Savvas and McGraw Hill single sign-on for 24-25 SY

We have many core courses either being taught or piloted this school year that use either McGraw Hill products or Savvas products.

McGraw Hill products include:

• 5-8 Math 
• 5-8 Science
• 9-12 Science

Savvas products include:

• 9-12 Math
• 9-12 Science
• K-8 ELA pilot

All teachers and most students (see below) will log into their coursework through their ClassLink portal.
On iPad, this will be through the ClassLink App.  On laptop, it will be through the website launchpad.classlink.com, which should be bookmarked.

Users sign in to Classlink with their school Google credentials. 
(K-2 students do not have these credentials, so they will use printed Quickcards instead.)

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High School Student Login to Savvas:

How should my students access their Savvas Realize content?

IF you use Google Classroom, you may connect your classroom Savvas account for your students.  With it, all assignments you set up in Savvas will pass down to students' Google Classroom assignments.  

If you will be using Google Classroom with Savvas, then students will NOT use ClassLink to log in.  They will simply use their Google Classroom portal.

The Google Classroom connection may be set up in your Savvas class settings.

Please let me know if you have questions about this.

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Bonus Note:

Does your ClassLink portal look cluttered with apps that you don't use or in an arrangement that doesn't work very well for you?  All users have an Edit Mode in ClassLink.  Create folders, move apps around, customized the theme, and more.  Make it fit your workflow.

Right click on any app icon to move it to one of your folders

Google Classroom for 24-25 SY

 If you use Google Classroom, your classes for the 24-25 school year should appear in your teacher panel.  They are fully rostered and synced daily with Infinite Campus.

Below are a few important notes:

1.   You may want to Accept only your first trimester classes and take care of the rest later. 
      You may 'decline' the classes that will not be using Google Classroom.

Once Accepted, the class will appear in your students' Google Classroom portal. 
No class code is then needed for students to 'enroll'.

2. These classes are named from Infinite Campus.  Once, accepted, I would strongly recommend changing the name to one that makes sense for both you and your students.  See images below that show you to make this update.  

The Settings button is found in the upper right corner.  Note the arrow in the image.
You may customize the background, too - that is found by clicking on the Customize button.  

I recommend using a naming convention like either one of these:
"Integrated Math 2A  Pd. 1 Tri. 1"     OR  "Mr. Gruman 10th Math Pd. 2"

3. I have this set so that students are only added from Infinite Campus.  If a student is removed from your class list, you will have to manually remove them from your Google Classroom roster.

4.  Assignments from previous classes - such as those from last year - may be imported into these 24-25 classes.  Look for the prompt 'Reuse Post' to bring in those assignments.  Refer to the image below on how to import assignments.

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- You may still create your own classes as desired.  Rosters will not be synced though.
- Grades are not synced.  This is only a one-way pass of data from Infinite Campus to Google
- You may add a co-teacher in Google Classroom.
- Please do not delete your classes at the end of the school year.  It's best practice to simply archive them.

Please let me know as you have questions about this.

Classroom Audio Systems

 We continue to extend the widespread use of audio amplification systems in our classrooms. 
There are more than 50 classrooms across our District using a product sold by Lightspeed.  They provide a robust and even sound in the classroom with any digital media played and a paired classroom microphone.

There are two styles of lightweight microphones in use, worn on a lanyard by the teacher.  They are paired with the systems via Bluetooth, which has shown great reliability.  The batteries have done well to hold power for a full day of teaching after being charged overnight.  They seem to get about 3 years of good use before needing replacement.

There are 3 models of Lightspeed Audio System in our classrooms:

Redcat

This is a portable unit that works well in classrooms that do not have a suspended ceiling.  They are used at some of our elementary buildings, and are often placed on a shelf.   They are also helpful where portability is needed.  This unit does need to be plugged in.  However, a rechargeable battery pack may be added.

 

TCQ, paired with a 975 amplifier

 This model is best used in classrooms where there is no power in the ceiling.  This would include our K-2 classrooms that use Promethean Display Boards at both Bailey Park and Fairview.  The amplifier is tucked out of the way and plugged into a wall outlet.  

 

Topcat

These are best used in classrooms with a ceiling-mounted projector, such as the middle school or high school.  These are the easiest to install and maintain.  They are plugged into a ceiling outlet.  

These classroom units have been an integral part of many teachers' daily routine.  They provide a universal accessibility for all students by adding 'round' sound to the room, balancing a normal tone throughout the room and reducing the need for more volume... and the stress that goes with it.  This stress is two-fold:  the physical stress and fatigue on the teacher working to extend their voice in the room and the student stress of having a teacher using a loud voice much of the day.  It is a benefit for every student, including those who have learning barriers, both diagnosed and undiagnosed.

Objectives and Mentality:

Our objective with teacher audio is to create ‘round’ sound in the classroom and not ‘loud’ sound.  We want the audio of the teacher’s voice to reach evenly around the room, regardless of which way they are facing or where they are in the classroom.  If the teacher can hear their own voice or if there is a squeal of audio feedback, then the speaker is turned up too loud.

Using a classroom audio system is a universal accessibility feature, that is, it is a benefit for every student in the classroom, including those who have diagnosed and undiagnosed learning challenges.  It allows teachers better reach to students and reduces the need for proximity placement for some. 

The audio systems in our district are manufactured by Lightspeed.  Click here to learn more from the manufacturers website.

Please reach out to me as you or your team would like to learn more.