CompassLearning+Odyssey+-+Teacher

= = =Login= toc CompassLearning Odyssey is only available tostudents on the computers within our school system buildings. Only teachers can have access to it at home. Even though that is the case, **never share your username or password with anyone**. We may not open CompassLearning Odyssey for students to home computers outside our school system buildings. The CompassLearning Odyssey server has a web address. It is [].

Teachers have an account to build their small groups, to assign students work to do beyond their learning path work, and to view the progress of those students so they can make any necessary adjustments. To access your teacher account, your username is your MUNIS* number. Your password is your capitalized first and last initials followed by the last 4 numbers of your social security number. Leave the school name as ODYSSEY.


 * Your MUNIS number is the same as your PowerSchool number. It can be found by logging into PLAN, clicking "My Profile" in the left hand column, and then clicking on the "Employment Details" tab in the main section of the screen. It should be called your employee number.

=Setup Classes= It is very important to create small groups in CompassLearning Odyssey within your main class. Once you have logged into Odyssey, setup at least 2 groups of students. You will need a group for your students who are struggling with grade level math skills and a group for students who are above the proficient level of math skills. Compass does not call them groups. It calls them "classes". First create the group, then add students to the class from the list already in CompassLearning. Use the information in your TCAP and previous math benchmarks to decide where your students belong. Your academic coach can assist you with this process.

The following video is very short and walks through how to make a new "class" and then how to add selected students to that "class". media type="file" key="CL-TeacherClassCreation.swf" width="864" height="648"

=Focusing Students on Just Math= When CompassLearning Math was put into place in our schools, time became a crucial concern. The research data from Compass showed positive gains for students who were involved with the program a minimum of 45 minutes per week, or in a much more manageable format 9 minutes per day.

Students have found the content in other subject areas which was provided by CompasLearning, such as Science or Social Studies, and actively choose it when they do not wish to be challenged by the Math content. If each student only gets 9 minutes a day, it is vital that they spend that time on task in the Math activites and quizzes purchased for them.

To help manage your students choices, it is possible for your to turn off their access to the other, non-essential content. The PDF below contains step-by-step directions with pictures to the process which will only need to be done once this year and take a teacher between 5 and 7 minutes to complete.



=Build Assignments= Once you have created your student groups and loaded them with the children in your class, one of 2 things will happen. Either your school's academic coach will assign those students the district math pre-assessment or you can begin to add assignments to those students yourself. All students involved in the CompassLearning Odyssey program, whether assessed or not, should have assignments created for them by their teacher. The tutorial below will walk you through the simple process for doing just that.

As you are building your assignments, you can preview the student activities 3 different ways to decide if they are appropriate.
 * 1) If you click on the highlighted activity name, it will open a window so you can work through the activity just as your students will. (Most activities take approximately 8 min.)
 * 2) If there is a quiz that coincides with the learning activity, you can click the quiz to see quickly how the activity addresses the learning.
 * 3) If there are the resources available, you can click on those printable resource pages to quickly preview the content and instruction level for the associated activity.

** Update -** When building assignments, DO NOT include any activity that has the words **Exploratory** or **Handbook** in the name. Additionally, you should avoid building activities with a letter B in its number. They are teacher tools, not activities for independent practice. They do not generate scores. Students can click through and receive credit without reading or learning anything.

media type="file" key="CL-BuildingAssignments-Teacher.swf" width="840" height="840"

The district level assessments are built around some key standards for that student at their instructional level. A learning path, also created by the academic coaches, is automatically assigned to the assessed students at the end of their test.

