Getting Started for Teachers in 3 Steps

1. Add the Seesaw Official app in Webdesk (it may already be on your Webdesk!)
2. Sign into your Seesaw account (Select "Sign in with Google")
3. Create a class and add students (classes may already be rostered for you)

Step 1: Add the Seesaw app in Webdesk

Open the "Seesaw Official" app in Webdesk. If you don't see it, just add it from the PISD Staff library. (Instructions below)

How do I add the app?

• Click on the plus sign to "Open the App Library".

• In PISD Staff tab section, enter "Seesaw Official" in the search bar
• Select "Seesaw Official"

• Click "Add"

Step 2: Create and Sign in to your Seesaw account

Once you have opened the Seesaw app, click on "I'm a Teacher".

Please select the handy option to Sign In with Google. Accept the prompts to connect with your Google account. You DO NOT have to manually enter your email and password. 

Step 3: Create a Class & Add Students

Create a Class. 

• For Classroom Teachers, your class will auto-populate in Seesaw. 
• To create a new Seesaw Class from Google Classroom, click on your profile in the top left corner. Select "Create New Class."

• Click "Import from Google Classroom." 

• Select the Google Classroom to import from options and click "Import Classes."
• Importing from Google Classroom will create a corresponding class in Seesaw, and add all students to the Google Classroom course.

Need help?

Please reach out to the Digital Learning Team for support. 

As a "Seesaw for Schools" member, PISD teachers can add up to 20 co-teachers. 

Watch this 5-minute video to learn how to:

• Add co-teachers to your class
• Support your workflow with folders
• Share and modify activities
• Manage classes and settings

Check for Understanding Resources

• Check out this One-Pager for K-2 and 3-5 ready-made activities to use across content areas.

Use Seesaw to Check for Understanding

Good news! You have continuous access throughout the summer.

🌞Get Ready for Summer

• If you plan to assign summer activities in Seesaw, we recommend adjusting some settings.  Click on the wrench (settings) and turn OFF the following:
  • Students can see others' work
  • New items require approval

📚Create Collections 

• Organize & categorize, and evaluate activities in your Library
• To create a Collection: In My Library, scroll down to My Collections  and click Create
• To organize activities, click on Activities Not In Collection, and click Organize to add to the Collection.

👪Family Download Student Journal  

• Connect with families - +Families, turn on family access, enter emails
• Families get email with link to download journal archive as soon as class is archived

📋Archive Class

• Classes will be archived at the end of the year.
• To manually archive:  Wrench Icon > Archive (Be sure student email/ID is linked)!
• *** Do not delete anything, ONLY archive!!
• *** Seesaw Admin will merge accounts for portfolios. 

💡Archive Seesaw Activities (opt)

• To archive Activities:  go to Activities > 3 dots > Archive Activity 
• All activities in your library will still be available for future classes.
• Helpful for decluttering class feed or for resetting class for the new semester.  All student responses remain in the Archived folder. 

~ Seesaw support & 5 End of Year Seesaw Must Do's for Teachers 

For more clean-up tips on Google Classroom and Google Drive, visit our End-of-Year Clean-Up Tips page: pisd.edu/eoy

Find Seesaw lessons that align with TEKS and Envision lessons.  Click on this link to view document.

All Seesaw lessons from the Seesaw Library are supplemental and should be used to support core instruction and reinforce concepts that have been introduced to students. Each Seesaw lesson listed addresses the standard and helps build towards mastery.

Seesaw supports adding photos, videos, audio files, drawings, notes, PDFs, and links into Seesaw journals. 

You can also add work created using Google apps like Docs, Slides or Sheets directly into Seesaw portfolios! Seesaw will automatically convert files into PDFs for easy viewing.  Learn more about this integration here.

Supported File Types 

• .jpg,      .jpeg      .png     
• .mov     .mp4      .mp3     .m4a
• .pdf       .ogv       .wav      .webm

Length / File Size Limits

• Audio Annotation on Item: 5 min
• Audio Comment: 2 min
• Video Length: 5 min 
• Video, Audio, or PDF File Size: 250 MB. File larger than 250 MB? View our tips to resize files. 
• Photo File Size: 1 MB
• Photos and videos are automatically resized by Seesaw to 2000 px in the longest dimension. 

