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A Guide to Google Classroom for Parents and Children.

Content.

Introduction.
Class Contacts.

Login into Google Classroom.
Navigating Google Classroom.
Stream tab.
Add a Post to the Stream.
Viewing announcements and classwork on the Stream.
People tab.
Classwork tab.
Viewing Assignments.
Creating a Google Doc, Slide or Sheet to complete an assignment.
Attaching pictures to an assignment.
Download a PDF version of this guide.

Introduction.

At Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School, we are using Google Classroom for all children in Years one to six as our online learning platform. Google Classroom is a space where children can access their learning online. It is designed to help teachers and children communicate and collaborate, manage their work and stay organised.

If you have never used Google Classroom, or even a computer before, do not be worried! We have shown most children how to access Google Classroom during lessons in school using the school Chromebooks, and this document is here to help guide you through it, step by step. If you ever have any issues or queries, please contact us via the school app.

Google Classroom is available using a computer, laptop or Chromebook as well as a downloadable app on most tablets and smartphones from the relevant app stores. We would recommend that if you are using a tablet or phone to use Google Classroom, that you also download and install the following apps: Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets and Google Meet.

 

Class Contact Information. 

Class Teacher Email
Nursery Miss Mallon  nursery@olv.bcwcat.co.uk
Reception Miss Peers reception@olv.bcwcat.co.uk
Year 1 Mrs Fitchie year1@olv.bcwcat.co.uk
Year 2 Miss Earley year2@olv.bcwcat.co.uk
Year 3 Miss Bradley year3@olv.bcwcat.co.uk
Year 4 Miss Dwyer year4@olv.bcwcat.co.uk
Year 5 Mrs Balson year5@olv.bcwcat.co.uk
Year 6 Mr Ruane year6@olv.bcwcat.co.uk

 

 

Login into Google Classroom.

If accessing Google Classroom through a desktop PC, Mac or laptop, this can be done by clicking on this link https://classroom.google.comor typing it into the search bar on your browser (we would recommend using Google Chrome).

 

If you are using a Chromebook, you can use the built in Chrome browser or you can download the Google Classroom app from the Web Store.

 

If you are using an iPad or other tablet or smartphone, please download the free Google Classroom app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

 

Sign in using the email address provided for your child. The email address will look something similar to this: 9fredf@olv.bcwcat.co.uk or firstname.surname@olv.bcwcat.co.uk.

 

These details have been sent home on a double-sided laminated card, on one side will be the Google and PurpleMash logins and on the other will be your child’s login for Maths Shed and Spelling Shed. The card will look like this:

 

 

If you are logged in using a personal email address, such as your own gmail.com address, you will not be able to access Google Classroom until you log out and sign in again using the email address provided by school.

 

The very first time you arrive at the Google Classroom website you will see a screen similar to the image to the right.

 

(Most children will have already completed these steps at school.)

 

 

Click CONTINUE.

 

 

On the next page Pick your role,

please ensure you click I’M A STUDENT.

 

 

Once logged in, you will see the Google Classroom which your child belongs to.

 

To enter the classroom, click the name of the class.

 

 

Navigating Google Classroom.

After you have clicked into your child’s Google Classroom, you will see the following tabs across the top of the page: Stream, Classwork and People.

 

 

Stream.

The Stream is where students can view and access announcements, assignments, discussion topics, and comments. Posts may contain links to websites, classwork set by your child’s teacher or simple communications between all the members of the class.

If enabled by the teacher, students can also add posts and leave comments. Posts are always monitored by your child’s teacher, as are any accompanying comments made by other staff and children, so we ask that children only use this feature if they are asking a question regarding their work or responding sensibly to another post.

 

Behaviour in Google Classroom should match the behaviour expected of your child while in school.

 

Add a Post to the Stream.

Click in the box where it says Share something with your class.

Type in the text of your class post.

You can click on the Add button to link to:

  • A previously saved Google drive file, such as a Google Doc, Sheet or Slide.
  • A link to another website.
  • A file on your computer (which would be upload to the Google Drive).
  • A YouTube video.

To send the post to the Stream, click Post.

Remember, this is viewable by the teacher, other staff in school and the entire class. Use the post only to ask a relevant question about class or work set, collaborate with other children in your class, or to share relevant resources related to the class subject and topics.

Note: Your comments are saved, even after they have been deleted.
Your teacher can always see what you share so keep it appropriate!

 

Viewing announcements and classwork on the Stream.

Posts will appear in the Stream, children have the option to leave a class comment, if this has been enabled by the teacher. Class comments are viewable by the teacher and all students in the class.

If the announcement has attachments, the students can also view the files, links or videos.

