Google Classroom: End-of-Year

What should I do with my Google Classrooms at the end of the year? 

The longer you teach, the more Google Classroom archives, folders, assignments, and calendars you will accumulate. Review the following tips to get organized and prepared for the start of the next school year. 

Tip #1: Do NOT create new classes for next school year.
Similar to GoGuardian, your Google Classroom classes and rosters will sync with Infinite Campus and Clever. Classes will be generated automatically, and students will be auto-enrolled. You will be able to "Accept" your new classes in August.

Tip #2: Do NOT delete or archive your current classes.
All Google Classroom classes will be archived automatically on August 1st, 2026. This will allow summer school classes to be completed. To view an archived class, go to the Google Classroom menu > Archived Classes.

Tip #3: Include the school year in the class Section field.
This is a recommendation I make at the beginning of the year for all Google Classroom classes. Including the school year makes it easier to identify and find a specific class from your archives. If you didn't do it at the start of the year, do it now.

Tip #4: Want to "Reuse" assignment posts?... Label as TEMPLATE.
If you want to "Reuse" assignment posts for the same course next school year, include the word TEMPLATE in the Class Name field. This will help you find the correct archived class to Reuse assignment posts.

Tip #5: Organize your Google Drive > Classroom folder.
For every Google Classroom you create, a new Google Drive folder is automatically created. I recommend sorting these folders into school year folders (i.e., 19-20, 20-21, 21-22, etc.).

Tip #6: Delete ALL the Google Classroom calendars.
Similar to the Google Drive folders, every Google Classroom automatically receives a Google Calendar. Unfortunately, the class remains in your Google Calendar list even after the class is archived. I recommend deleting each of these calendars at the end of the school year.

Watch the video tutorial to see each tip demonstrated.

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Infinite Campus: Posting Grades

Technology is constantly changing. Even if you have posted grades on Infinite Campus for years, please take a moment to review the information below. Spending a few minutes watching a tutorial could save you hours of frustration at the end of the semester.

Grades K-5

Do you use Progress Monitor to enter assessment scores during the semester?

At the elementary level, grades are communicated through a standards-based report card. To track student progress, IC has a standards-based grading tool called Progress Monitor. This tool gives teachers an efficient way to score, track, and report each student's proficiency level. If you use Progress Monitor throughout the semester, follow the TIP Sheet video:

• TIP Sheet | Video
  Post Grades (K-5) with assessment scores in Progress Monitor

How do I post grades if I do NOT use Progress Monitor during the semester?

You must post report card grades with Progress Monitor. If you do not use the Progress Monitor to record assessment scores throughout the semester, follow the TIP Sheet or video:

• TIP Sheet | Video
  Post Grades (K-5) without assessment scores in Progress Monitor

Grades 6-12

When can I begin posting report card grades?

The "Post Grades" window opens 10-days prior to the end of the semester. Follow the TIP Sheet or video to review the steps for posting report card grades from your IC Grade Book:

• TIP Sheet | Video
  Post Grades (6-12) with assignment scores in the IC Grade Book

Grades K-12

How can I view or print my students' report cards?

After your grades are posted on IC, it can be helpful (and reassuring) to view the report cards in the format received by students and parents. Follow the TIP Sheet to review the steps:

• TIP Sheet
  View or Print Report Cards (K-12) from the IC Reports menu

Infinite Campus TIP Sheet

Do you have other questions about IC?

Find additional information about IC Grade Book, Progress Monitor, and posting report card grades on the Infinite Campus TIP Sheet.

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Google Sheets: Planning Calendar

Use this NPAS template, or share it with your team, to plan lessons and stay organized. Each tab on the bottom of the Google Sheet provides the dates for the 26-27 school year.

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Did Your G.Docs Cursor Disappear?

Some staff members have reported that their cursor seems to disappear (turn white) while using Google Docs. If you are experiencing this issue on your school laptop, follow the steps below to resolve the issue:

Disable Hardware Acceleration in Chrome 

1. Open Chrome... in the upper-right, click the 3-dots... Settings
2. On the left-side menu, click System
3. Turn OFF > Use hardware acceleration when available
4. Click the Relaunch button for the change to take effect.

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60-Second Strategies for Teachers

Edutopia’s 60-Second Strategies are perfect for discovering quick tips without a huge time commitment! Primary classrooms can build a kind culture with the Pom-Pom Jar, while secondary teachers might use Attendance Questions or Fishbowl Discussions to get everyone talking. Whether you need a movement break or smoother transitions, these short videos are full of ideas you can use in your classroom today!

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13 Tips to Organize Google Drive

A tidy Google Drive saves valuable time. This Shake Up Learning guide offers thirteen practical strategies to help you regain control of your digital files. Key tips include using consistent naming conventions, color-coding folders for visual cues, and starring essential documents. The article also demonstrates how to use search chips and manage the Shared with Me section for a more efficient workflow. Implementing these simple habits will streamline your daily tasks. Read the full list of tips and view screenshots on the Shake Up Learning blog.

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Customize NotebookLM Visuals

The latest updates to NotebookLM offer powerful ways for teachers to transform complex research into polished instructional materials in minutes. With the new slide deck generator, you can now use the Slide Revisions tool to refine specific content with a simple prompt. Teachers can also leverage ten new infographic styles, ranging from scientific to sketch notes, to provide students with diverse visual summaries. These tools, along with the ability to export decks directly to PowerPoint (or convert to Google Slides), can significantly reduce the time spent on creating instructional materials.

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CEU Requirements: Online Options

The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) sets the requirements for renewing teaching licenses. Tier 4 teachers must complete 125 clock hours (CEUs) every five years. The CEUs must be approved by a local continuing education committee. In addition to the general clock hour requirements, PELSB mandates eight (8) specific PD topics that all licensed educators must complete.

NPAS provides annual, in-person PD for the following seven requirements:

1. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
2. Accommodations and Modifications
3. Mental Health
4. Suicide Prevention
5. Reading Preparation
6. English Language Learners (ELL)
7. Cultural Competency

An online PD option is available for the remaining requirement:

8. American Indian History and Culture (MDE: 1-hour course)

What is the procedure for taking the online PD option?

Step 1: Click the PD topic links to register for the required course.
Step 2: Complete the course and download the certificate of completion (CEU).
Step 3: Upload the certificate to Frontline (My File Library).
Step 4: Submit the CEU Request Form on Frontline (with the certificate documentation).

Note: NPAS compensates certified staff members $16.70 per hour after completing and submitting these requirements.

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New G.Classroom Recording Tool

Google Classroom recently added a recording tool for teachers and students (grades 6-12) to capture up to five minutes of audio, video, or screencasts within assignments and comments. Recordings save automatically to Google Drive, simplifying the process of video feedback or tutorials. Read more about the Google Classroom update or watch this video.

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New Tab: Unpaid Chromebook Fee

To help families stay current on school accounts, MS and HS students with unpaid Chromebook fees will see an "Attention Needed" reminder when opening a new tab. While Infinite Campus sends automated emails on Tuesdays and Sundays, those messages can sometimes be missed. This new feature provides another reminder and includes direct links to the annual fee information, agreement form, and Campus Portal for online payments. We hope this helps students prompt their parents to settle balances, which helps reduce the need for costly paper mailings.

Notice #1 - New Tab (after fee is past due)

Notice #2 - New Tab & Lid Close (two weeks after first notice)

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