Using the FOCUS Teacher’s Desk © Copyright 2007 Florida Department of Education. All rights reserved.

Topics Covered in this Presentation  Accessing the FOCUS website  Importing and Creating Classes  Adding Students to the Class Roll  Managing Assessments  Using the Calendar  Using the Tools and Resources

Accessing the FOCUS Website

FOCUS home page Use your FCAT Explorer sign-in name and password to sign in to the FOCUS Teacher’s Desk. To find out your FCAT Explorer sign-in name and password, see your school’s FCAT Explorer administrator or call the Technical Support Team toll-free at

Accessing the FOCUS Website FOCUS Teacher’s Desk (welcome screen view) First-time visitors to the FOCUS Teacher’s Desk will see the welcome screen shown on the right. At the welcome screen, teachers can download the FOCUS Teacher’s Manual, import a class, or create a class.

Accessing the FOCUS Website FOCUS Teacher’s Desk (At-a-Glance screen) At the FOCUS Teacher’s Desk, teachers can Set up an instructional calendar. Administer five-item mini-assessments for reading, math, and science. Review student performance with FOCUS reports.

Accessing the FOCUS Website Teacher’s Desk tabs The Teacher’s Desk is organized into six tabbed pages: At-a-Glance Class Options Assessments Reports Calendar Tools/Resources

Importing and Creating Classes

Class Options tab If you’re currently using the FCAT Explorer, you may import an existing class into FOCUS. If you’re not currently using the FCAT Explorer, you'll want to create a new class. Note that in order to use FOCUS, you'll need to import or create classes. Click the tab labeled Class Options (or from the welcome screen click Import) to begin.

Importing Classes from the FCAT Explorer Class Options buttons To import an existing class from the FCAT Explorer, click Import Class at the Class Options screen (or from the welcome screen). The Import a Class from FCAT Explorer screen will then display in your browser.

Importing Classes from the FCAT Explorer Import a Class from FCAT Explorer screen First, open the drop- down box labeled Select a class from your FCAT Explorer Teacher’s Desk. Your FCAT Explorer classes are displayed in this list. Select the class you wish to import.

Importing Classes from the FCAT Explorer Import a Class from FCAT Explorer screen Second, open the drop-down box labeled Select a program for this class. You can select 3 rd – 10 th grade math or reading, or 5 th grade science.

Importing Classes from the FCAT Explorer Import a Class from FCAT Explorer screen In the third field, enter a name for the class. Then click Import. Any appropriate grade level students in your FCAT Explorer class have now been imported into a new FOCUS class.

Creating Classes Class Options buttons To create a new FOCUS class, click Create Class at the Class Options screen (or from the welcome screen). The Create New Class screen will then display in your browser.

Creating Classes Create a New Class screen First, open the drop-down box labeled Select a Program for this Class. You can select 3rd – 10th grade math or reading, or 5 th grade science.

Creating Classes Create a New Class screen Second, enter a name for the class, then click Save. Your class has now been added to your Teacher’s Desk. However, no students are currently enrolled in your class. Your next step will be to add students to the class.

Adding Students to the Class Roll

Class Options buttons Now that you’ve imported or created a class, your next step is to add students to this class. You may either add students who are currently enrolled in your school or create new student accounts. Click Add Students at the Class Options screen. The Add/Remove Students screen will then display in your browser.

Adding Students to the Class Roll Add/Remove Students screen To add students to your class who are already enrolled in your school, use the alpha-numeric student directory search. Click a letter to see a list of all students enrolled in your school whose last name begins with the selected letter.

Adding Students to the Class Roll Add/Remove Students screen To add a student to your class, check the box next to the student name and click Save. The student has now been added to your class.

Adding Students to the Class Roll Add/Remove Students screen To add students to your class who are not enrolled in your school, you will need to create new student accounts. To create a new student account, click the click here to add new students link.

Adding Students to the Class Roll Enroll Students screen At the Enroll Students screen, enter the new student information in the appropriate fields and click Save. The new students will be added to your school roll as well as your class roll. Now that you've added students to your class roll, you can begin managing your reading, math, and science assessments.

Managing Assessments

Assessment Management screen To begin managing your assessments, click the Assessments tab. The Assessment Management screen shown on the right will then display in your browser.

Managing Assessments Assessment Management screen To open assessments for your class, select the strand on which you want the class assessed. Open the drop-down box to select the strand.

Managing Assessments Assessment Management screen The assessments related to your selected strand will display in the Assessment Name column. You can view the status of each assessment by looking in the columns labeled First Assessment and Second Assessment..

Managing Assessments First assessments are automatically set to Closed, meaning they do not appear on your students’ home page. To change an assessment’s status from Closed to Open so that your students can take the assessment, click the assessment status button (outlined in red below). The assessment will now display as Open.

Managing Assessments To change an assessment’s status back to Closed, click the assessment status button. This will remove the assessment from your students’ home page, preventing them from accessing the assessment. Remember that assessments should be opened only at that point in time when you’re ready to check your students’ mastery. The following slide displays FOCUS student assessment content.

FOCUS Student Assessments FOCUS student assessment menu Sample student assessment science item

Running Reports

Reports tab You can create three different kinds of reports on your students’ progress at the Teacher’s Desk: 1.Student Reports 2.Class Reports 3.Class Summary Reports To begin running reports, click the Reports tab.

Student Reports Reports screen (Student report selected) The student report allows you to see how an individual student has done on the assessments. To run a student report, choose a student from the drop-down box (outlined in red). Then click Get Data.

Class Reports Reports screen (Class report selected) The class report allows you to see how an entire class has done on a given benchmark or focus. To run a class report, choose a benchmark or focus from the drop- down box (outlined in red). Then click Get Data.

Class Summary Reports Reports screen (Class summary report selected) The class summary report allows you to see all the work your selected class has completed. To run a class summary report, make sure the class you want to create a report for is selected. Then click Get Data.

Using the Calendar

Calendar tab The Calendar screen of the Teacher’s Desk provides a tool for planning instructional units and scheduling assessments. Events that you schedule using the calendar will appear in your Upcoming Events list on your At-a-Glance page. To open the Calendar screen, click the tab labeled Calendar.

Using the Calendar Calendar screen (Add New Event button selected) To enter events on your calendar, click a month and a day. Then click Add New Event below the calendar to enter the event information.

Using the Calendar Add New Event pop-up window After clicking Add New Event, you will see a pop-up window prompting you to enter a name, start and end dates, and notes for your event. After entering all the information on your new event, click Create and the event will be added to your calendar.

Using the Calendar Calendar screen (Edit and Delete buttons selected) To delete or edit events on your calendar, click the date of the event you wish to change. A list of events will appear to the right of the calendar. You can then click Edit to make changes to the event or Delete to remove the event from your calendar.

Using the Tools and Resources

Tools/Resources tab The Tools/Resources screen of the Teacher’s Desk offers helpful links for teachers and a content review feature. To open the Tools/Resources screen, click the Tools/Resources tab.

Using the Tools and Resources Tools/Resources screen The Content Review feature on the Tools/Resources screen allows you to see the questions on any of the FOCUS assessments. To review assessment materials, choose the benchmark or focus you want to see from the drop-down list (outlined in red).

Using the Tools and Resources Tools/Resources screen If you would like the correct answer indicated, check the box labeled Show correct answers next to the drop-down box. Click Review Content and the assessment questions and/or reading passages will appear.

For more information about FOCUS, visit focus.florida-achieves.com or call the Technical Support Team toll-free at