The Stream will also contain the assignments set by your child’s teacher. The work set in Google Classroom are called assignments. The best way to access your child’s work is through the next tab, called Classwork.

 

People.

This page shows all the people who are in this particular classroom. It does list everyone’s first and last name. Children should show staff the same respect in Google Classroom as they would in school, calling their teachers either Miss/Mrs/Mr/Sir.

 

Classwork.
This is where your child will access their assignments set by the teacher. This is the best way of accessing the content set rather than having to worry about searching on the Stream.

Assignments added will usually be in the form of a Google Doc, Google Slide or Google Sheets as this will allow the children to edit and hand in their work individually to the teacher. Classwork will be added regularly and may have a due date for completion, more on this below.

Sometimes it is necessary to use a file format called PDF. Children cannot edit these files directly. There are several ways in which children can complete their assignments when using PDF files.

  1. Using an iPad, you can type and draw directly onto the PDF file.
  2. Create a Google Doc and type the answers into the file.
  3. Print out the PDF file using your printer at home.
  4. Simple use a piece of paper to complete the work.

Steps 3 and 4 will require that you take a picture of the completed work, upload the picture to Google Classroom and attach it to the relevant assignment. Instructions for this are provided further down these instructions.

Teachers will be able to see your child’s progress and support them where necessary and can add comments to the children’s work.

 

Viewing Assignments.

  1. Click the Classwork tab.
  2. Click View your work. This will show you a list of outstanding assignments, sorted by due date.
  3. Click on an assignment to view it.

This will open a more detailed view of the assignment, including an introduction to the assignment and will also show you any additional material, such as a Doc, Slide, Sheet or PDF file.

Now click on View assignment.

Clicking on View details (sometimes view assignments) opens up the assignment page, which contains a much more detail about the assignment listed.

  1. A short introduction regarding the assignment.
  2. Any files or material attached to the assignment. If you click on the attachments, they will open up so you can view them. When you are editing a piece of work using Google Docs, Slides or Sheets, work is automatically saved.
  3. Class comments. This is where your child and other children can comment to the class teacher.
  4. Due date. This is the date for which the work must be completed and handed in by.
  5. This shows any files your class teacher or your child has attached to the assignment.
  6. Add or create. You can create a new file or attach an existing file, including pictures, using this menu.
  7. Mark as done OR Hand In. This button will change depending on what work is being submitted. By clicking on this button, you hand in the work and the class teacher is notified that your child has completed the work. Before clicking this button, ensure that the files you want to hand in are attached.
  8. Private comments. If your child is stuck with a piece of work, they can post a comment using the private message function at the right-hand side of the individual assignment screen to message the teacher.

Please note that teachers are working in school with groups of children during the week so will not be able to respond to messages immediately. Year group teams will work together and may share work across more than one classroom.

 

Creating a Google Doc, Slide or Sheet to complete an assignment.

Occasionally, an assignment may not have a file linked to it. In this case, you may need to create your own file to be able to hand in your work. To do this, click Add or create.

 

Under the heading Create new, click either Docs, Slides, Sheets or Drawing.

 

Docs is word processor, which is good for creating documents including lots of text with the occasional image. Perfect for creating stories or diaries.

 

Slides is for creating presentations, which is perfect for creating documents with text and images, such as posters.

 

Sheets is a spreadsheet application, good for crunching numbers, but not something we use very often in school.

 

Drawing is good for creating diagrams and charts. Again, this is not something we use very often in school.

 

When you click on one of the options, it will create the new document above the Add or create button.

Click on the new document to open it in a new window. By default, it will name the file by using the child’s full name followed by the title of the assignment.

When editing files, Google applications regularly save your work. You can check this at the top of the screen to make sure it shows the following.

 

 When it says, Saved to Drive, your work has been saved. If you are unsure, click the cloud icon and it should say All changes saved to Drive.

When working in a Google application please be aware that class teachers can see all changes to all documents,
including if work or text has been deleted or removed.

When you have finished your work, simply return to the Google Classroom window and hand in your work by clicking on the Hand In button.

  

Attaching pictures to an assignment.

If you have completed any assignments offline (e.g. on piece of paper), you will need to upload and attach some pictures to the assignment.

Open up the assignment going to Google Classroom.

Click on the Classwork tab.

Click on View your work.

Click on the assignment you want to attach your pictures to.

Click on View details (or View assignment).

Click on Add or create on the right-hand side of the screen.

In this menu, click File.

 

You can now either drag your files into this window or browse your computer to find the files you want to attach. Google Classroom will upload and attach the files to your assignment. Don’t forget to hand in your work by clicking on the Hand In button.

 

 

 

 

To download a PDF version of this guide so you can print them to keep at home, please click here.