Pin your 3-5 most commonly used Chrome tabs to streamline your workspace. Right-click a tab and select Pin to keep your productivity tools like Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar readily accessible. This tip will improve your effeciency. Watch this video for more details.
The "TECHNOLOGY @ NPAS" blog hosts most of the articles and information found in the weekly staff newsletters. For your reference, the newsletter are archived from this past year.
| Aug 2026 | Sep 2026 | Oct 2026 | Nov 2026 | Dec 2026 | Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08.19.26 | 09.01.26 | 10.06.26 | 11.03.26 | 12.01.26 | 01.06.26 |
| -- -- -- | 09.08.26 | 10.13.26 | 11.10.26 | 12.08.26 | 01.13.26 |
| -- -- -- | 09.15.26 | 10.20.26 | 11.17.26 | 12.15.26 | 01.20.26 |
| -- -- -- | 09.22.26 | 10.27.26 | 11.24.26 | 12.22.26 | 01.27.26 |
| -- -- -- | 09.29.26 | -- -- -- | -- -- -- | -- -- -- | -- -- -- |
| Feb 2026 | Mar 2026 | Apr 2026 | May 2026 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2026 |
| 02.03.26 | 03.03.26 | 04.07.26 | 05.05.26 | -- -- -- | -- -- -- |
| 02.10.26 | 03.10.26 | 04.14.26 | 05.12.26 | -- -- -- | -- -- -- |
| 02.17.26 | 03.17.26 | 04.21.26 | 05.19.26 | -- -- -- | -- -- -- |
| 02.24.26 | 03.24.26 | 04.28.26 | 05.26.26 | -- -- -- | -- -- -- |
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.
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.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
