How do I add a co-teacher to my class or join a class as a co-teacher?

Overview

CommonLit classes can have a primary teacher as well as secondary teachers. While there can only be one primary teacher, there is currently no limit to how many co-teachers can be added to a class in CommonLit. Please note, Clever only allows 10 co-teachers per section, and Google Classroom only allows 20 co-teachers per class.

How you add a co-teacher or join a class as a co-teacher depends on how the class was created. Please select your class type for further instructions:

1. Manually-created (class code)
2. Google Classroom
3. Clever
4. ClassLink (available for PRO and PRO Plus customers)
5. Canvas (available for PRO and PRO Plus customers)

Manually-created (class code)

Co-teachers can join a manually-created class using the unique class code for a class. Please note, in order for a co-teacher to be added to a class in CommonLit, the class needs to be listed in an official school, and the co-teacher must have joined that official school on their account.

Adding a co-teacher requires actions by both the primary teacher (or owner) of the class and the co-teacher who is trying to join. Follow the steps below to add a co-teacher to your class.

Step 1 (Primary teacher):

As the primary teacher, start by making sure your class is in an official school by going to your My Account page. If the school on your account is an official school, it will say "Public school (USA)" or "Private school (USA)." If it says "Other school (USA)," you're in an unofficial school, and you will need to move your class(es) into an official school by following the directions in our FAQ about updating your account. If you need further assistance with this process, please email help@commonlit.org.

Once you have confirmed the class is in an official school, you will need to share the class code with the co-teacher. To do so:

1. Click My Classes (the teacher) in the menu on the left
2. Choose Manage Classes
3. Find the class, and click Options > Manage Co-Teachers
4. The Manage Teachers window will open. From there, you can:
   1. Send an email to your co-teacher with instructions on how to join by entering your co-teacher's email in the Invite Co-Teacher(s) field and clicking Update
   2. Share the class code for the class (listed at the bottom of the window) directly with your co-teacher

If your co-teacher needs to join more than one class, repeat step 4 for each class they need to join.

Step 2 (Co-teacher):

As the co-teacher, you will first want to make sure you have joined the official school where the class is listed. You can check the school on your account by clicking My Account (the person) and reviewing the Schools section. Ask the primary teacher the name of the school, and check to see if you have the same school on your account. It should be labeled as "Public school (USA)" or "Private school (USA)" and have the exact same name.

Once you have confirmed you're in the correct school, you can use the class code the primary teacher provided to request to join the class. If they invited you via email, the email will include instructions. If they did not, you can follow the steps below:

1. Click My Classes (the teacher) in the menu on the left
2. Choose Manage Classes
3. Click the Join class as co-teacher button
4. Enter the class code you were provided and click Submit

If you need to join more than one class, repeat steps 3 and 4 with each class code you were provided. If you entered the wrong class code or change your mind, you can click Cancel Request under Pending on your Manage Classes page.

Step 3 (Primary teacher):

Once your co-teacher has requested to join, return to your Manage Classes page and click the ACCEPT button for their request(s) to join your class(es).

Step 4 (Co-teacher):

Check your Manage Classes page to confirm you see the class(es) you requested to join. Once you're listed as a secondary teacher on a class, you'll be able to view student data, create assignments, and more. For additional information, see: In a shared, co-taught class, what can a primary teacher do and what can a secondary teacher do?

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Google Classroom

Co-teachers can be added to a Google Classroom-imported class in CommonLit via a sync as long as they are listed on the class in Google Classroom. For information on how to add a co-teacher in Google Classroom, please see this Google support article. If you are unable to add the teacher in Google Classroom, they can also join using the class code by following the steps in the Manually-created section.

Additionally, in order for a co-teacher to be added to a class in CommonLit, the class needs to be listed in an official school, and the co-teacher must have joined that official school on their account. If you are the primary teacher of the class, check if you and your classes are in an official school by going to your My Account page and reviewing the Schools section. If your school is labeled as "Public school (USA)" or "Private school (USA)," you're in an official school. If you are being added as a co-teacher, please check you have joined the same official school as the primary teacher on your My Account page.

If you need to update your school and/or move your classes into an official school, please refer to the directions in our FAQ about updating your account. For further assistance with this process, please email help@commonlit.org.

Adding a co-teacher requires actions by both the primary teacher (or owner) of the class and the co-teacher who is trying to join. Once you have confirmed you're both in the correct school, follow the steps below:

Step 1 (Co-teacher):

In order to be imported via the sync with Google Classroom, you need to have a CommonLit account that is connected to Google Classroom. If you have not yet created an account, you can do so on the Educator Sign Up page.

