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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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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Google Classroom: Student Groups

Google Classroom's new Student Groups feature is a game-changer for teachers looking to differentiate their instruction. With Student Groups, you can easily create customized learning experiences for different groups of students based on their needs, interests, or abilities. Assign specific materials, activities, or assessments to each group, ensuring that every student receives the support and challenges they need to succeed. Review this video tutorial for more information.

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GC: Grades > Grade All

You will appreciate the latest Google Classroom update if you grade most of your assignments in the GC gradebook. Teachers can now select Grade All to quickly enter assignment scores to all students, and even override existing grades. This is particularly useful for completion-based assignments like exit tickets or classwork, where scores are typically binary. The update saves valuable time by eliminating the need for individual grade entry and provides a more efficient way to manage and return grades to students.

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Google Forms: 3 Things to Know

Google recently updated the sharing menu in Google Forms. The new Publish button gives the form owner more granular control over who can edit and respond to the form. There are three (3) things to know about this update:

1. Publish: Respondents cannot access the linked form until it is published. The updated menu provides greater control, similar to how file owners can limit the sharing of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, or Sites in Drive.
   
   
   
   
2. Google Classroom: When you assign a Google Forms quiz to your students, Google Classroom automatically publishes the form so only your rostered students can respond.
   
   
3. Have you had trouble making a copy of a Google Form recently? Shortly after this update rolled out, teachers started reporting error messages when trying to make a copy of Google Form quizzes. If you use "Locked Mode" with your quizzes, you may need to Remove the locked mode setting before making a copy of your quiz. Review this TIP Sheet for more details.
   
   
   
   
   

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Google Classroom: Read Along

You may have noticed that Google Classroom added a new Read Along feature for reading instruction. By assigning books at various reading levels, you can differentiate the needs of your students. The tool allows students to listen to books read aloud, follow along with the text, and practice reading independently. Built-in comprehension questions and progress tracking help you monitor student growth and provide targeted support. Watch the video tutorial for more information.

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GC: Share Your Classwork

Did you know you can share your Google Classroom resources and assignments with a colleague without adding them to your class as a co-teacher? Review this TIP Sheet for step-by-step instructions or read this Google Help Page for more information.

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GC: Archived and New Classes

Your Google Classroom classes will soon "refresh" for the new school year. Please review the tasks and dates scheduled below:

Archived: August 1st
All Google Classroom classes will be archived automatically on August 1st. To view an archived class, go to the Google Classroom menu > Archived Classes.

New Classes: August 5th
Similar to GoGuardian, your Google Classroom classes and rosters will sync with Infinite Campus and Clever. Classes will be created automatically and you can "Accept" your new classes on August 5th.

Student Rosters: August 23rd
Student rosters will be imported into your accepted classes on August 23rd. On this date, students can view your posted announcements or assignments.

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Kami: Post PDF Assignments

The free version of Kami is installed on all staff and student devices and allows users to type, highlight, and draw directly on PDF documents. Teachers can attach PDF files to Google Classroom assignments where students can type their answers directly on the PDF. Save time... and paper. Watch the video tutorial for step-by-step directions.

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Mark Assignments as Excused

Google Classroom recently introduced assignment exemptions. Secondary teachers can now mark assignments as "Excused" for individual students, excluding them from the calculated grade. I have not been able to confirm, but it appears that the excused score will also be exported to your IC Grade Book.

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Add Interactive YouTube Questions

I've been sharing features from the November after-school PD session, What's New in Google Classroom? You've been able to attach YouTube videos to Classroom assignments for quite a while, but teachers can now insert interactive questions (similar to EdPuzzle). Students answer as they watch, getting real-time feedback and a chance to learn from mistakes. The teacher's dashboard gives insights into student progress, identifying areas where students may have struggled.

