Creating a Gradebook Part 1 of 2

 

See Creating a Gradebook Part 2 for more information.

Quick Links

 

A Gradebook is a collection of assignments, coursework, and assessments linked to students. One or more educators will be able to manage a gradebook. Students are added to a student group, which can then be connected to a gradebook. If student groups already exist in a teacher's account in Homeroom, those groups are visible in Classroom. After assignments have been added to a gradebook and students have been added to a student group, a teacher can give multiple assignments to multiple students in a single step.

• You may configure your gradebooks to coincide with the way you work. You can have one gradebook for all your students, one gradebook per period, one gradebook per subject, etc. Consider the assignments you give to your students and how you grade them. If you teach the same subject, like Science, and give all your students the same assignments, you may want to use just one gradebook. If you teach one subject but have different assignments for each class or period, you should have gradebooks for each. 
• Teachers have the option to share a gradebook. This is especially helpful for teachers coordinating their grades for a single-term credit. For example, two physical education teachers sharing responsibilities can collaborate on a single gradebook and associate any class-related student groups to this one gradebook for a cumulative term grade.
• For teachers who share a classroom and its students, for example, highly capable or special education classes, but teach different subjects, they can create separate gradebooks for each subject and share them to coordinate coursework and/or assessments.
• Other uses of gradebooks include separation by performance levels.  Teachers can create multiple gradebooks to account for different levels (say in reading or math) to better tailor assignments to individual student needs. To accomplish this, the teacher must create a custom student group. 

Educators can import assignments from a district or building-level assignment bank. They can also share assignments they have created with other teachers by adding them to an assignment bank. New assignments can be populated with questions from district-purchased item banks, like the NWEA, or by creating their unique questions and answers.

Navigating (back to Quick Links)

Create a new gradebook by selecting Gradebooks >> New Gradebook from the left navigation or by selecting the Create Gradebook link from the Work section of Home.

You are presented with a blank New Gradebook template. Navigating the form is easy. There are tabs across the top, Details, Settings, Assignments, Interviews, Scoring, Grading, and Reports. Selecting any of the tabs takes you to that section of the form. Drop-down lists contain the acceptable values for many of the form fields. Use the Next button to step through the form in wizard fashion, and use the Cancel button to exit at any time. Select Save & Continue or Save & Exit to save your work. You can use the breadcrumbs across the top to access previous screens. You can also use your browser's Back and Forward buttons.

Also, many of the fields listed on the form are optional. While this information is unnecessary to create the gradebook, it will help build a complete and accurate gradebook.

Details Tab (back to Quick Links)

The Details tab allows you to give your new gradebook a Name, Description, Course Code, ALE Class, School, and Gradebook Type. The gradebook name is the only required field. We recommend you use a good naming convention. We further suggest you add your last and first name to the end of the gradebook name. Classroom allows your district administrators to deposit assessments into your gradebook. Listing your name ensures they give you the correct assessment. While the other fields listed on the details tab are optional, we recommend you fill them in.  It will help others locate it during filtering and searching. 

 

Description - Enter a detailed description of the contents of your gradebook and the student group(s) it serves.

Course Code - Provides a method for your district to give you some default curriculum through assignments or assessments.  You can keep or delete them as needed by turning on or off Import properties into gradebook.

ALE Class - Classes are pre-populated for you by period. Select a class from the list. It will automatically populate both the Course Code and School fields. If you are not using one gradebook for each class (period), do not select a class from the list.

School - Automatically populates your gradebook with the school's start and end dates. If you do not want this, turn off the Import properties into gradebook by unchecking the box.

Gradebook Type - Select from Elementary Standards-Based Gradebook, Scores-Only Assignments Gradebook, ReportCard Only Gradebook, and Class Terms by Standards.

When you have completed the details select the Save & Continue button. You can return to the details tab anytime to make changes or use the Actions available after the gradebook is created.

The Actions gear to the right allows you to Generate Class Roster.      

The Class Roster is a list of the students in the class, with some added columns.  The default roster includes two extra columns with the header of Y and N.  You can remove a column by clicking the red “- “ button to the right of the column header or changing the column header by typing in the box.  More columns can be added by clicking the +Add Columns button.  Click the Download Report button to generate the roster. In the example below, the extra title added was labeled 'Maybe'. This may also be generated in the  Reports Tab. 