To connect your account to Google Classroom or check if it is already connected, click My Account (the person) in the menu on the left. At the bottom of the Account Details section, look for "Am I connected to Google Classroom?" If it says No, click the gray Connect button. Then, choose the Google account associated with Google Classroom and allow the necessary permissions.

Step 2 (Primary teacher):

To import a co-teacher from Google Classroom, click My Classes and choose Manage Classes. Then, click the Sync button for the class to import your co-teacher. If the co-teacher needs to be imported on multiple classes, click the Sync button for each class.

Note: This step can be done by any teacher on the class as long as the primary teacher's account is connected to Google Classroom.

Step 3 (Co-teacher):

Check your Manage Classes page to confirm you see the class(es). Once you're listed as a secondary teacher on a class, you'll be able to view student data, create assignments, and more. For additional information, see: In a shared, co-taught class, what can a primary teacher do and what can a secondary teacher do?

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Clever

For Clever-imported classes, co-teachers will be added to the class in CommonLit automatically when CommonLit syncs with Clever. If you are a School Essentials customer and your school uses premium Clever, CommonLit will sync with Clever whenever a change is made within Clever. If your school uses the free Clever integration, CommonLit syncs with Clever weekly on Saturdays.

However, all teachers with Clever-imported rosters can manually request a sync at any time. A manual sync will update your rosters in CommonLit with the data being shared in Clever, including adding co-teachers. To request a manual sync, go to the Manage Classes page and click the Sync with Clever button at the top of the page. Please note, it can take up to 15 minutes for a sync to process.

CommonLit strongly recommends co-teachers be added to Clever-imported classes via a sync with Clever. If a teacher needs to be added in Clever, you can reach out to your school's Clever administrator for help.

However, if a co-teacher cannot be added in Clever, they can also join using the class code by following the steps in the Manually-created section.

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ClassLink

For ClassLink-imported classes, co-teachers will be added to the class in CommonLit automatically when CommonLit syncs with ClassLink. CommonLit syncs with ClassLink nightly, so any changes made in ClassLink should be reflected in CommonLit the next day.

However, you can manually request a sync at any time. A manual sync will update your rosters in CommonLit with the data being shared in Clever, including adding co-teachers. To request a manual sync, go to the Manage Classes page and click the Sync with ClassLink button at the top of the page. Please note, it can take up to 15 minutes for a sync to process.

CommonLit strongly recommends co-teachers be added to ClassLink-imported classes via a sync with ClassLink. This ensures they are added to the correct school and have access to paid features. If a teacher needs to be added in ClassLink, you can reach out to your school's ClassLink administrator for help.

However, if a co-teacher cannot be added in ClassLink, they can also join using the class code by following the steps in the Manually-created section.

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Canvas

Co-teachers can be added to a Canvas-imported class in CommonLit via a sync as long as they are listed on the class in Canvas. However, if the teacher cannot be added to the class in Canvas, they can also join using the class code by following the steps in the Manually-created section.

Additionally, in order for a co-teacher to be added to a class in CommonLit, the class needs to be listed in an official school, and the co-teacher must have joined that official school on their account. If your class is imported from Canvas, it is likely in an official school. If you are a co-teacher, please check you have joined the same official school as the primary teacher on your My Account page. The school should be labeled as "Public school (USA)" or "Private school (USA)" and the name should match the name of the school on the primary teacher's account.

If you need to update your school please refer to the directions in our FAQ about updating your account. For further assistance with this process, please email help@commonlit.org.

Adding a co-teacher requires actions by both the primary teacher (or owner) of the class and the co-teacher who is trying to join. To add a co-teacher via a sync with Canvas, follow the steps below:

Step 1 (Co-teacher):

To be imported to a class via Canvas, you first need to link your CommonLit account to Canvas. To do so, go to Canvas and follow the steps below:

1. Select any class
2. Go to the Assignments page and click + Assignment.
3. On your Assignment form, select External Tool under Submission Type.
4. Click Find to search for CommonLit. Select CommonLit as your external tool.
5. You'll be prompted to connect your existing CommonLit account to Canvas or create a new CommonLit account. Once you complete this step, your account will be connected.

Step 2 (Primary teacher):

To import a co-teacher from Canvas, click My Classes and choose Manage Classes. Then, click the Sync button for the class to import your co-teacher. If the co-teacher needs to be imported on multiple classes, click the Sync button for each class.

Note: This step can be done by any teacher on the class as long as the primary teacher's account is connected to Canvas.

Step 3 (Co-teacher):

Check your Manage Classes page to confirm you see the class(es). Once you're listed as a secondary teacher on a class, you'll be able to view student data, create assignments, and more. For additional information, see: In a shared, co-taught class, what can a primary teacher do and what can a secondary teacher do?

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