Ways to start a lesson
A teacher's map of every path from "I want to teach this student or group" to a finished live lesson
Who this is for
Teachers deciding how to get from a learner (or a whole class) to a finished live lesson — and who want to know which page to open for each step.
What this page answers
- What are the three phases every lesson passes through?
- Which path fits what I am trying to do right now?
- How do guest assignment links let prospective or trial students work without prior enrollment?
- Where do I go for the full click-by-click steps?
The three phases
Almost every lesson moves through three phases, in order:
- Connect — who am I teaching? Get the student or group attached to a class, course, or guest link.
- Prepare — what am I teaching? Pick, build, or follow curriculum lessons.
- Teach live — run the lesson, then finish it (feedback, homework, praise stickers).
Many paths skip ahead. If the class is already set up, you start at Prepare. An instant lesson collapses Prepare and Teach into a single click. A guest assignment link skips enrollment entirely.
Key Entry Points & Unified Class Setup
- Classes page (
/platform/groups): Click the green+ Create classbutton to launch the unified setup answering four straightforward questions (curriculum, delivery mode, meeting rhythm, and opening strategy). The page header also includes a Program templates link and a Help panel with guides and FAQs. - Course page (
/platform/materials): Click Teach this course to spin up a class that automatically follows the course and appends new lessons, or create multiple classes in batches. - Program Templates (
/platform/materials?tab=programs): Click New class from template to instantiate school-wide curriculum blueprints. - Schedule grid (
/platform/schedule): Click any empty calendar slot to book a meeting for an existing class or quick-create a new class prefilled with that time. - Today dashboard (
/platform): Launch directly with quick actions (Instant lesson, Create lesson, Add student, Assign lesson). - In Live Classes: In live meeting cohorts, lessons unlock for students the moment the teacher clicks Start lesson.
The Hero Card ("Next lesson") on a Class Page
When you open any class from /platform/groups, the hero card at the top of the Lessons tab displays the unit context line (such as "Unit 2 · Travel · lesson 2 of 6") and automatically guides your next step:
- New class setup: Shows a 3-step checklist: Invite students, Choose days, and Choose a lesson.
- Free meeting slot: Offers "Choose a lesson" to pick curriculum content for that upcoming slot.
- Scheduled (> 15 min before start): Offers "Enter the room" to review materials before class.
- Starting soon (≤ 15 min before start): Displays an active countdown ("Today, 18:00 · in 10 min") and a green "Start lesson" button.
- Live in progress: Shows elapsed session time and live attendance ("4 of 6 students are in the lesson.") with a green "Join lesson" button.
- Unscheduled: Displays "The next lesson is not scheduled. Choose a date, and “…” goes to it." with a "Set a date" button.
- Marathon (self-paced): Shows which lesson is currently open and when the next one unlocks, with an "Open the next lesson" button.
- Closed / Archived: Displays when the class was closed, with a "Restore" button if archived.
I want to… → start here
Find your goal, then open the linked page for the full steps.
| I want to… | Start here |
|---|---|
| Share a single lesson or homework with an outside guest without enrolling them | Guest Assignment Links + Managing Enrollments |
| Quick-create a class and first lesson from an empty calendar slot | Live session scheduling + Classes |
| Spin up a recurring class with weekly meetings or self-paced release | Classes |
| Have a class follow a course and automatically receive new lessons | Class Programs & Learning Plans |
| Teach one-on-one with a dedicated syllabus and weekly rhythm | Classes ("Class of One") |
| Just start teaching right now without scheduling | Instant lessons |
| Teach a brand-new student who has no account yet | Managing enrollments |
| Drop a shareable sign-up link in a chat or bio | Managing enrollments |
| Schedule a live meeting for an existing class | Live session scheduling |
| Run the live lesson itself | Running live sessions |
Zero-Enrollment: Guest Assignment Links & Library Guest Rooms
When working with trial students, prospective learners, or ad-hoc participants:
- Assign to a guest by link: Available on any lesson or homework in your Materials Library or Class Program.
- Zero Account Setup: The recipient clicks the link, enters their name, and immediately enters the lesson or workspace on a provisional guest account.
- 30 Days of Free Access: Guests receive 30 days of active access starting when the work opens.
- Library Guest Rooms: Sharing a live classroom lesson via a guest link spins up an independent guest room that never overrides or conflicts with your personal Instant Lesson room.
- Progress Preservation: If the student later registers or accepts a school invitation, their guest work and completed attempts are preserved in their permanent learning history.
Related pages
- Classes — teach cohorts or private students with the unified 4-question setup
- Class Programs & Learning Plans — course following and curriculum plans
- Live session scheduling — book meetings and manage calendar slots
- Instant lessons — start a live scratchpad room immediately
- Managing enrollments — invite, add, and track learners
- Running live sessions — run the live lesson and wrap up