwork' page can become disorganized and difficult to navigate very quickly. As a solution, Google Classroom offers up topics. A topic essentially acts as a section header for a set of classwork, allowing you to keep your class better organized and easier to navigate for students balancing work from multiple classes.

So, how do they work?
Believe it or not, there is very little to say about these organizational features. Once you have created some topics and classwork, you can easily reorganize them on the 'Classwork' page by clicking and dragging. Alternatively, you may find the 'Topic' option listed when editing any piece of classwork and manually assign it there.

Should it ever become necessary to add another teacher to your class for any reason, you can easily add them using the following steps:

Step #1
On the 'People' page, find the 'Teachers' header and press the 'Invite teachers' button - it should resemble a person with an addition symbol next to it.

Step #2
You should be prompted by an 'Invite teachers' pop-up menu. In the text area, enter the name or email of the teacher you would like to invite to your class.

Step #3
Double check to verify the name/email of the teacher you're adding, then press the blue 'Invite' button in the lower-right corner of the pop-up menu.

Assuming that the teacher accepts your invitation and they are apart of the Wayside domain (@waysidelearning.org), you should now see them listed under the 'Teachers' header on the 'People' page for your class.

Adding students to your class on Google Classroom can be done in a small handful of different ways, all of which we will cover in this section.

Class Code

Step #1
Navigate to the 'Class settings' page by pressing the button in the upper-right of the page that resembles a gear.

Step #2
Scroll down to the 'General' section and ensure that the 'Manage invite codes' option is toggled on.

Step #3
Share the class code with students - they will need to use this code to join your class with the '+' button in the upper-right of their Google Classroom home page.

Note: If you are projecting your screen to your class, the 'Display class code' option will prominently display your class code for students to join with.

Invite Link

Step #1
On the 'People' page, find the 'Students' header and press the 'Invite students' button - it should resemble a person with an addition symbol next to it.

Step #2
You should be prompted by an 'Invite students' pop-up menu. At the top of this menu, you will notice an 'Invite link' section. Use the 'Copy invite link' button resembling a pair of documents to copy the link to your clipboard.

Step #3
Share the copied link with the student(s) you would like to invite to your class. When they open it, they should be added to your class.

Direct (Email) Invitation

Step #1
On the 'People' page, find the 'Students' header and press the 'Invite students' button - it should resemble a person with an addition symbol next to it.

Step #2
You should be prompted by an 'Invite students' pop-up menu. In the text area, enter the name or email of the student you would like to invite to your class.

Step #3
Double check to verify the name/email of the student you're adding, then press the blue 'Invite' button in the lower-right corner of the pop-up menu.

Assuming that the student accepts your invitation and they are apart of the Wayside domain (@waysidelearning.org), you should now see them listed under the 'Students' header on the 'People' page for your class.

Before you begin using Google Classroom's grade book features, you will need to select an option from those provided for 'Overall grade calculation' in your class settings. To do so, follow these steps:

Step #1
Navigate to the 'Class settings' page by pressing the button in the upper-right of the page that resembles a gear.

Step #2
Scroll down on this page until you reach the 'Grading' section of your settings. Here, you should find various options regarding how Classroom will grade your class.

Step #3
Under the 'Grade calculation' header, find the 'Overall grade calculation' option. By default, this option will be set to 'No overall grade', but if you would like Classroom to automatically grade assignments where possible, you will need to change this. If you are not sure which grading system to use, feel free to press 'Learn more' to read Google's guide to choosing.

[OPTIONAL] Step #3b
If you would like students to be allowed to see their current standing in the class, toggle on the 'Show overall grade to students' option.

Step #4
Once you have selected your calculation option, press the blue 'Save' button in the upper-right corner of the page to apply your changes.

That's it - you're ready to get started with grading on Google Classroom!

In order to better organize assignments, Google Classroom offers 'Grade categories' to act as containers for related coursework. In addition, these categories may be weighted differently using points or percentages to further customize grading.

Creating a Grade Category

Step #1
Navigate to the 'Class settings' page by pressing the button in the upper-right of the page that resembles a gear.

Step #2
Scroll down on this page until you reach the 'Grading' section of your settings. Here, you should find various options regarding how Classroom will grade your class.

Step #3
Under the 'Grade categories' header, press 'Add grade category' to add a new entry to your list of categories.

Step #4
Using the text areas that have been added to the page, provide a name and value to your category.

Step #5
Once you have entered all relevant information, press the blue 'Save' button in the upper-right corner of the page to apply your changes.

Great - now we have a new category to work with!

Removing a Grade Category

Step #1
Navigate to the 'Class settings' page by pressing the button in the upper-right of the page that resembles a gear.

Step #2
Scroll down on this page until you reach the 'Grading' section of your settings. Here, you should find various options regarding how Classroom will grade your class.

Step #3
Under the 'Grade categories' header, press the gray '×' button directly to the right of the grade category you would like to remove.

Step #4
You will be prompted to confirm the deletion of the category you've selected - simply press 'Delete' in the lower-right corner of this pop-up menu to do so. You cannot undo this action!

Once confirmed, the category should no longer be visible under 'Grade categories'.

When working with student grades on Google Classroom, there is actually not much work to be done on your behalf. In fact, Classroom automates grading almost entirely with the exception being any assignment that needs manual review. For instance, a quiz may be automatically graded as it has an expected response, but an essay may need to be reviewed and graded by the teacher. The steps for grading an assignment that requires manual review are as follows:

Grading an Assignment

Step #1
On the 'Classwork' page, select the assignment you'd like to grade and press 'View instructions'.

Step #2
Once you have reached the 'Instructions' page for the assignment you selected, navigate to 'Student work' using the tabs at the top of the page.

Step #3
Here, you will find a list of students alongside their submissions. You may now work through your class list and provide grades to students.

Step #4
Finally, once grades have been inputted, you may press 'Return' to provide students access to their grades on the assignment.

If at any point you would like to download your class's grades or publish them to our Student Information System (SIS), Google Classroom does allow the export of this information. Simply follow the steps below for whichever action you're looking to take:

Exporting to File (.CSV)

Step #1
On the 'Classwork' page, select any assignment and press 'View instructions'.

Step #2
Once you have reached the 'Instructions' page for the assignment you selected, navigate to 'Student work' using the tabs at the top of the page.

Step #3
Press the cogwheel / gear in the upper-right corner of the page and select 'Download all grades as CSV'. This may seem misleading but, as you can tell from the presence of a 'Download these grades as CSV' button, this will actually download grades for all assignments.

That's it - you're done! You should now be in possession of a .CSV file containing all of your class's grades as of the time you downloaded it.

Exporting to Student Information System (SIS)

This portion of the guide will be updated once we have an SIS active.