PowerTeacher Training

For Classroom Teachers who Take Attendance and/or Give

Grades!

Test Server Login - For Training Only!

It is best to use Firefox or Safari

Test Server Address:http://pstest.cmcss.net/teachers

This is a dummy account login information to be provided on training day for use during training only.

Logging into PowerTeacher- For Actual Use of Gradebook

User Name: Your MUNIS NumberPassword: FL**** (firstlastinital and last 4 of your SSN)

Never SHARE your User Name or PASSWORD with ANYONE. DO NOT change your password.

Taking Attendance

An attendance indicator (chair) icon appears next to each class. The color of the dot indicates whether or not you've taken attendance for that class.

1. Click the chair icon next to the class forwhich you want to take attendance.2. Choose the appropriate attendance code from the Current attendance code popup menu.  A=Absent or T=Tardy3. Click the cell next to each student who is absent or tardy to insert the code you chose from the pop-up menu.4. Click Submit.

Submitting Lunch Count

( Elementary )1. Click the utensil icon next to the class for which you want to submit a lunch count.2. Enter the lunch counts in the fields.3. Click Submit.

Accessing Student Information

1. Click the backpack icon next to the class you want to view.2. Click the student’s name.3. Choose a student page to access from the Select Screens pop-up menu. 4. Have a look at the Select Screens you may choose.

Printing School Reports or Report Tab

Your school creates the reports available to you in PowerTeacher.1. Click the printer icon next to the class for which you want to print a report.2. Choose the report from the Which report would you like to print pop-up menu.3. Choose the watermark text (optional).4. Choose when you want PowerSchool toprepare your report.5. Click Submit.

Accessing PowerTeacher Help

To access the PowerTeacher Online Help, click the Help icon, which looks like a question mark.

Daily Bulletin You cannot create entries for the daily bulletin. You can read the notices and send a message to the person in charge of maintaining the bulletin.How to View the Daily Bulletin – On the PowerTeacher main menu, click Daily Bulletin.

The Daily Bulletin page displays today's announcements and links to previous bulletins.

– Click the date links at the bottom of the page to view that day's bulletin.

– Click the e-mail address at the bottom of the page to send a message to the person who issues the announcements. Depending on your default e-mail application, an e-mail form appears.

– Complete the e-mail message.– Click Send.

Staff Directory and Meals Tab

We will NOT use these functions at this time. 

Continue to contact people from your building using the CMCSS email system.  

Personalize

• Change Password Feature - DO NOT CHANGE PASSWORD

• Default Student Screen Feature - A teacher can choose which student screen appears first when the BACKPACK icon is clicked. Other screens can then be selected from the Select Screens dropdown menu at the top right.

• Display Section Number - Choose Yes/No to show or hide section numbers on the Teacher's Homepage. 

School/Term Selectors• The DEFAULT school is the school to which

a teacher is assigned. You will need not to change this.

• The terms will change automatically as the year progresses. You should glance at the term selector each time changes are made to ensure the correct term is displayed.

PowerTeacher GradeBook 

Teacher Training

Quick Entry Tips

Select Quick Entry Tips on the PowerTeacher gradebook just above the Launch Gradebook button for keyboard shortcuts. 

Opening GradeBook

PCs must have Java 1.5 loaded

• Click the LAUNCH GRADEBOOK button.

• *You may get one or more dialog boxes… Click OK or Trust. (If you click the option to Always Trust it will stop some of the windows from appearing)

• You should then see your Class Grade Book.        

Setting Up the GradeBook                1

*PowerTeacher Gradebook is configured for immediate use. 

The next several slides cover what you will need to set up once…at the start of each year.

*You will configure your actual gradebook with your Point of Contact during the first days in your school.

Creating Categories

1. On the gradebook menu bar, choose Tools > Categories.

2. Click the Plus (+) button in the lower left corner of the window. Enter your information.

3. Click Close. (Categories will be saved)

Creating CategoriesTeachers CAN set -

–Category Name–Abbreviation–Color–Points Possible–Score Type

Include in Final Grade*** ***Important**** If this box is not checked, it will   not count. 

Descriptions- Category descriptions can be viewed by administrators and parents.

Setting Up Final Grade Weighting

You will determine how 9 weeks grades are calculated - Total Points or Category Weights. Your Point of Contact will help you set this up in a meeting at your school.

• Option 1 - Total Points• Option 2 - Category Weights

Term Weights for Semesters 1 and 2 will be provided for you by your Point of Contact during gradebook setup. (Standard District Setup)

Final Grade Setup

This can be set by clicking on the Grade Setup Tab.

This setup determines how final grades are calculated. 

**The final grade is calculated continuously so you always know a students current final grade.

1. Choose the desired reporting term in the upper pane.2. Choose the desired calculation method in the lower pane.3. ****You can also decide here if any low scores are dropped.

Setting Up Student Groups                1

The DEFAULT group is the ENTIRE CLASS.

A SET – is a Collection of Groups.  You must create a SET before you can make GROUPS. -SET might be Reading or Math, etc.

A GROUP - a small collection of students -like Reading Group 1, etc.

 Creating a Set and Groups

1. Click the STUDENTS tab.2. Click the PLUS button (+) in the lower left hand corner.3. It will automatically create Untitled Set 1 and Untitled Group

1.4. Double Click on Untitled Set 1 and enter a name for the set,

such as Reading. Press the ENTER key.5. Double Click on Untitled Group 1 and enter a name for the

Group, such as Early Readers. Press the ENTER key.6. If you need to add more Groups under a Set click the PLUS

(+) and choose Add Group 7. Repeat steps 2-5 until all Sets and Groups are complete.

