In this post I will describe in detail, the steps needed to set-up your classroom website on our service. This is a common question we get so I thought I would share it here for anyone thinking about setting up a classroom website.
The first thing you should know is that your website URL will be AmazingClassroom.com followed by a forward slash / then your User ID. This will be the link you will want to give out to your parents and students.
For example if your User ID was SAMPLE7 then the link to get to your website would be amazingclassroom.com/SAMPLE7 Note: It does NOT matter if you capitalize letters in a URL or not. AmaZingClassRoom.Com/Sample7 will work just the same.
So lets get started setting up your class website:
- Login from our homepage and get to the main website update page which will show your website URL at the top along with your visit count and exp. date.
- Under all that you will see a list of show/hide links for different parts of your website.
- Click the first one that says show/hide template selection.
- Select a template that you might want to use from the drop down list and click the 'Apply Template' button.
- Once the page reloads you can click the link to your website (at the top) which will pop open your website in a new tab. Check it and if you like it, then you are done choosing your template. If not, then repeat until you find a look that you like. We currently have 16 choices which can all be seen here: http://www.amazingclassroom.com/examples.asp
Note: You can change your website look at any time by choosing a different template however each template has its own space requirements so always be sure to check your pages to make sure they are displaying correctly after any changes. - After you get a template that you like, click the next sections one at a time and choose options that are appropriate for you. Always click 'save changes' after each section so nothing you type or change will be lost. Most sections have large text ares that are pre-filled with generic text so make sure to replace it with your own relevant text.
- Your basic contact info section is also located here on your website update page. This is where your login password can be changed along with your email, address, phone contact numbers, school and district names, current school year, and other important information. Please take a minute to make sure that this information is up to date so parents can contact you. Note: most of this information (except your login password) is shared on your classroom website so please use your public work info and not your personal info.
- If you do not want a particular page (like say social studies for example) open that section and uncheck the box that says "show social studies page". After you save the changes, your social studies page link will be gone from your website.
- If you'd like to add classroom photos there are 4 opportunities for you to do so. The first is under the home page info section and the other 3 are under the class photos sections. Note: Please make sure you have permission from parents to post pictures of children and do not use any full names in the descriptions for privacy purposes.
- If you'd like to share a link (to another website) on your website, each subject section (math, reading, science, social studies, spelling) has an opportunity to add 2 links for that page. Simply paste a full URL into the appropriate box and save it. Additionally, most of our website templates support automatic linking which I describe fully here: http://www.amazingclassroom.com/templates/cold_steel/default.asp?cag=sample14
- If you'd like to share a file on your website, first upload it to our server, then copy and paste the link we provide into one of the large text boxes under the home page info or any of the subject sections. You may also paste it into the link boxes provided for each subject area. Many teachers use this feature to share files with their parents/students. File upload links can be found under most subject sections on your website update page.
- A page for class rules and expectations is also provided near the bottom of your update page.
- If you'd like to make a class schedule page on your website there is a section for that near the bottom as well. It is a simple process that will walk you through it if you choose to make one.
Additional Notes: All pages are turned on by default when your account is created so uncheck the boxes on any sections that you do not wish to show up on your website. Links for your students to login to their gradebook and math facts tests are also turned on by default so disable those if you are not going to be using those features of our service.
After your initial website set-up, keeping it updated should only take a few minutes per week. Also be sure to check out our newsletter generators, class forms, math facts tests, whiteboard resources (if you have one) and printables sections (also located under whiteboard resources) to get the most out of our service.
One more thing... be sure to follow this blog and our facebook page to get updated when we add new stuff, which is quite often. You can always find links to both of those at the very top of your website update page while you are logged in, so check them often.
I hope that answers some of the questions you may have had about setting up your classroom website. If you ever get stuck or have additional questions we are always here to help, just contact us and we'll get right back to you as quick as we can.
Bryan
