How to Use Your Classroom Screen (For Teachers)
The Classroom screen is your dedicated space inside the app to share updates, resources, and communication with your classroom families. Itโs designed to make it easy to keep parents informed without replacing the tools you already use, like Transparent Classroom.
This guide walks you through how to access your Classroom screen, what itโs used for, and how to manage and customize it.
Quick Glance at Classroom Screen Setup (For Teachers)
This guide walks you through how to access, use, and customize your Classroom screen so you can share updates, resources, and communication with familiesโwithout replacing tools like Transparent Classroom.
At a glance, youโll learn how to:
- Log in to the app โ Access your schoolโs app using Transparent Classroom or your email/password.
- Access your Classroom screen โ Find your classroom and understand editing access.
- Understand the purpose of the Classroom screen โ Know when to use it and how it complements Transparent Classroom.
- Explore available features โ Activity feeds, one-on-one chat, files, links, and more.
- Customize your Classroom screen โ Add or remove content like text, buttons, PDFs, images, and videos.
- Use SignUpJester โ Add sign-ups for snacks, volunteers, or conferences.
- Manage Activity Feed members โ Control who receives updates and who can reply.
- Direct message parents โ Enable or disable one-on-one communication based on your preference.
This is a teacher-focused guide designed to help you set up your Classroom screen quickly and use only the tools that work best for you.
๐ฅ Short Training Videos
Classroom Activity Feed
- Part 1: Classroom Activity Feed Settings (3 minutes)
Learn how to access your classroom activity feed, adjust settings, manage permissions, and choose the right layout and reactions.
- Part 2: How to Post in Your Classroom Activity Feed (2 minutes)
Guide on creating posts, sharing updates, adding photos or PDFs, and turning posts into events.
- Optional: Emoji & Vote Reactions in Group Chats and Activity Feeds (2 minutes)
Explore how emoji or vote reactions work and when to use each option to encourage engagement.
Step 1: How to Log In
Open your schoolโs app. You can log in in either of these ways:
-
Sign in with Transparent Classroom (Recommended for schools using Transparent Classroom)
Tap โSign in with Transparent Classroomโ and use your existing Transparent Classroom email and password.
-
Log in with email and password
Enter the email address and password you use for the app, then tap Log in.
Step 2: How to Get to Your Classroom Screen
- From the home screen, tap your Classroom.
- This opens your classroomโs main screen, where families can see your updates, shared resources, and communication.
If you have editing access, youโll see two icons in the top-right corner of your Classroom screen:
โ๏ธ Gear icon (Settings)
This opens Settings, where you can:
- Edit the screen title
- Change the icon
- Adjust visibility, permissions, and access (who can see the screen)
โก Lightning Bolt icon (Edit Content)
This lets you edit the content of the screen, including:
- Adding buttons
- Uploading PDFs
- Adding web links
- Adding text, images, and other content blocks
If you donโt see these icons, you may not have editing access yet. Reach out to your school administrator to request permissions.
Step 3: What the Classroom Screen Is For
Your Classroom screen is meant to be:
- A central place to share classroom updates with families
- A home for classroom-specific resources (documents, links, schedules)
- A way to communicate without needing to update each child individually
You can continue using Transparent Classroom exactly as you do for child-level updates, observations, and records. The Classroom screen simply complements it.
Step 4: What Features Are in Your Classroom Screen
Depending on how your school has things set up, your Classroom screen may include:
- Classroom activity or news feed for announcements and updates
- One-on-one (DM) chat with parents
- Uploaded files, such as PDFs or documents
- Web links, including:
- Google Docs
- Snack schedules
- Parent-teacher conference links
- SignUpJester links
- Transparent Classroom links
Note: Not all features are required โ you can use only what works best for your classroom.
Step 5: How to Customize Your Classroom Screen
If you have editing access, youโll see a โก Lightning Bolt icon in the top-right corner of your screen.
- Tap the โก Lightning Bolt to enter edit mode.
- Use the โ Plus button to add new items.
- Choose what youโd like to add.
- Save your changes โ updates appear immediately for families.
Common Items Teachers Add
Teachers typically use a mix of the following to keep families informed and connected:
- Text
Share written information such as:
- Daily routines or classroom expectations
- Weekly reminders
- Special notes for families
- Titles/Labels
- Buttons
Buttons give families quick access to important actions or resources. Common uses include:
- Linking to a class schedule
- Opening the Classroom Activity Feed
- Starting one-on-one chat
- Booking parent-teacher conferences
-
Accessing a sign-up or volunteer page
When adding a button, you can choose options like:
- Web link (Google Docs, SignUpJester, schedules)
- To another screen in the app (Activity Feed, Resources)
- Instant Chat
- PDFs
Upload documents such as:
- Class handbook
- Potty training agreements
- Supply lists or permission forms
- Web Links
Link to helpful resources like:
- Google Docs or shared folders
- Transparent Classroom resources
- Online schedules or forms
- Images or Videos
Add visuals such as:
- Classroom photos or charts
- Visual schedules
- Short welcome or update videos
You can also remove items you donโt want, such as disabling one-on-one chat or removing a feed if itโs not needed.
Using SignUpJester for Classroom Sign-Ups
SignUpJester is a simple tool you can use to collect sign-ups from families without emails, spreadsheets, or back-and-forth messages.
Teachers commonly use SignUpJester for:
- Snack rotations
- Classroom volunteers
- Parent-teacher conferences
- Special events or classroom activities
Once your SignUpJester sign-up is created, you can add it to your Classroom screen using a button- web link. This makes it easy for families to sign up directly from the app with one tap.
For step-by-step instructions on creating and managing a SignUpJester sign-up, follow this guide:
๐ก Using SignUpJester helps keep your Classroom screen organized while giving families a clear, simple way to participate.
Step 6: How to Add Members to Your Activity Feed
When setting up or managing a Classroom Activity Feed, you can choose which families or groups should receive updates.
Important:
To edit an activity feed (including adding members or posting updates), you must be given editor access by your school administrator. If you donโt see editing options for the feed, reach out to your admin to request access.
Once you have editor access, you can:
- Add specific members or classroom groups
- Include all families from a particular class or community
- Control who can view or reply to posts
This helps ensure updates reach the right families while keeping communication organized.
Add Members to the Activity Feed
- Open the Activity Feed from your Classroom screen.
- Tap the ๐ฅ People icon in the top-right corner.
- Select the members you want to subscribe to the feed (for example, parents and/or staff).
Manage Feed Settings and Permissions
To control how the Activity Feed works, tap the โ๏ธ Gear icon.
From here, you can:
- Turn comments on or off
- Choose reaction types (emojis, likes, etc.)
- Set who can see the feed (visibility)
- Control who has access (all users, subscribers only, or specific account types like Parent or Staff)
- Manage feed subscribers
๐ How to Set Up Classroom Activity Feed
Step 7: How to Direct Message (DM) Parents
If one-on-one chat is enabled:
- Parents can message you directly from the Classroom screen
- This is helpful for quick questions or private conversations
If you prefer not to use DMs:
- Enter edit mode
- Remove or disable the one-on-one chat feature
Youโre always in control of how communication works in your classroom.
Helpful Notes
- The Classroom screen is your space โ use it in the way that works best for you
- You donโt need to update anything on the child side here
- Transparent Classroom remains your primary tool for child records and observations