Adding Students to a Group1. Click the STUDENTS tab and Click on a student's name.2. Drag the name of the student to the appropriate group.

You can add student to all of the groups.

****You CANNOT add a student to more than one GROUP in the same SET!

DELETING STUDENTS FROM A GROUP1. Click a student's name in the group list. 2. Click the minus (-) button at the bottom left.

MOVING STUDENTS BETWEEN GROUPS WITHIN A SET1. Click the arrow to the left of the group name to open2. Click the name of the student you want to move and drag it to the folder for one of the other groups in the set.

Setting PT GradeBook Preferencesto set how grades are calculated and stored.1. Click the POWERTEACHER GRADEBOOK menu (MAC) or

the TOOLS menu (PC) at the top and select PREFERENCES.

2. Choose options to meet school or district policy.

Choose:Rounded - EX. 89.75 would be rounded to 90%

Decimal Places - Select how many decimal places

Viewing Gradescales

****The gradescale is determined by the district and will be loaded in the

GradeBook for you.

To View the Gradescale:

1.Click the Tools menu, and click Gradescales2.The DEFAULT gradescale will be viewable 

Editing and Viewing Class Info

1. Choose a class from the Classes Pane (Top Left)

2. Click the CLASS INFO TAB

3. You can add a description of the class.•  Type in the description box.• Add a web link if needed.

****Remember that descriptions can be viewed by the administrators, students, and parents.  This can be very useful, but BE CAREFUL!

Adding Assignments

Most of the GradeBook items covered prior to this are one-time

set-ups!

The following slides cover the daily adding of assignments and grades,

and more.

District Grade Publishing Policy

1.  All graded assignments MUST be published!2. By Midnight every Monday, all assignments from the previous week MUST be published!

Best Practice:    Timely Feedback    Stay current in grading, recording, and publishing assignments

*Parents will be told to check on Tuesday mornings for previous week's grades in order to provide guidance and intervention for their children.

Adding AssignmentsAdd Assignments-1. Select a class, then click the Assignments or Scoresheet tab.2. Click the Plus (+) button. Enterinformation.3. Click Save.4. Click the Publish Tab5. Click Drop Down to set date to be published• Immediately is the default• NEVER is not an option.

 

Deleting an Assignment

1.Highlight the assignment by clicking on its heading.

2.Click the Minus (-) button next to the assignment header area.

3.You will get an "Are You Sure?" dialog box. Click delete.

*A deleted assignment CANNOT be retrieved!!!!!

Adding Grades to Assignments1. Click on the class or group2. Click on the Scoresheet Tab3. Choose the Reporting Term and Category4. Click on the Assignment5. Add scores for students6. Click Save

****Once you save, the current Final Grade will update.

COPY ASSIGNMENTS, DELETE ASSIGNMENTS, FILL SCORES, AND/OR CLEAR SCORES -1. Click on the Assignment title at the top of the column2. Right click or Control Click3. Select desired action

Filter A Scoresheet1. Select a class, then click the Scoresheet tab.2. Choose one or more of the following filters:·         Filter By Reporting Term·         Filter By Category·         Filter By StudentsClick Tools, Select Score Inspector1. Select a class from the Classes pane, then click the Scoresheet tab.2. From any assignment field (or Final Grade field) within the Scoresheet, pressCOMMAND+click (Mac) or right-click(Windows) and select Score Inspector.

Open the Score Inspector1. Select a class, then click the Scoresheet tab.2. Choose one or more of the following filters:·         Filter By Reporting Term·         Filter By Category·         Filter By Students Open the Score Inspector1. Select a class from the Classes pane, then click the Scoresheet tab.2. From any assignment field (or Final Grade field) within the Scoresheet, pressCOMMAND+click (Mac) or right-click(Windows) and select Score Inspector.

Mark Assignments

1. Select a class, then click the Scoresheet tab. Or, open the Score Inspector.2. Click in the assignment column of thestudent for whom you want to enter anassignment status:·         On the Scoresheet window, press COMMAND+click (Mac) or right-click (Windows) and select Collected, Late, Exempt, or Missing. Click Save.·         On the Score Inspector window, select Collected, Late, Exempt, or Missing checkbox. Click Close to save.

Add a Final Grade Comment

1. Open the Score Inspector and select thefinal grade of the student you want toupdate.2. Manually enter final grade comments in the Comment field and/or click CommentBank to select one or more predefinedcomments. Use the Previous and Nextarrows to repeat for each student, ifapplicable.3. Click Close to save.

Manually Override Final Grades1. Select a class from the Classes pane, then click the Scoresheet tab.2. Choose a term from the Filter ByReporting Term pop-up menu.3. Open the Score Inspector and select thefinal grade of the student you want toupdate. The final grade field appearshighlighted.4. Select the Manual Override checkbox.Enter the new grade in the appropriatefield, and enter any comments in theComment field, if applicable. Use thePrevious and Next arrows to repeat foreach student, if applicable5. Click Close to save.

Reports AvailableThe following reports are available on thegradebook Reports tab: Attendance GridCategory TotalFinal Grade Comment Verification Individual Student ReportMissing Assignment ScoresheetStudentMulti-SectionStudent Roster.

Gradebook Help

To access the PowerTeacher gradebook Online Help, click

Help > Contents

on the menu bar.

Logout

LOGOUT by clicking on the logout button at the top of the screen.

Teachers should make it a habit to logout after entering or viewing data.

*****If a teacher does not logout, private student information may be available to anyone with access to the computer.