Parent Guide to NoRedInk

Overview

If your student is using NoRedInk with their teacher, we recommend checking out the resources in this article to better understand how you can support their learning and practice.

If you’ll be using NoRedInk with your own student(s) as a homeschool teacher or with your child at home, check out this article for how to set up your own free teacher account or get your child set up for independent work.

Introduction

What is NoRedInk?

NoRedInk helps students practice and apply writing and grammar skills through a variety of interactive activities! Students work with engaging and often humorous sentences that incorporate their favorite characters, musicians, athletes, books, movies, sports teams, and celebrities to practice skills. NoRedInk's Writing & Revising activities allow students to hone their skills to become stronger, more confident writers. These activities range from targeted practice where students can work on specific topics, such as crafting a thesis, to full essay writing using activities such as Guided Essay and Self Review.

Check out this video tour of NoRedInk, or click here to learn more about how NoRedInk works!

Logging in to NoRedInk

How does my child join their teacher's class?

In order to join a class in NoRedInk, your child's teacher will need to provide them with an invite link, class code, username and password, or instructions to log in through Clever. If the teacher did not provide instructions, be sure to check with them first.

Once you know how to join the class, you and your child can follow the steps below for more guidance.

My teacher gave me an invite link to join

If your teacher gave you an invite link to join NoRedInk, follow the instructions below. An invite link will look something like this: https://www.noredink.com/join/class-code-5

Invite link instructions

Step 1. Open the link in a web browser

Click on the invite link OR copy and paste the URL address in your browser address bar.

Step 2. Log in or sign up for a NoRedInk account

If you're already logged in to a NoRedInk account, you'll automatically join the class. Otherwise, you'll see a welcome page like this one:

• If you've used NoRedInk before, you can log in to your existing account.
• If you don't have an account, go ahead and click "Sign up as a student" to create a new account.

💡 Tip: If you have a Google account, you can choose the "Sign up with Google" option. This will let you "Log in with Google" next time you need to log back in to NoRedInk.

Step 3: Make sure you've joined the right class

If you've logged in to a brand new account, you'll need to finish setting up by choosing your NoRedInk Interests.

Once you finish this step, you can double-check that you're in the right class by clicking your name in the top right corner and going to the "My Classes" page. You should see your class name listed.

Step 4: Save your login information

It's important to use the same account throughout the school year to make sure that that all your hard work in NoRedInk remains in one account. 

If you signed up with Google, you'll be able to click the "Log in with Google" button to sign in. Otherwise, be sure to remember your username/email address and unique NoRedInk password so you know how to log back in next time!

The next time you log in to NoRedInk, you can do so from www.noredink.com/login.

My teacher gave me a class code to join

If your teacher gave you a class code to join NoRedInk, follow the instructions below. A class code will look something like this: class code 5

Class code instructions

Step 1. Log in or sign up for a NoRedInk account

Option 1: Enter the class code in an existing NoRedInk account

If you've used NoRedInk before, go ahead and log in to your existing account. 

Then, click on your name in the top right corner and choose "My Classes." From this page, paste your class code in the box provided.

Option 2: Enter the class code while signing up for a new NoRedInk account

If you don't have an account, go to www.nordink.com/signup and click "Sign up as a student" to create a new account.

On the next screen, enter your class code to join your teacher's class. If you accidentally skip this step, you can always enter the class code later from your "My Classes" page.

Finish signing up for a new student account by either signing up with a Google account (this will allow you to log in to your NoRedInk account with Google) or by filling out the information to create a username and password.

Step 2: Make sure you've joined the right class

If you've logged in to a brand new account, you'll need to finish setting up by choosing your NoRedInk Interests.

Once you finish this step, you can double check that you're in the right class by clicking your name in the top right corner and going to the "My Classes" page. You should see your class name listed.

Step 3: Save your login information 

It's important to use the same account throughout the school year to make sure that that all your hard work in NoRedInk remains in one account. 

If you signed up with Google, you'll be able to click the "Log in with Google" button to sign in. Otherwise, be sure to remember your username/email address and unique NoRedInk password so you know how to log back in next time!

