Canvas Resources for Parents
How to Monitor your Students Activity in Canvas
On this page
Canvas Resources for Parents [Submission]
Summary
Canvas gives parents the ability to…
- See all of their children in the same account,
- View the classes, calendars, grades and feedback for each child and
- Access all of the contact information for each of their children's teachers.
The Canvas Parent Support Site contains a collection of information curated by LISD's Digital Learning department to help maximize the parents' experience while utilizing Canvas.
Website
The Canvas Parent Support Site can be accessed here.

How to Get a Pairing Code
Student-Generated Pairing Codes
Summary Students can generate a pairing code to link an observer to their Canvas
Student-Generated Pairing Codes
How to Create a Canvas Parent Account
Creating a Canvas Parent Account
Summary Canvas Parent Accounts allow observers to monitor their student's learnin
Creating a Canvas Parent Account [Submission]
Summary
Canvas Parent Accounts allow observers to monitor their student's learning and progress in Canvas. An observer may be a parent, guardian, mentor, counselor or another individual who needs to view a student's Canvas courses.
Once you have acquired a pairing code for each student you want to connect your Canvas Parent Account to, please complete the steps below to setup your account. If you need help getting a pairing code, please reference this article.
Note
Pairing codes are good for seven days after generating and may be used just once. (Each parent needs a separate code.)
Guide
Go to lisdtx.instructure.com in any web browser on any device.
- Select Parent of a Canvas User.

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Fill out the form, agree to the Terms of Service and select Start Participating.
- Your username will be the email you used in the form.
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Enter the pairing code you got from your student.
- If you have multiple children, enter just the pairing code for one of your children here. You will add the other children later.

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Access your parent account at lisdtx.instructure.com or through the Canvas Parent app (iOS or Android).
- You can see the full contents for each student's courses when you access your parent account through this link.
- Choose Lewisville ISD - Parent when selecting a school or district in the app.
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Parents see limited information in the Canvas Parent app.
Note
Courses show up the first day of classes. Your dashboard will be empty until then.
How to Add Additional Children
This process has to be completed in the web version of Canvas, not the app. You can use any device or browser.
- Login to your Canvas Parent Account at lisdtx.instructure.com.
- Select Account, then Settings.

- Select Observing.
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Enter the pairing code for the additional child.
- You can find the instructions for generating a pairing code from the student's Canvas account in this article.
- Generated pairing codes are good for seven days and may only be used once.
- Each parent needs a separate pairing code for each student.
- Select the yellow +Student button.

Video
Which Version of Canvas to Use
Selecting the Appropriate Canvas Version
Summary Canvas Parent Accounts have
Selecting the Appropriate Canvas Version [Submission]
Summary
Canvas Parent Accounts have "view only" access to their child's account. This article address the three ways to login and observe through Canvas:
- Canvas Parent App
- Canvas Student App
- Web-Based Canvas
Canvas Parent App
Access
After downloading the Canvas Parent App, you will need to select the Lewisville ISD - Parent option for your “school” when logging in with your parent email and password.

Benefits
- Easy toggling of the dashboard and calendar between multiple children
- Easily view student's grades, assignment submissions and comments by teachers through the front page
- Customize notifications by child in Canvas settings
- Easy to locate communication with teacher
Video
Canvas Student App
Access
After downloading the Canvas Student App, you will need to select the Lewisville ISD - Parent option for your “school” when logging in with your parent email and password.