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Practice Sets with Google Forms

I've been sharing information about Google Classroom's Practice Sets. Launched last year, the tool allows educators to create interactive assignments from new and existing content. Students receive real-time feedback as they complete practice sets, and teachers receive performance insights and snapshots of student progress. Now, teachers can save time when creating assignments by importing Google Forms into practice set questions. This new feature makes it even easier to give practice sets a try.

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Google Classroom: Practice Sets

This post highlights another feature I shared in the November after-school PD session, What's New in Google Classroom? Last spring, Google Classroom Practice Sets were introduced to help teachers personalize student learning. Practice sets allow educators to transform their teaching content into interactive assignments and use an auto-grading tool to save time. Teachers also gain insights into student performance to tailor future lesson plans accordingly. Students receive real-time feedback, hints, and visual explainers as they complete practice sets, which can boost their confidence and engagement. Watch the video below for more information.

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G.Classroom: Close Submissions

In November I presented an after school PD session, What's New in Google Classroom? I will highlight some of those new features in the next several TECH @ NPAS newsletters. For example, the Close submissions after due date setting is just a checkbox, but it is an assignment feature teachers have been requesting since Google Classroom was first released. The setting gives teachers the option to stop accepting submissions for an assignment after the selected due date.

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What is the future of NP Moodle?

In 2008, Moodle was implemented as the primary learning management system (LMS) for all secondary classes at NPAS. However, as technology has evolved, our version of Moodle is no longer supported, posing potential security risks. Upgrading to a supported version would require significant time and financial resources. As a result, the NP Moodle site will be shut down at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. This delay will give staff one year to transfer or convert any necessary materials.

Since 2020, Google Classroom became the required LMS for all NPAS classes in grades 2-12. This has provided a common platform for all staff and students who teach and learn in a Chromebook environment. Moodle remained available mainly for assessments. However, over time, most teachers have converted their Moodle Quizzes to Google Forms Quizzes.

To simplify the conversion process, some teachers have utilized the GIFT Quiz Editor add-on for Google Forms. This tool enables users to export a file from Moodle (in GIFT format) and paste the content into the Google Form, rather than retyping each question. It's not magic, but it can save a considerable amount of time. Watch the video tutorial to see a demonstration.

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IXL: Google Classroom Add-On

Last month, I shared information about the new Google Classroom Add-Ons feature. NPAS has tested and installed the IXL add-on. If your class has an IXL subscription, you can add assignments directly from your Google Classroom page. This allows students to complete IXL activities, without leaving Google Classroom. For more information, review IXL's TIP Sheet or this video tutorial.

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Google Classroom: Add-Ons

Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets have included "add-ons" for years. Add-ons allow users to add features, or additional services to the core product / tool. Recently, Google Classroom rolled out its version of add-ons. This upgraded feature allows teachers to seamlessly add 3rd party resources to Google Classroom assignments. NPAS has tested and approved Kahoot! and EDpuzzle to our Google Classroom add-ons list; more resources will be available in the future. Watch the video for more information.

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GC: Does your sub have access?

Substitute teaching is a challenging job. Walking into a classroom full of strangers, new routines, and unknown content takes a lot of courage. In some ways, digital materials and tools have made the task a little easier. In other ways, it can add additional hurdles and frustration. What can you do to ensure your sub has access to the digital materials in your classroom?

• Google Drive - Sub Folder: Place your lesson plans, presentations, and other digital files in your shared sub folder.
  
  
• Google Classroom: If students will be completing Google Classroom activities, you should invite your school’s sub account to join your class(es):

 

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GC: Schedule to Multiple Classes

One of the most anticipated features is finally rolling out to Google Classroom. Teachers can now schedule assignment posts to multiple classes. This feature should be available to all ISD721 accounts by April 1st... no joke. 😉

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GC Tips: Bundle Resources

Tip #6: Attach multiple files into 1 assignment... Limit the places where students need to click by attaching all the activity resources into one single assignment. For example, if the assignment requires students to watch a video, read an article, and write a 2-paragraph summary... The teacher should attach all the resources needed in one (1) single assignment:

Other Google Classroom Tips: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5

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