=Decision Points - Making Smarter Assignments= While creating assignment, you can add decision points to help monitor the students' progress. You set the level of mastery, which in our district is 80% for proficiency. You pick what happens when they don't meet that level of proficiency. A decision point can make a student repeat a set of activities within an assignment to help them learn what they missed. If they still don't meet the 80% mastery level, the decision point can lock them out using a Progress Alert. This keeps them from clicking their way through assignments while not learning to the proficient level. It will cause you to have to unlock them, but it will alert you that they are not where they need to be academically. media type="file" key="CL-DecisionPointInAssignments.swf" width="840" height="840"

=Build Class Assessments=

media type="custom" key="4627708"

=Remove an Assignment or Assessment from a Student or Class= Once you assign an assignment or an assessment to a student, it is not set in stone. You have the ability to unassign the work from that student or group.

media type="file" key="CL-RemovingAssignments.swf" width="840" height="840"

=Checking Status of Assignments and Assessments= The students will most likely work on their assignments at stations in the classroom. Managing their progress might seem like another daunting task, but the tools in the CompassLearning Odyssey program make it very simple.


 * You MUST turn off pop-up blockers to view the progress of students. ** In Safari, click the Safari menu at the top of the page, then click "Block Pop-Up Windows" to uncheck it. In Internet Explorer, click on the Tools menu, then Pop-Up Blocker and finally click "Turn Off Pop-Up Blocker".

media type="file" key="CL-AssignmentStatus.swf" width="810" height="810"

=View and Print Reports=

Progress Reports for Teacher Prescribed Assignments
This report shows a detailed view of score for every activity, quiz, and test for the selected period.
 * Student Progress Report**

To streamline this report, click in the "No" box beside "Show Summaries".

Since the standards are viewable in this report, you must use the State Correlation report from above. SImply open the PDF in Adobe. Use the search tool in Adobe Acrobat Reader to type the 5 or 6 digit activity code. It will find where the number shows and should let you find the standard associated with the activity.

Assessment Reports
This report is the checks and X's report. It is best for viewing the passes and fails for each student by standard. media type="custom" key="4618746"
 * Test Summary by Objective** [[file:(Admin) v14 Test Summary by Objective Report.pdf]]

This report is best for viewing the percent gain from pretest to the posttest. media type="custom" key="4618764"
 * Objective-Based Test Results** [[image:http://www.wikispaces.com/i/mime/32/application/pdf.png width="32" height="32" link="http://empowerstudents.wikispaces.com/file/view/%28Admin%29+v14+Obj-based+Test+Results+Report.pdf"]] [|(Admin) v14 Obj-based Test Results Report.pdf]

This report is best for monitoring students progress in a district assigned learning path. media type="custom" key="4618778"
 * Learning Path Status Report** [[image:http://www.wikispaces.com/i/mime/32/application/pdf.png width="32" height="32" link="http://empowerstudents.wikispaces.com/file/view/%28Admin%29+v14+Learning+Path+Status+Report.pdf"]] [|(Admin) v14 Learning Path Status Report.pdf]

Compass State Correlation Reports by Grade level Each report has the activity numbers as they relate to TN Math standards.

Kindergarten - 1st Grade - 2nd Grade - 3rd Grade - 4th Grade - 5th Grade -

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=Download/Print PDF Listing CompassLearning Activities to Help You Plan from Home= One of the most popular questions seems to be "When can I access CompassLearning Odyssey from home so I can have time to plan without staying at school?" At a time when we have unprecedented access to online tools to manage every facet of our teaching career from gradebook to sick days, it seems to be a bit of a "throw-back" to have to stay at school simply to do an adequate job in planning and building assignments that differentiate for our students. We have become well at ease with planning from home, which is a good thing. Unfortunately, we do not have access to the CompassLearning server from home in our county. The primary reason being that for us to have home access to the server to plan would also grant students home access to work in CompassLearning. That doesn't sound like a bad thing except that 09-10 is our first year with CompassLearning as a tool and we are still learning to use it. When we are at school, we can guarantee that a student is working in their own account. After we leave school, there is no such guarantee that a student's work is 100% their own. For now, access to the CompassLearning server is limited to the computers within our schools. That being said, there is an alternative to complete home access. Within the teacher account menus lie PDF files that can be downloaded and printed showing the list of every math activity along with its corresponding activity number. The files are called the Math Scope and Sequence.


