Additional background about Canvas

Canvas is a very powerful and flexible tool for teachers to deliver instruction to students. With all students 6th-12th having their own device to use, it is essential for workflow of files and resources. Canvas gives parents a window into the classroom so they can see the work of their students and help support them with due dates via the calendar. Here's a video with more information about the Canvas Parent mobile app.

 
 

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⭐️ Setting up a Canvas parent/guardian account on the website

To sign up as a parent/guardian on a computer, follow the directions below.

Go to shakopee.instructure.com on a desktop computer and click on “Parent of a Canvas User? Click Here For an Account” in the upper right corner.

On the next screen, enter your name and your email address. Then enter your child’s pairing code. To create a pairing code, have your student open the Canvas Student app or website, click on the three lines in the upper left corner (iPad app) or Account button (website), then Settings, and then Pair with Observer. This pairing code will allow one parent to pair with one student. Repeating this process will create a new pairing code if you want another parent to be paired with a student. 

You can also email parenthelp@shakopee.k12.mn.us with your name and your student’s name to ask for a Canvas pairing code. Once you have your pairing code, agree to the terms and click "Start Participating."

If You Have Multiple Children using Canvas

If you have multiple students in the district, you can observe all of their Canvas activity in one account. You will need to get another pairing code for every additional student you want to add to your account. 

To add more students on the website, click on “Account” along the left hand side of the screen, then click on Observing.  From there, you can add other students to observe using their pairing code.

Once you are set as an observer for all of your children, you will automatically have access to each course that each child is enrolled in as well as be able to access all their Canvas grades by clicking the Grades button along the top of your screen.

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What you can do on the Canvas website

Here are some things you can do/places you can go starting from the Canvas home page. There are 5 areas of interest for this page, as shown in the picture below.

1. Settings: You can customize your notification preferences, among other things, in your personal settings. Your settings are always available from any Canvas page in the upper left-hand corner if you click Account. Then click on Notifications. Once in Notifications, you can change how often you are notified about aspects of your children’s courses. Hover over notification box to change their frequency.
2. Courses: This is where you view all of the individual courses for your child.
3. Calendar: The Calendar shows a view of all course due dates, including ungraded updates of in class work.
4. Coming Up: This is a notification center for a quick view of upcoming items and events.
5. Grades: This button will show grades for each course. You can then click on each course to view more details about your student's grade and see whether students have submitted their work.

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⭐️ Setting up a Canvas parent/guaridan account on the Canvas Parent app

Install the Canvas Parent app on your mobile device. Tap on Find School and search for Shakopee. Tap on Create Account. Enter your information and your student's pairing code.

To create a pairing code, have your student open the Canvas Student app or website, click on the three lines in the upper left corner (iPad app) or Account button (website), then Settings, and then Pair with Observer. This pairing code will allow one parent to pair with one student. Repeating the process will create a pairing code if you want another parent to be with a student. If you need help, email parenthelp@shakopee.k12.mn.us with your name, your student's name, and ask for a Canvas pairing code.

If You Have Multiple Children using Canvas

If you have multiple students in the district, you can observe all of their Canvas activity in one account. You will need to get another pairing code for every additional student you want to add to your account.

In the app, tap on the arrow next your student's name. Then tap on the + Add Student. Repeat the process for multiple students.

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What you can do on the Canvas Parent app

The Canvas Parent app offers a limited view of everything in Canvas, but is easy to view one student at a time. In the Canvas Parent app, you will see a screen that looks like this:

1. User Menu: send messages to teachers, add additional students, get help, change user, or log out. It is recommended that you email teachers directly with questions instead of using Canvas to message teachers.
2. Select Student: Switch between multiple students. You will need to use the User Menu and have a pairing code to add additional students.
3. Courses: View courses that are currently active for your student. Grades will also display for the course here. Tapping on a course will display more grading details and the home page for the course. Tapping on an assignment will allow you to see directions for the assignment, whether it was submitted, and set an alert to remind yourself to check in with your student.
4. Calendar: The calendar displays which assignments are due each day.
5. Alerts: They indicate if assignments are missing, have received a grade, etc. 

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Customize your email notifications

Once you have an account, be sure to edit the notifications or you will receive a lot of emails. Notifications can be found in your account settings in Canvas. We recommend setting the following notifications to either notify right away, daily summary, or weekly summary. Turn off the rest. 

•  Announcements
•  Grading
•  Submission Comment
•  Conversations (all)
•  Global Announcements

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How to support your student(s)

Now that you have a Canvas account, consider how you will monitor your student's progress. A few recommendations are:

• Designate a day each week that you will review Canvas with your student. 
• Review the previous week to see what assignments are missing. 
• Dig into classes with lower grades to see what could be resubmitted to earn a better grade. 
• Use the calendar to look ahead to next week to plan ahead for upcoming deadlines.
• Email teachers if you have questions about assignments or grades.
  
   

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Change/reset your password

1. Go to shakopee.instructure.com on a computer or mobile browser. You cannot change your password in the Canvas Parent mobile app. Click on “Forgot Password” to receive an email to reset it or sign in to change it. 

2.  Sign in and click on Account in the upper-left corner.

3. Click on Settings, then Edit Settings.

4. Check the box to change your password. Enter your old and new password and then click "Update Settings."

Contact Tech Support

If a parent or guardian is having technical issues, please email parenthelp@shakopee.k12.mn.us or call (952) 697-8701. If you have questions about the content of a course such as an assignment or grade, please email the teacher of that course.

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