The Gradebook Comment Codes screen is used to set up comment codes for Gradebook assignments. On this screen, the district can disable the use of free-form comments on Gradebook assignments, set up comment codes, and assign the codes to schools.
The Gradebook Comment Codes screen is also used to add customized options used to identify students’ Alphabet skills via Grades > Post Standard Grades > Letters and Sounds Knowledge section.
This is district-wide functionality. If this function is enabled, be sure that each school has some comment codes assigned. If a school is not assigned any comment codes, then teachers at that school will not be able to enter comments on assignments.
1. In the Setup menu, click Gradebook Comment Codes.
2. Select Turn off free-form gradebook comments and replace with a pull-down code.
The selection is auto-saved. This disables the use of free-form comments on Gradebook assignments. Instead, teachers will select a comment from a list of codes set up by the district that were assigned to their school.
1. In the Setup menu, click Gradebook Comment Codes.
2. In the blank row, enter the Title of the comment. This is the description of the comment.
3. Enter a Code for the comment.
Both the code and comment title displays in the pull-down when teachers select Gradebook comments.
4. Select one or multiple Schools that can use the comment. Leaving the Schools blank will allow all schools to use this comment.
5. To limit the school years when this comment code can be used by teachers, enter the Min Syear and/or Max Syear.
6. Press Enter to add the comment code to the table.
The row turns yellow to indicate an addition has been made. You must click Save to finish adding the code.
7. Click Save.
When a comment is edited that is in use by teachers, the existing comment is updated in the teacher's Gradebook.
1. In the Setup menu, click Gradebook Comment Codes.
2. Make the necessary changes to the Title, Code, Schools, Min Syear, or Max Syear for a comment.
The edited field turns yellow to indicate a change has been made.
3. Click Save.
When a comment is deleted that is in use by teachers, the comment verbiage is removed from the student's assignment and the comment is no longer available for selection.
It is recommended to assign an inactive comment a Max Syear as opposed to deleting the comment completely.
1. In the Setup menu, click Gradebook Comment Codes.
2. Click the red minus sign next to the comment to delete.
3. In the confirmation message, click OK.
The row is grayed out to indicate it has been deleted. You must click Save to complete deletion.
4. Click Save.
When free-form Gradebook comments are disabled and comment codes are assigned to schools, teachers are able to select Gradebook comments on assignments, as pictured below.
The Alphabet Skills tab allows users to add customized options used to identify students’ Alphabet skills via Grades > Post Standard Grades > Letters and Sounds Knowledge section linked to courses via Setup > System Preferences > School Preferences / Default School Preferences > Grading tab: “Add Letters and Sounds to Standards posting.” The default options include Identifies letter, Knows letter sound, and Writes letter for sound given.
1. In the Setup menu, click Gradebook Comment Codes.
2. Click the Alphabet Skills tab.
3. Using the top row, enter the name of the Skill in the provided text box.
4. Select the Schools from the pull-down for which the Skill applies. If the pull-down is select blank, the skill will apply to all schools.
5. Select the Min Syear and Max Syear from the pull-downs to determine the school years for which the skills applies. If a Min Syear and Max Syear aren't selected, the skill will apply to all school years.
6. Press the Enter key to save the skill. The line turns yellow when committed.
7. Click Save.
8. Add as many skills as needed using the top row following the previous steps.
1. In the Setup menu, click Gradebook Comment Codes.
2. Click the Alphabet Skills tab.
3. Make the necessary changes to the Skill title, Schools, Min Syear, or Max Syear for a skill.
The edited field turns yellow to indicate a change has been made.
4. Click Save.
1. In the Setup menu, click Gradebook Comment Codes.
2. Click the Alphabet Skills tab.
3. Click the red minus sign next to the skill to delete.
4. In the confirmation message, click OK.
The row is grayed out to indicate it has been deleted. You must click Save to complete deletion.
5. Click Save.
When skills are added from the Alphabet Skills tab, they display in the Letters and Sounds Knowledge section of Grades > Post Standard Grades for linked courses selected via Setup > System Preferences > School Preferences / Default School Preferences > Grading tab: “Add Letters and Sounds to Standards posting.”
