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Teacher Guide: Google Classroom

Written by Neta Raz Studnitski

This kit is intended for Newsela premium subject subscribers only

Step 1: Login

  • Go to newsela.com > Select Sign in > Google > Enter your school/district credentials

  • (You will be taken through a series of steps that will confirm your school and your subscription)


Step 2: Set up your classes

  • After confirming your school, you will be prompted to sync your Google Classroom classes

  • Select grade level and subject for all classes Select 'all done' after you've synced your classes

Note: If you don't see the option, click your initials in the top right > Select Settings > Class Directory > Sync from Google


Step 3: Create assignments

  • Find Content: In Newsela, find an article you wish to assign and click 'Assign'.

  • Select Assignees: Select the class(es) or student(s) for the assignment.

    • You can choose to Assign to a class OR Assign to students.

  • Customize and Create: Add any customization (such as start and due dates) and click 'Create Assignment'.

    • Note: Students receive the assignment on the start date, but can still complete the assignment if no due date is set or if it is past the due date.

  • View Assignments: Click 'See all assignments' in the pop-up notification at the top of your screen.

  • Share to Google Classroom: Click the share icon and select 'Google Classroom'.

  • Finalize in Google: Choose your Google Class, select 'Create Assignment', and click 'Go'.

Important Note: Make sure you have assigned the content to the same classrooms in Newsela and Google Classroom.


What to look out for

My Classes aren't syncing

  • First, check that you are always logging in through Google (with the Google button). Your class will not sync if you login with a different method.

  • There cannot be a teacher listed as a student in your classroom. If there is, remove the teacher from the classroom and resync in Newsela.

  • There may be a student with a teacher role in your classroom. Contact your Google administrator to check that the student is not a verified teacher.

  • After you've contacted your administrator, contact support here to get this changed.

My Classes are not appearing for syncing in Newsela

  • First, check that you are always logging in through Google (with the Google button). Your class will not sync if you login with a different method.

  • Check that the class is not archived under Settings > Class Directory. You can restore any courses from there.

  • Check that the class is for the current grade-marking period.

  • Check that you are listed as the educator/teacher for this class and not a student.

My District is importing classes from Clever/Classlink, but I want to sync my classes from Google Classroom

  • If you would like to sync your classes from Google Classroom as opposed to using your bulk rostered classes, click your initials in the top right > Select Settings > Class Directory > Sync from Google.

  • Syncing from Google Classroom should auto-archive your Clever classes.

  • Clever classes can also be manually archived.

My student is missing from my class in Newsela

  • Check that the student is included in your Google roster.

  • Is the student logged in or listed as a teacher? If yes, contact support to have the student changed from a teacher to student.

Students are getting an error message: "Uh-oh, our fault" when trying to login

Students are getting an error message: "Sorry, it looks like you don't have permission to see this"

  • Assign the article in Newsela rather than only linking the article.

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