My teacher gave me a new username and password to use

If your teacher created an account for you, they should have shared the username and default password you'll be able to use to log in. In this case, you will not need to sign up for a new NoRedInk account and you will not need to enter a class code to join the class.

Simply use the username and password to log in to NoRedInk and finish setting up your new account. Your account will already be enrolled in your teacher's class.

Username and password instructions

Step 1. Log in to your NoRedInk account

First, go to www.noredink.com and enter the username and default password that your teacher gave you. Then, click "Log in."

Step 2: Make sure you've joined the right class

Since you've logged in to a brand new account, you'll need to finish setting up by choosing your NoRedInk Interests. Once you finish this step, you can double check that you're in the right class by clicking your name in the top right corner and going to the "My Classes" page. You should see your class name listed there.

Step 4: Update your password and save your login information

You can update the default password to a unique password from your "Account Settings" page. To get there, click on your name in the top right corner and choose "Settings." 

It's important to use the same account throughout the school year to make sure that that all your hard work in NoRedInk remains in one account. 

Be sure to remember your username and updated password so you know how to log back in next time! 

💡 Tip: If you have a Google account, you can link your NoRedInk account with Google. This will let you log in with Google the next time you sign in to NoRedInk. Learn more here.

Why is my child being asked to select movies, shows, books, instead of showing their assignments?

When your child first logs in to NoRedInk, they'll be asked to select interests before seeing their assignments. The interests your child chooses will be shown in the sentences they work with in NoRedInk, so they should pick ones they enjoy!

Here's what students will see when they sign up:

As soon as students select enough interests, they'll be able to continue and work on their class assignments. If your child is having trouble selecting enough interests, click here for some tips!

How does my child log back in from home?

There are three options for logging in to NoRedInk. Your child should log in to their NoRedInk account using the same option below that they use at school.

1. Log in with a Username or Email Address and Password

   If your child’s account was set up with a username or email address and password (either by the student or their teacher), make sure they log back into NoRedInk using their original login credentials.

   • Forgot the username or email address? Ask your child’s teacher to find the username under "Manage Classes" on their homepage. Teachers can learn how to print login cards here.
   • Forgot the password? Click the "Forgot?" button on the login page for password recovery; alternatively, your child’s teacher can help you reset their password.
2. Log in with Google SSO

   If your child originally signed up for their NoRedInk account with Google or have already linked Google to their existing account, they'll be able to click "Log in with Google" to log in to NoRedInk.

   • Forgot your Google password? You'll need to reach out to your teacher or to Google support for help.
3. Log in with Clever SSO

   If your child’s school uses Clever Secure Sync and your child’s account is linked with Clever, they'll need to first log into the school or district Clever portal and then access their NoRedInk account from there. Note that the school might call "Clever" something like the school "portal."

   See this article for complete instructions for logging in with Clever.

Working on assignments

Where does my child see their assignments?

First, have your child log in to their account on www.noredink.com. Your child’s assignments will be listed in order based on due date. Those that are due soonest will be at the top of the list.

💡If your child is enrolled in multiple classes they will see the option to filter their assignments by class on their homepage.

If your child’s teacher has allowed late work for assignments these can be found at the bottom of the student homepage. NoRedInk will initially display 1 late assignment, but you can click "View More Assignments" to see more late assignments.

What if no assignments appear on my child’s homepage?

If your child has completed all assigned work, or if the assignment is past due and doesn’t allow late work, they will not see any assignments on their homepage. If your child’s teacher has created an assignment but it is not showing on their homepage, we recommend checking in with their teacher directly. Teachers can check that the student has been assigned the correct work and that the due date has not yet passed.

If your child has completed all of their assignments but would like to level up their skills even more, they can practice topics independently! Note that completing independent practice will not contribute to progress in assigned work. Check out this article for more information about practicing on their own.

Viewing your child’s progress and results

How can I view my child’s work on NoRedInk?

First, have your child log in to their account on www.noredink.com. On your child’s homepage you will see the number of topics your child has mastered this year in the circles at the top of their page, as well as their average scores on assignments.