Seesaw Basics

Learn the Basics of Seesaw in just 5 steps: https://web.seesaw.me/training 

Getting Started Guides (Prek-2, 3rd-5th) have everything you need to introduce Seesaw to your students, including the Seesaw Student Challenge, task cards, and badges and certificates! 

Seesaw YouTube Channel

Videos on getting started, mini-trainings, Pd in your PJs, etc.: https://www.youtube.com/c/SeesawEdu/featured 

Become a Seesaw Pioneer/Ambassador/Certified Educator!

Pioneer: This one-hour course helps you feel comfortable with getting the most out of Seesaw in your classroom: https://web.seesaw.me/pioneer-program Become a Pioneer to qualify for the next two certs below.
Ambassador: After you’ve journeyed as a Seesaw Pioneer for 6 months, you can qualify to become a Seesaw Ambassador.
Certified Educator: Seesaw Certified Educators have maintained their Seesaw Ambassador status for 3 years and are personally invited into the community to share, lead, and inspire educators globally.

Complete the PISD Canvas Course for Credit

Course: #13730 Introduction to SeeSaw - Self-Paced Course
Description: This self-paced course is designed to get teachers up and running using SeeSaw (premium version) so that you can create engaging learning experiences that make thinking and learning visible.
Credit: 1 hour
Register via this PowerSchool Link

Who? The premium version of Seesaw is available for Grades PreK-5. 

Contact the Digital Learning Team

Wherever you are on your Seesaw learning journey, you can contact the Digital Learning Team to set up a training session for yourself or your team. We're ready to support!

Reflect in Seesaw

Adding the Reflect Seesaw extension to the Chrome browser will allow teachers and students to grab a screen clipping of any website (article, Google Slide, etc.) and it will quickly be placed into Seesaw where you can edit and assign/submit. Both teachers and students can add and use this extension. 

Click this link to install it and learn more. 

Reflect in 2 Clicks with the Seesaw Chrome Extension

**NEW!  Now you can schedule announcements!  More information here.Seesaw Help Center:  Getting Started with Messages for Teachers.

Seesaw Messages Blog post

Clicksheets for using Seesaw with Google Classroom

Sharing Seesaw activity in Google Classroom

Importing Google Classroom into Seesaw

Uploading Google Docs & Slides into Seesaw

We Already Have Google Classroom. Why Do We Need Seesaw?

This article by Tim Cavey explains so masterfully the merits of integrating Google Classroom and Seesaw. 

• For instructions to share with students and families, see the Students & Families page on the left.
• Invite families to use the Faimily Seesaw App
• Teachers invite families. Click here to learn how.
• Translation resources
• Welcome families with a video! Click to download these instructions.
  
  

Technical Support

Check the Seesaw Help Center for a solution: https://help.seesaw.me/hc/en-us

Support with Usage and Implementation

Contact the Digital Learning Team pisd.edu/dlt. We can meet virtually to provide support!

Teachers with free Seesaw accounts

Teachers with free accounts in Seesaw will be transferred into the school dashboard, which upgrades their existing accounts to the Seesaw for Schools licensed account. Existing classes and students will remain the same, and the  Activity Library will not be affected. An automated email will provide notification of the change. No action is required.

*If teachers did not use their PISD credentials to create their Seesaw account, then we recommend updating the associated email address to the PISD email so that Seesaw can locate and transfer them into their school account. Teachers can use these instructions to update the email address on their account! (Links to an external site.)

Teachers already connected to Seesaw for Schools

If a teacher belongs to a school that has already purchased Seesaw for Schools previously, then they will experience no change, and no action is required on their part. 

Teachers that have purchased Seesaw Plus on their own

Teachers who have purchased Seesaw Plus on their own will no longer be charged for the subscription. However, they will not receive a refund for their purchase. They will receive an automated email that they have been added to a school, but no further action will be required on their part.