 * To Find the Math Scope & Sequence PDF File for You Require**
 * 1) Login to http://compass.cmcss.net with your MUNIS number and password.
 * 2) Click on the CONTENT tab.
 * 3) Click on RESOURCES in the drop-down menu.
 * 4) In the center of the next window, click on MATH SCOPE & SEQUENCE. A new window will open showing the grade levels for K through 8.
 * 5) Click on grade level you wish to download/print. (//You might want to download the grade level above and the grade level below as well to have access to the activities you might wish to use with struggling students and with high-achieving students.)//

The Math Scope & Sequence PDFs contain lists of every activity within CompassLearning Math. They are organized in a table by NCTM's Standards and then further by subcategories. Each activity has a brief description that allows us to identify ones we might wish to have the students use. Listed beside each activity and description is an activity number. You can use these activity numbers to significantly speed up the selection process when creating a formal assignment for your students. You can also write the numbers on a card or sticky note to hand to the student before they go to their math center for CompassLearning. There is an activity number box on every grade level's student launch screen to type in the number of a specific activity. All work that the students do in their CompassLearning activities, whether formally assigned or simply chosen by activity number, is recorded with that student. Both students and teachers can view or print a report on the students' progress in any activities they have done.
 * How to Use the Math Scope & Sequence to Plan**

=Teacher Tools= These tools are not activities for the students to use independently during center time, but are rather supportive tools that coordinate with those activities to teach the content as virtual manipulatives and interactive presentations.

Math Toolkit - Virtual Manipulatives
There are math toolkits available in both the students' and teachers' login screens. Each is viewed slightly differently, but contains exactly the same virtual manipulatives. The students can view their own math toolkit by clicking the icon on the left of their launch screen with a picture of a screwdriver and wrench and then the MATH button in the window that opens. The teachers can view their math toolkit by clicking on CONTENT and RESOURCES, then looking in the center section of the window for the words "Math Toolkit". The student's math toolkit has pictures that identify each different manipulative. The teacher's math toolkit lists the manipulatives by name. Every tool in the math toolkit, except Algebra Tiles, has a tutorial and can be printed.

The following virtual manipulatives are available in the Math Toolkits.
 * Algebra Tiles
 * Base Ten Blocks
 * Calculator
 * Coordinate Graphing Tool
 * Counters
 * Data Representation Tool
 * Fraction Tool
 * Geoboard Tool
 * Number Line Tool
 * Probability Tool
 * Solid Shaper Tool
 * Transformation Tool

With many classrooms in our district using the model classroom equipment, it would be very easy to use the Math Toolkit manipulatives to lead the students while they use real manipulatives. They would be great for modeling how to use them so students can use them while they work their activities during their math center time.

Math Flashcards in CompassLearning
More tools that are available, yet not obvious, are virtual math flashcards that come with their own timer. The math flash cards can be as simple as ones for basic addition and subtraction facts. They can be as challenging as dividing a number by a 3-digit number or multiplying two numbers containing decimals. They are not as easy to find as the Math Toolkit. Each does have an activity number. They can be found using the teacher login.


 * To Find the Math Flashcards**...
 * 1) Login to http://compass.cmcss.net using your MUNIS number and password.
 * 2) Click on the CONTENT tab.
 * 3) Click on CURRICULUM INDEX from the drop-down menu.
 * 4) Select Math from the SUBJECT menu. (You may also click to select a grade level, but it is optional.)
 * 5) In the Search box on the right, type "flash cards".
 * 6) Click the Arrow button to search.

A list of activities that function as digital flash cards will appear on the screen. If you have the model classroom equipment, you could use it during transitions, as reviews, or for warm-ups. The more students correctly practice their math facts, the more they become second nature and the less they have to struggle to know them.

Math Exploratories
Math exploratories are additional great teaching tools that is available within CompassLearning Math. You can find a list below.