To view your child’s individual assignments and grades, click “Past Work” at the top of the page. Your child’s score is reflected in the circle next to the assignment name.

1. Click “View Writing” to see your writing, grading details, and your teacher’s feedback.
2. Click “View Answers” to see results on a quiz or diagnostic alongside an answer key.
3. Click “View Summary” to see details of your assignment or practice problems.

Why do I see progress in my child’s account but the teacher doesn’t see same results?

If your child has completed work on their account, but it is not showing on the teacher’s gradebook, here are some common reasons we’ve seen for this discrepancy:

1. Your child could be working on independent practice instead of their assignment (practicing via "Master topics on your own" or from the "Learn" page).

Independent practice of topics does not count towards assignments created by their teacher. Therefore, the results of independent practice will not appear in the teacher’s gradebook for assignments.

If your child completed independent practice instead of assigned work we recommend reaching out to their teacher directly to make sure they have access to all required assignments.

2. Your child may be logging in to a different account than the one registered in their teacher’s class.

Have your child log out of their NoRedInk and confirm that they are logging in with the same email or username that they use at school. If your child is unsure of their correct email or username, you can reach out to their teacher for confirmation.

Supporting my child in using NoRedInk

What can I do if my child is experiencing technical problems on NoRedInk?

If your child is having issues with their assignment, these browser troubleshooting steps often resolve common issues:

1. Ensure that your browser is fully updated. You can check your browser version quickly at WhatIsMyBrowser.com. (Here are instructions for updating your browser.)
2. Clear your browser’s cache. (Here are instructions for clearing the cache.)
3. Many times, browser extensions interfere with interactive websites. Temporarily disable extensions to help us see if they are the problem: Click the browser you are using to see instructions for opening it without extensions on: Google Chrome; Firefox.
4. If the questions work after this step, then you will need to turn off your extensions one at a time to find the extension that is causing the issue. Some extensions known to interfere with NoRedInk include but are not limited to: Grammarly, Impero, emoji extensions. A full list can be found here. (If you find a new extension that causes issues, please feel free to let us know by clicking "Contact Us" below - this can help other users!)
5. If your main browser still has this issue with extensions off, please try again in another browser with extensions disabled. Note that you may still need to update the second browser or clear its cache.

If the issue persists after these troubleshooting steps, follow these directions to reach out to our team for more assistance:

1. Click "Contact Us" below and fill out the form to send a message to our Support team.
2. In your message, please include the name of the web browser you were using and confirm if you have tried all of the troubleshooting steps listed above.
3. In your message, please list the exact steps you took to experience this behavior.
4. In your message, be sure to include the names of any relevant topics, assignments, classes, or affected students.
5. Attach a screenshot to help our support team understand what's going on faster. Make sure the screenshot includes the web address of the page you're on! Here's how to take a screenshot on a PC and here's how to take one on a Mac.

What can I do if my child is struggling on topics or their NoRedInk assignment?

Sometimes, students will come across topics or questions in NoRedInk Practice that they find particularly challenging. During Practice, a student is considered "stuck" if they have answered 7 questions in a row incorrectly on a Practice topic. If your child becomes “stuck” they will be shown this notification, and their teacher will be notified:

💡Your child can continue working even after they see the “stuck” message. Once they answer the next question correctly (without using a hint), they’ll no longer be considered “stuck."

If your child is struggling with a topic and beginning to feel frustrated, have them try one of these strategies:

1. Click “Show hint” to see the lesson for the topic. Read the lesson, then look at the question again. Compare the sentence in the question with the examples in the lesson. Ask yourself, ”How does what I read in the lesson apply to this question?” 
   
2. If the topic has an interactive tutorial, view it by clicking the question mark icon next to the directions. Going through the steps of the tutorial will refresh your memory of the key points that will help you with the topic. 
   
3. It’s also okay to take a break and do something else for a little while! Come back to the topic later and try the questions again.

If your child continues to struggle with their assignment we recommend reaching out to their teacher directly for additional support.

 

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