Google Classroom Didn’t Come With a Manual—So I Made One

When my school announced we’d be using Google Classroom, the email made it sound like a simple, intuitive upgrade. You know, “just a digital platform to post assignments and announcements.” Lies. That platform has more buttons than a NASA control panel.

And unlike my curriculum guides, this thing didn’t come with a binder, a walkthrough, or even a laminated cheat sheet. I had to figure it out on my own—one panicked click at a time.

So I did what any teacher with two decades of classroom grit and a questionable Wi-Fi signal would do: I made my own manual. Here’s what I wish someone had told me before I tried to use Google Classroom in real life.

Getting Started (aka “Don’t Panic”)

1. The Stream Is a Hot Mess.
It looks like a Facebook wall for your class, but if you actually want students to find anything, use the “Classwork” tab. The Stream is where assignments go to die.

2. Topics Are Your Best Friend.
Sort everything by topic—weeks, units, subjects. Otherwise, by October, your students will claim they “never saw” the assignment that’s been posted for 14 days.

3. Schedule All the Things.
You can schedule posts ahead of time. This is the closest thing to magic Google Classroom offers. Use it to maintain the illusion that you are always prepared.

4. Create a Welcome Post & Pin It.
Set the tone. Include norms, tech tips, and expectations. Pin it to the top of the Stream (temporarily, since it’ll eventually be buried in the digital graveyard).

5. Practice Logging In With Students.
Seriously. Take a whole session. The number of kids who “don’t see it” because they’re in the wrong class or haven’t refreshed the page? Shocking.

The Features No One Explains

6. Students Can ‘Turn In’ a Blank Doc
And they will. It looks like they did something, but no—it's a blank Google Doc. You have to open every. single. file. to check. Deep breaths.

7. Private Comments Are the New Conference
Use them to give feedback or clarify misunderstandings one-on-one. Students are surprisingly responsive here—probably because it feels like texting.

8. Rubrics Can Be Built Right In
No more lost rubrics or grading on the fly. Build them into the assignment, and you can score as you go. It's not perfect, but it helps.

9. “Make a Copy for Each Student” Is a Must
If you don’t click this when assigning a Doc or Slide deck, you’re about to witness absolute chaos. Every kid editing the same file? Good luck.

10. Comments Bank = Your Best Friend
Save your most common feedback lines ("Please complete all sections" or "Double-check your math") to reuse in seconds.

11. Add Materials, Not Just Assignments
You can post anchor charts, notes, videos, and helpful links in the Classwork tab without making them due. It’s your digital bulletin board.

Clean-Up Crew: Staying Organized

12. Archive Classes
When the year is over, archive old classes. If you don’t, next year’s students might accidentally find themselves in your 2019 course wondering why they have a book report due on Because of Winn-Dixie.

13. Reuse Posts Without Reinventing the Wheel
One of the best (and least-known) features: “Reuse post.” You can literally recycle your best stuff from previous years. Yes, please.

14. Don’t Forget the Settings Tab
Turn off student posting on the Stream unless you enjoy chaos. There’s also a handy option to mute kids who use private comments like a group chat.

15. Use Emojis in Topics
Yep, I said it. Add 📚 or 🎯 to draw the eye to important sections and help younger students navigate.

16. Color Code & Organize the Classwork Tab
Keep things consistent. If Week 1 is green, Week 2 is blue, students get the visual rhythm. Your sanity will thank you.

17. Download Grades Frequently
Do not wait until the quarter ends to export your Google Classroom grades. It will crash. You will cry.

Final Thoughts

Google Classroom isn’t intuitive—it’s a system you have to train yourself (and your students) to use well. But once you get past the chaos and build your own workflow, it’s actually a powerful tool. You just have to ignore the fact that it looks like it was designed by someone who has never taught a day in their life.

So no, there wasn’t a manual. But this is mine. And if you’re a teacher still clicking through tabs wondering if you posted that math quiz to the wrong class... you’re not alone.