How to Create Classes

All teachers can create Newsela classes. The way you log in determines how you can create or sync your classes.

To get started, select the option that your school uses, that corresponds to the way you logged in.

Previous article: Ways to Create a Teacher Account

Next article: Ways to Add Students to Classes

Related content: Setting a class to elementary

  1. Go to Class Directory by clicking your initials in the upper right-hand corner, clicking on Settings from the dropdown, and selecting the Class Directory

  2. Click on the +New Class blue button on the right hand corner

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  3. Enter the class name, grade, and subject, then click Create Class

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Syncing Google Classrooms in Newsela

If you have classes and students set up in Google Classroom, you can import those classes and rosters into Newsela.

  • Go to your Class Directory by clicking your name in the upper right-hand corner and selecting the Classes tab from the settings menu.  

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  • Click Sync with Google.

  • Select the classes you want to import, choose a grade level and subject for each, then click Import Selected Classes.

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  • You may need to wait for the sync to complete.

  • To confirm that your students are in your class, go to your Student Directory Under each class name, you’ll see a list of students in the class. The student roster in Newsela should correspond to the student roster in Google Classroom

Imported students will see your class on their settings page.   

You can learn more about syncing your Google Classroom in this video.

Syncing Clever Classes in Newsela

To sync your Clever class in Newsela,

  1. Log in with Clever.

  2. Navigate to your Class Directory by clicking your initials in the upper right-hand corner, selecting Settings, and clicking the Classes tab from the settings menu.  

  3. Click Sync with Clever.

  4. Select the classes you want to import, choose a grade level and subject for each, then click Import Selected Classes.

  5. You may need to wait for the sync to complete.

  6. To confirm that your students are in your class, go to your Student Directory Under each class name, you’ll see a list of students in the class. The student roster in Newsela should correspond to the student roster in Google Classroom

Imported students will see your class on their settings page.   

Clever FAQs

Q: Why can’t I import my class?

A: Newsela only imports current classes from Clever. If your school year starts on September 1, for example, you will be able to import classes starting September 1, but not earlier. 

If your semester has started, and you can’t import a class, you may have to restore an archived class following these steps:

  • Click on the Class Directory, view classes listed as archived

  • Select Restore to reactivate the classes you need

  • Navigate back to the Class Directory tab.

  • Sync your classes again.

Syncing Canvas Classes in Newsela

  1. In Newsela, go to your Classes page by clicking your initials in the upper right-hand corner and selecting the Classes tab from the settings menu.  

  2. From the Classes tab, click Sync with Canvas to choose the classes to import from Canvas into Newsela.

  3. From the pop up menu, choose the courses you would like to sync with Newsela and click ‘Sync Selected Classes’.

    1. Do not sync Canvas PD courses with Newsela. Syncing courses in which teachers are enrolled as students will restrict will restrict access to features and content.

  4. After the initial sync, class rosters will sync automatically when you log in through Canvas.


Rostering your Students

Your student roster will import when you sync your classes. To view your students in your Canvas classes in Newsela, follow these steps:

  • In Newsela, go to your Students page by clicking your name in the upper right-hand corner and select the Students tab from the settings menu.  

  • You’ll see a list of your students. This import might take a few minutes the first time you sync.

Note: If you don’t see your Canvas classes on your Newsela classes page, your district Canvas administrator may need to complete the setup by following these steps.   

Teachers and students who sign in with Microsoft create manual classes with a Class Code in Newsela. To create a class,

  1. Go to Classes by clicking your initials in the upper right-hand corner, clicking on Settings from the dropdown, and selecting the Classes tab.  

  2. Click Create a Class.

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  3. Enter the class name, grade, and subject, then click Create Class.

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Importing Classes and Rosters from Classlink

  • In Newsela, go to your Classes page by clicking your name in the upper right-hand corner and selecting the Classes tab from the settings menu.  

  • Click Sync with Classlink.

  • Select the classes you want to import, choose a grade level and subject for each, then click Import Selected Classes.

  • You may need to wait for the sync to complete.

  • To confirm that your students are in your class, go to your Students page. Under each class name, you’ll see a list of students in the class. The student roster in Newsela should correspond to the student roster in Classlink

Imported students will see your class on their settings page.   

Classlink FAQs

Q: Why can’t I import my class?

A: Newsela only imports current classes from Classlink. If your school year starts on September 1, for example, you will be able to import classes starting September 1, but not earlier. 

If your semester has started, and you can’t import a class, you may have to restore an archived class following these steps:

  • Click on the Archived Classes tab

  • Select Restore to reactivate the classes you need

  • Navigate back to the Classes tab.

  • Sync your classes again.

Syncing Your Classes

To sync your Schoology classes in Newsela,

  1. Sign in to Newsela through the Schoology course you would like to sync.

  2. In Newsela, go to your Classes page by clicking your initials in the upper right-hand corner, and selecting the Classes tab from the Settings menu.

  3. Click "Sync with Schoology."

  4. The Schoology course that you used to access Newsela will be synced from Schoology.

  5. Students will appear in your students tab only once they have signed in through your classroom in Schoology.

Rostering Your Students

Students will appear in your class on Newsela once they log in. Students should follow these steps to access your classroom in Newsela: 

  1. Log into Schoology.

  2. In Schoology, open your class. At the bottom of the left hand sidebar, click on Newsela. 

  3. Newsela will open in a new window.

  4. Once you have clicked on the Newsela icon in Schoology, you will be added to your classroom roster in Newsela.

To view the students in your Schoology classes in Newsela, follow these steps:

  1. From your Newsela homepage, go to your Students page by clicking your name in the upper right-hand corner and selecting the Students tab from the settings menu.  

  2. You’ll see a list of your students.

  3. Students who are missing from the roster will be added once they log into Newsela from your Schoology course.

Teachers at all schools can create Newsela classes from their Classes page. If your priority is getting started right now, you can choose that option.

However, if your school might be using one of the integration options above, we suggest attempting to sign in with that method or asking your administrator or tech support staff. You can also contact us and we’ll let you know if we have a record of a preferred integration option for your school.