PLANner / Skyward Teacher Training (2024)

If you teach multiple sections of a class for which you regularly enter assignments and grades at the same time, you might want to create class groups in the system for efficiency of those processes. Adding class groups compiles each class section you choose into one cohesive gradesheet so you can enter scores from one screen. You can add and delete class groups at any time, even if there are assignments in the group.

With class groups set up, the individual gradesheets still operate independently. In order to combine sections into the same class group, the sections must have the same defaultCalculation Group,Grading Period Set, andSection Length.

There are two key differences between working in a class group gradesheet and a section gradesheet. These differences involve grade change requests and score entry. Grade change requests for completed grading periods must be completed from the gradesheets for individualSections. They cannot be created from a class group gradesheet. When viewing a class group gradesheet, you will see all assignments attached to every section included in the class group. However, when scoring assignments, the score entry field is inactive for students that are not in the section to which the assignment is attached. The rest of the gradebook functionality remains the same as it does in an individual gradesheet.

You can enter or modify scores for individual students using the scoring mode option within theGradesheet.

TheGradesheetdisplays a list of students enrolled in the class as well asAssignmentsbased on theDue Date. You can enter scoring mode from the gradesheet torecord aScore Clarifier, mark the score asNo Count, or enter a comment about the assignment for a student. You can also mark an assignment asMissingin order for an assignment to display as missing inFamily AccessandStudent Access.

The process for scoring assignments is the same whether you are scoring a term assignment or a term semester exam.

Note that PISD does not award extra credit and there are specific indicators pre-set for missing assignments, etc.

You can enter or modify scores for an entire class using the Mass Score option within theGradesheet. TheGradesheetdisplays a list of students enrolled in the class as well asAssignmentsbased on theDue Date. You can give every student in a class the same score for an assignment if all or most students have achieved the same score, such as 100%. You can then modify individual scores for the few students who did not achieve the maximum score or complete the assignment.

Additionally, you can:

In order for an assignment to display as missing inFamily AccessandStudent Access, the box for Missing must be checked. For a grade to reflect a missing assignment, you can enter 0 and flag the assignment as missing depending on your missing course work policy. A score marked with an asterisk (*) indicates the value does not count for or against the student grade. If you want an unsubmitted or unscored assignment to affect the student's grade, you must enter 0 for the assignment score.

When you are viewing the gradesheet for one of your classes, you can switch to view the gradesheet of another one of your classes without leaving theGradesheetscreen. This feature is helpful when, for example, you are entering assignment scores for multiple classes at the same time.

Once you are in a specificGradesheet, you have two options to switch to a different class. You can selectClass Listnear the top right of the screen, which takes you to theGradebook Class List, where you can choose the tile for the class you'd like to switch to. Alternatively, you can use the drop-down menu at the top left of the screen, where you can select the class name from the drop-down list.

As you set up an assignment, you must assign it to aCategory. Categories are set up by the administrative office and only office staff members can modify them. However, if the wrong category is assigned when the assignment is set up, you can change the value to another office-created code. You may have a category for a semester or term exam. The process for creating a semester or term exam assignment is the same as creating any other assignment.If you are creating an assignment for a semester or term exam, typically you would not attach any subjects or academic standards to the assignment.

You can add assignments at the beginning of the school year or semester, or any time after within the appropriate grading period. You must add the assignment before the end of the grading period when the score will be counted. For example, if you plan to give a quiz during a grading period, you can set up the assignment at the beginning of the school year, the day of the quiz, or after the quiz has been given and scores are ready to be entered.

You can set up an assignment for a single class or for multiple classes. For example, if you teach multiple sections of the same physics course, you can apply one assignment, such as a test, to all the sections. You can set up an assignment at the beginning of the year to score class participation, and then apply that assignment to all the classes you teach. You can apply the assignment to all appropriate classes as you create it, or copy it to other classes at a later time.

Assignments can be viewed inStudent AccessandFamily Accessif your administrative office authorizes this capability. If the administrative office has enabled assignment viewing, then Skyward recommends setting up assignments as soon as possible so students and parents can view them.

The parent assignment is attached to the appropriate Grading Periodbased on the assignment due date and enables you to view the overall score the student earned. Each child assignment is attached to the corresponding subject or academic standard on the gradesheet and enables you to score that portion of the parent assignment. If you are viewing assignments from theAssignment List, you will only see the parent assignment, but you can open the parent assignment and select theScore Entrytab to view and score the child assignments.

You can mass assign student scores for a child assignment by clicking the header of the child assignment on theGradesheetand selectingMass Scorefrom theAssignment Optionsdrop-down menu. You cannot mass score the parent assignment; the score of the parent assignment is calculated by the system based on the sum of the scores entered for the child assignments. If you are transferring grades, scores will only be assigned to the child assignments that are attached to each subject and academic standard.

Any notifications sent to guardians or students for high or low assignment scores will only be sent for the scores earned for the child assignments attached to each subject or academic standard and not for the overall score for the parent assignment. Reports that include a list of assignments or student progress report details that individuals generate throughAdministrative Access,Teacher Access, orActivity Accesswill also include only child assignment scores and exclude parent assignment scores.

Seating charts provide a quick way to see which students are present and absent when taking attendance. The seating chart is an optional feature that enables you to see a bird's-eye view of your classroom. Your seating chart shows where each desk is located and which student is assigned to each desk, which is helpful when you are learning student names at the beginning of the year. Seating charts are user-specific, so teachers who team teach will both have to create their own. For example, if Mr. Jones and Mrs. Smith teach kindergarten together in the same room, each teacher would need to create a seating chart for the room layout in order to take attendance by seating chart. You can also clone seating charts if necessary.

TheGradesheetdisplay settings determine whichGrading Periodscores you see for your students and howAssignmentsdisplay on yourGradesheetfor a specific class. Updating the columns that display on theGradesheetenables you to show or hide assignments and grade columns as necessary. For example, when a new grading period begins, you can hide the assignments and grade columns from the previous grading period.

Gradesheet Displaysettings are optional and specific to each class.

Through theGradebookmodule, you are able to print or exportGradesheetsfor individual classes. Printing gradesheets is useful when you want a hard copy, or you are away from your computer. For example, a physical education teacher may want to print a class roster or print a hard copy for recording class scores for an outdoor activity. The scores can then be easily transferred into the software when the teacher is back at the computer.