Settings Tab (back to Quick Links)

Several sections are within the Settings tab. Classroom steps you through each one in sequence. Only three are required Student Groups, Class Terms, and Standards.  

Admin Settings (optional - back to Quick Links)

This is a list of the administrative settings and their value (true/false).

Student Groups (Required) (back to Quick Links)

The Student Groups section of the Gradebook settings tab allows users to manage gradebook students.  The user can assign groups of students to the gradebook. If the Gradebook was created with a class on the details tab, a student group would automatically be assigned consisting of the students enrolled in the class.  Multiple student groups can be assigned to a single Gradebook.  Classroom uses the same student groups as Homeroom. You will see any smart or static groups you have created in Homeroom and groups based on your class rosters. Click select choose the student groups you would like to add.  

Students who are no longer associated with the student group (student has changed classes/schools or has withdrawn) may still show in the gradebook because the student has associated data (they have been assigned an assignment or been given a score/grade).  This section allows the user to 'hide' those students so they are no longer visible in the list of students in the gradebook. Students are hidden. They are not removed.  This keeps the gradebook data associated with the student, which means any assignment answers/scores will be saved.  If any grading has been done, such as class term grades/comments, learning standard grades/comments, and non-academic measure grades/comments, those are still available and will be shown on the report card.

After the students are 'hidden,' they are no longer visible on the scoring tabs, such as the grading for class terms, learning standards, or non-academic measures.  This also means any functionality that would apply to 'all' students would not apply to the hidden students, such as Apply Grades to Ungraded Students / All Students, Append Comment to All Students, or Remove Comment from All Students. 

If you would like to Show Withdrawn Students click the box.

You can attach one or more groups to your gradebook using the My Groups or Shared Groups button. Use the various filters, school, grade, activity, class, or teacher, to narrow the list of student groups. Select the group using the “+” symbol to the right of the group name. You may add more than one group. When you have added your group(s), click Add Student Groups. 

For more information, see Hr Creating/Editing Student Groups

Delete Withdrawn Students (Optional - back to Quick Links)

Click the Settings Tab and select Delete Withdrawn Students. A new screen will appear with a list of withdrawn students to toggle on or off.  Click Toggle All to delete all. NOTE: Deleting a student will remove the student and their associated data from this gradebook and report card.

 Class Terms (Required) (back to Quick Links)

Terms are periods in which you give your student group their assignments and on which you grade. Classroom uses a variety of terms that will coincide with what your school has set. If you choose your school in the details tab, the school year start and end dates will already be entered. By default, the All Year term is listed. You can include as many terms as you like. The only requirement is that the term's start and end dates fall within the school year. If you do not want a term, use the trash can icon to delete it.

Select additional terms with the Add Class Terms button. Select the terms from the list using the checkmark to the left of the term name. Once you have chosen the terms, click Add Class Term. 

If you need to change the date of a term for any reason, double-click in the date field and enter the new date in the form MM/DD/YY.

Alternatively, you can use the date selector (calendar icon). Quickly go to any month or year using the forward or back buttons or clicking the month's name. Reset by using Clear or change the date to Today. When complete, select Close.

Assignment Dates (Optional - back to Quick Links)

Assignment Dates can automatically set the open, due, and close dates for every assignment created in the gradebook.  Pick the number of days, and the application will do the rest.  If you prefer not to have default dates for your Assignments, you can clear them by deleting the numbers and saving the changes.

Assignment Categories (Optional - back to Quick Links)

Categories can be used to assign a weight to a grouping of assignments.  This weighting can then be used to calculate a suggested grade for students. 

The categories are free-form, created by the teacher, and assigned per gradebook. Once the categories are created, they can be assigned to each assignment.  The ultimate goal of using the weighting to suggest grades needs a final configuration of Suggestions Ranges, which will be explained next.

Click the Add Assignment Category button to add a category.   The category comprises a Name, a Color and a Percentage Weight, and optionally default color bands.

