STEP 1

Turn on Edit mode

Open your course. In the top-right corner of the page, click the Edit mode toggle so it switches on. Editing tools now appear across your course page.

STEP 2

Add an activity to your section

Scroll to the section where you want the assignment (for example, General). Click the blue + button on the dashed line, then click Activity or resource.

STEP 3

Choose Assignment

In the activity chooser, click Assignment. Tip: click the ★ star on the Assignment tile first — it will appear under your Starred tab for one-click access next time.

STEP 4

Name it and add a student-facing note

In the Assignment name field, type a clear title, for example: 1st Quarter Participation.

In the Description box, tell students what this grade means. Example:

“Your current total participation will be updated as needed. If you would like more detailed information, please see the teacher after school.”

Check the box Display description on course page so students see this note without clicking in.

STEP 5

Set the availability dates

Open the Availability section and match the dates to your school calendar:

• Allow submissions from — check Enable and set the first day of the quarter (for example, August 9, 2026).
• Due date — check Enable and set the last day of the quarter (for example, October 10, 2026).
• Cut-off date — leave Enable unchecked. There is nothing for students to turn in, so no cut-off is needed.
• Remind me to grade by — check Enable and set it to the same date as the due date so it appears in your grading timeline.

STEP 6 — THE KEY STEP

Turn off all submission types

Open the Submission types section. Uncheck Online text and uncheck File submissions so both boxes are empty.

With both boxes unchecked, students have nothing to submit — this becomes a grade-only item. You enter every score yourself.

STEP 7

Pick the right grade category

Open the Grade section. Click the Grade category dropdown and select the category this grade belongs to — for example, Class Routines and Expectations. This keeps your gradebook organized and weighted correctly.

STEP 8

Save and confirm

Scroll to the bottom and click Save and return to course. On the course page, students now see the assignment title, the Opened and Due dates, and your description — with nothing to submit.

STEP 9

Enter grades whenever you’re ready

Click the assignment name, then click Grade to score students one at a time — or click View all submissions to enter scores down the whole roster quickly.

You can update the score as often as you like all quarter long. Students always see their current total in the gradebook.

Teacher tip: Create one manual-grade assignment per quarter (1st Quarter Participation, 2nd Quarter Participation, and so on) and keep next quarter’s hidden from students until it opens. Running totals stay clean and students always know where they stand.