List of available Math Exploraties in PDF Download PDF by clicking here. View the document now below. media type="custom" key="5195057"

Math Handbook
Download PDF by clicking here. View the document now below. media type="custom" key="5271007"

Boxer Math Activities
Download PDF by clicking here. View the document now below. media type="custom" key="5196053"

=Using Compass Materials at Centers Without a Computer= There are a wealth of resources in CompassLearning Odyssey for Math instruction. There are questions to build into assessments. There are independent activities to build into targeted assignments and learning path activities for students to use at their independent level at computer centers. There are even teacher tools to use to teach students during direct instruction from their teacher, such as the Math Toolkit manipulatives, Exploratory manipulatives, Handbooks interactive presentations, and Boxer Math activities. The newest finds in the CompassLearning arsenal are the sets of materials that can be printed and laminated to be turned into ready-made centers that require __no computer at all.__ Yes, it is true there are printable activities that you can use for centers including workmats, game pieces, paper manipulatives and lesson plans.

The printable resources are found in different places in different grade levels. All starte by going the Assignments tab, then Assignment Builder. Once in Assignment Builder, click to change the subject to Math. Click on a grade level to search. (Remember the activities are arranged by national standards. In Tennessee, our math standards may be found in your grade level, a grade level above, or a grade level below.)


 * **Grade Level** || **Printable Activities found in Assignment Builder for Math in ...** ||
 * Kindergarten || # Click on a blue folder on the left, such as "Under the Sea".
 * 1) Click on a blue and gold folder on the left, such as "Adventures Under the Sea".
 * 2) Look in the main section to the right for a folder with a red apple icon named "Teacher Materials".[[image:Compass-KTeacherMaterials.jpg]]
 * 3) Click the "L" button to the right. A PDF with many pages of lessons, activities, and printable manipulatives will download. ||
 * 1st Grade || # Click on a blue folder on the left, such as "Addition and Subtraction".
 * 1) Click on a blue and gold folder on the left, such as "Subtraction".
 * 2) Click the 'S' button by activities that DO NOT say "Exploratory", "Handbook", or have a "B" in the number.
 * 3) When the PDF opens, scroll down past the worksheets to the activities and manipulatives in the portion labeled "Connections" ||
 * 2nd Grade || # Click on a blue folder on the left, such as "Addition and Subtraction".
 * 1) Click on a blue and gold folder on the left, such as "Subtraction".
 * 2) Click the 'S' button by activities that DO NOT say "Exploratory", "Handbook", or have a "B" in the number.
 * 3) When the PDF opens, scroll down past the worksheets to the activities and manipulatives in the portion labeled "Connections" ||
 * 3rd Grade || # Click on a blue folder on the left, such as "Addition and Subtraction".
 * 1) Click on a blue and gold folder on the left, such as "Subtraction".
 * 2) Click the 'S' button by activities that DO NOT say "Exploratory", "Handbook", or have a "B" in the number.
 * 3) When the PDF opens, scroll down past the worksheets to the activities and manipulatives in the portion labeled "Connections". ||
 * 4th Grade || # Click on a blue folder on the left, such as "Multiplication and Division".
 * 1) Click on a blue and gold folder on the left, such as "Multiply Large Numbers".
 * 2) Click the 'S' button by activities that DO NOT say "Exploratory", "Handbook", or have a "B" in the number.
 * 3) When the PDF opens, scroll down past the worksheets to the activities and manipulatives in the portion labeled "Connections". ||
 * 5th Grade || # Click on the blue folder on the left called "Practice". //This is the only blue folder with printable activities.//
 * 1) Click on a blue and gold folder on the left, such as "Add and Subtract Fractions".
 * 2) Click the 'S' button by activities that DO NOT say "Exploratory", "Handbook", or have a "B" in the number.
 * 3) When the PDF opens, scroll down past the worksheets to the activities and manipulatives in the portion labeled "Connections". ||
 * < 6th Grade ||< # Click on the blue folder on the left called "Practice". //This is the only blue folder with printable activities.//
 * 1) Click on a blue and gold folder on the left, such as "Divisibility Rules".
 * 2) Click the 'S' button by activities that DO NOT say "Exploratory", "Handbook", or have a "B" in the number.
 * 3) When the PDF opens, scroll down past the worksheets to the activities and manipulatives in the portion labeled "Connections". ||