• Color - Used on the Grading Class Terms Tab to help indicate the various categories. 
• Percentage Weight - Must sum to exactly 100%. 
• Color Bands - If set, will become the default color band for any new assignment associated with the category.  For example, if your Homework assignments are always worth 10 points if turned in on time or 5 points if turned in late, the color bands can be set here and need not be reset every time a new Homeroom assignment is created.  In this example, click on Color Bands, fill in the required information, and click Go.

Update the Name / Label, Color, Min, and Max scores for the bands and choose the Passing.  Click OK. Read  Creating an Assignment Template for more information on creating color bands.

When done, click the Save & Continue button.

Suggestion Ranges (Optional - back to Quick Links)

These ranges are used to give the student a suggested Class Term Grade based on the sum of the student scores and the various weight of the categories the scores were achieved in.  The ranges could be for a letter grade (A - F) or a number grade (1 - 4).

Start by deciding how many Thresholds you will need. These can be added to or removed later. Select Max score and then Go.

For each range, choose a Grading Selection (determined by the district), a Color, and the Min and Max scores.  When adjusting the Min and Max, starting at the bottom (the highest numbers) is always best, and working your way up. 

Ranges can be deleted by clicking the trash can icon or added by clicking the “+” icon.  

Click the Save & Continue button when done.

Standards Categories (Optional - back to Quick Links)

Click Add Standard Category.  Type a name and percentage weight.  Remember, the percentage weights should add up to 100%. To delete a category click the trash can icon.

Standards (Required) (back to Quick Links)

Classroom is, at its heart, a standards-based gradebook. However, we want to provide you with flexibility, so we have also allowed you to disable the gradebook standards with the toggle Disable Standards Requirements.  Either selection is what makes this section required.

To add standards to your gradebook, select from the drop-down menu, search for the standards, and add them using the”+” symbol to the right. Click OK when you have chosen all the standards for your gradebook. Click on the blue hyperlink to learn more about the standard. Standards may be filtered to make them easier to find. To learn more about browsing standards, read the article Learning Standards.

Once you have selected the Standard, select any Contributing Standards similarly, then click the Calculation box if you want it to be part of the grade calculations.

Assign Standard Categories (Optional - back to Quick Links)

Assign the learning standard category by clicking on your choice from the dropdown menu. Click the Action gear to Order Newest to Oldest.

Non-Academic Measures (Optional - back to Quick Links)

Many districts grade students on character traits related to academic success. In Classroom, we categorize these as non-academic standards (measures). They are determined by your district and may be part of your grading requirements.

To add a non-academic measure, select the measure you want to add by selecting the “+” symbol to the right of the name. Make sure you select Add Item when you are done.

Curriculum (Optional - back to Quick Links)

Classroom allows teachers to organize curricular delivery, integrated or block. An integrated curriculum means the class mixes lessons, while block means time is spent on one specific lesson or subject. In the block system, students take only one class at a time, focus on that content area, and master it before proceeding to the next block. Use the Curriculum section of Classroom to outline the blocks you will use in your gradebook. Students do not have access to this information.

There are two modes, View and Edit. Select Edit Mode to begin a new block. You are presented with Classroom’s text editor and file manager (MoxieManager). Enter your curriculum, and include any links or documents you may need to reference throughout the year. You can add blocks by selecting the Add Block button or removing them with Delete Block.

If you chose a course code in the details tab, this area may already be populated.  Your district administrators can use the course to create a gradebook template; within that template, they can add the district-approved curriculum for the course. You can choose to keep it or delete it as needed.  If you are a new teacher or new to teaching the course, you may want to review it and use it as a lesson starting point.

Contributors (Optional - back to Quick Links)

A contributor is another educator with access to view and edit your gradebook. You must initially add them. They cannot remove you from your gradebook or delete your gradebook. Once they are a contributor, they have full editing privileges, can add or remove assignments, score assignments, grade students and add other contributors. Adding a contributor to your gradebook is an excellent way to share resources with other staff members. It is especially useful if you are team teaching or an intervention specialist needs access to your student groups or assignments.  

Select and search for the staff member using any portion of their name. When you locate them, select the plus symbol to the right of their name to add them. You may add more than one contributor.

Report Card Settings (Optional - back to Quick Links)

A default report card is associated with the Gradebook.  If your district has contracted with SchoolData.net to create a report card explicitly configured for your district, you must choose and toggle on the correct report card from the list of options on the Report Card Settings page. 

Assignments Tab (back to Quick Links)

In Classroom, the word "assignment" is a singular term for any type of coursework or assessment given to the student which could receive some form of a score or grade. You do not have to add assignments to your gradebook, but that contradicts the purpose of a gradebook. An assignment does not have to contain any questions and can simply be a repository for a grade if needed. 

The only required section of Assignments is Schedule, and only if you add assignments to your gradebook.

Create New Assignment (back to Quick Links)

Read this article for more information,  Creating an Assignment Template.

Add / Edit / View (back to Quick Links)

As the title implies, you can add, edit or view assignments in this section. You can Add an existing assignment or Compose a new one.

 If you select Compose an Assignment or Create New Assignment, you will be directed to the New Assignment template. Read this article for more information,  Creating an Assignment Template.

Or you can select from Assignment Banks where you can select My Assignment Template Bank or any of your district's Shared Assignment Template Banks. Read Shared Question and Assignment Banks and Analysis, My Question, and My Assignment Templates for more information.

In either case, you will have a list of available assignments. You can filter them by using a keyword search or by selecting any of the options from the Filter button. When you find the ones you want to include in your gradebook, select the “+” to the right of the assignment or checkmark to the left of the assignment name. Then click Add Selected.

The imported assignments and any assignments you have composed within the gradebook are now a part of the grade book's assignment list. You can manipulate the assignments by editing them or using the Actions button options. To edit an assignment, select its name or Actions, then Edit.

The Actions button has the following options to help you manipulate an assignment:

• Edit - used to change an assignment's details or settings, alter the questions, include/exclude students, score, etc.
• Copy - Make a copy of the assignment within a chosen gradebook.
• Info - an overview of the assignment, which includes instruction text, standards, and questions
• Export - if you composed the assignment in the gradebook or added it from a shared district bank, this allows you to push the assignment to your My Assignment Bank for use in other gradebooks 
• Analytics - redirects you to the reports area of Classroom
• Delete - will remove the assignment from the gradebook as long as it has not been published and there are no student scores 
• Taker - provides a preview of what the assignment will look like when a student takes it online
• Clone - makes an exact copy of the assignment within the same gradebook; a unique assignment name is required
• Print - gives you a paper version of the assignment for students to take
• Print Key - prints only the answer key

When you are done selecting assignments, you can click Next to go to the next section of the gradebook. 

Assign Assignment Categories (back to Quick Links)

Assign the question assignment categories by clicking on your choice from the dropdown menu. Click the Action gear to Order Newest to Oldest.

 

Schedule (back to Quick Links)

If you do not want to edit each assignment individually, you can use the Schedule option to set the dates of each assignment window. The page contains a list of assignments in the gradebook, with the Open Date, End Date, and Close Date along the gradebook date continuum.  The continuum also shows the school term start and end dates. The informational warnings at the top of the page inform the user of any unscheduled assignments.

 Select the Set Dates button next to each assignment.

Then enter the assignment's Open, End, and Close dates/times by selecting the month and day from the calendars.  Click OK when finished. Leaving the page without setting all the dates will produce a warning.

• The open date is when a student can see and take the assignment online. 
• The end date is when the assignment is officially due, and any student submissions before this date will be marked as "Submitted On-Time." If not submitted by the end date, the assignment will as “Late.”
• The close date allows you to give the students a grace period; they can still take the assignment online, but once they submit it, it will be marked as "Submitted Late."

NOTE: Interview assignments are ordered by open date, then open time, close date, due date, then due time, close date, then close time, so if the interview assignments need open on the same date, give them an open time of early AM in one-minute intervals.

You can also change the dates for an assignment by editing it and selecting the Settings tab, then Dates. You cannot, however, change the dates of an assignment once it has been published and students have made submissions.  

Syllabus (back to Quick Links)

Interviews Tab (back to Quick Links)

Click the actions gear for further actions.  To reset the assignment filters click the red minus icon.