Benefits
-
Combines all paired students into one dashboard and calendar, not organized by student
- Ideal for parents paired with one student account
- Easily view student's grades, assignment submissions and comments by teachers
- Detailed notifications are sent to mobile device or email
Video
Web-Based Canvas
Access
Visit lisdtx.instructure.com on your browser of choice, except Internet Explorer, and login using your parent username and password. Google Chrome and Firefox are the recommended browsers.
Benefits
- Any device, including mobile devices, tablets, PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, etc., can use the web-based Canvas through any browser, excluding Internet Explorer.
- Easy toggling of the dashboard and calendar between multiple children
- Easily view student's grades, assignment submissions and comments by teachers
- Full access to set up email notifications and preferences in Canvas
Video
How to Change your Password
Changing your Canvas Parent Account's Password
Summary There are a variety of reasons why you may want or need to update the pas
Changing your Canvas Parent Account's Password [Submission]
Summary
There are a variety of reasons why you may want or need to update the password for your Canvas account. This article provides instructions for how to change your password in Canvas.
Guide
Before we start, please visit lisdtx.instructure.com to login to Canvas with your full email address and current password.
- Click on the Account tab in the left menu.
- Select the Settings option from the expanded menu.
- Click on the Edit Settings button located on the right-hand side.

- Select Change Password.

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Enter your current password in the Old Password field, then enter your new password twice in the appropriate fields below.
- Passwords must contain at least 8 characters.
- Click on the Update Settings button.

How to Change your Account's Email
Changing your Canvas Parent Account's Email
Summary There are a variety of reasons why you may want or need to update the ema
Changing your Canvas Parent Account's Email [Submission]
Summary
There are a variety of reasons why you may want or need to update the email address associated with your Canvas Parent Account. This article provides instructions for how to change your email in Canvas.
Guide
Before we start, please visit lisdtx.instructure.com to login to Canvas with your current email address and password.
- Click on the Account tab in the left menu.
- Select the Settings option from the expanded menu.
- Click on the +Email Address button located on the right-hand side.
- Type the new email you would like to add to your account in the Email Address field and click on the Register Email button.
- Confirm the entered email address by clicking on the Ok, Thanks button.
- The newly registered email address should receive a registration confirmation email from Canvas. Please click on the Click here to confirm the registration link option in that message.

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After the new email has been confirmed, please refresh the Canvas screen or log back into Canvas. If you would like make the newly registered email address the primary email for your Canvas Parent Account, click on the star next to the new email. The star next to the selected primary email will be darker than any other emails associated with the account. Once the primary email has been set, you may choose to remove the old email(s) by clicking on the trashcan email next to the corresponding emails.
Note
A primary email address determines which email address is used to login to Canvas.

How to Remove an Observer
Removing a Canvas Observee
Summary If you would like to stop observing a student's canvas account that you h
Removing a Canvas Observee [Submission]
Summary
If you would like to stop observing a student's canvas account that you have previously paired with your Parent Canvas Account, you will need to remove that student as an observee in Canvas. This article provides instructions for how to do so.
Guide
Before we start, please visit lisdtx.instructure.com to login to Canvas with your current email address and password.
- Click on the Account tab in the left menu.
- Select the Observing option from the expanded menu.
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Click on the Remove link to the right of the observee you wish to remove.
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Click on the OK button to confirm this action.
General Tips
General Tips for Canvas Observers
Summary LISD's Digital Learning department would like to ensure that all guardian
General Tips for Canvas Observers [Submission]
Summary
LISD's Digital Learning department would like to ensure that all guardians in the district are prepared for success while monitoring their students' learning progress in Canvas. Please review the following suggestions to optimize your Canvas experience.
Tips
Customize your Dashboard
- Color code each child's course title or
- Rename each course title with a nickname
- Rearrange dashboard tiles
Adjust your Notifications
In Canvas, click on the Account tab in the left-hand toolbar and select Notifications option from the expanded menu. You can change your notification settings to fit your personal preferences.
Visit the Calendar Online
- View calendar events by week, month or agenda list
- Only 10 course and group calendars will be shown at one time
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Familiarize yourself with the significance of each icon:
View the Calendar on the Canvas Parent App
Message a Teacher
The Canvas inbox allows you to communicate with your student's teachers.
View Grades
- Select View Grades from the dashboard for a high-level overview or
- Select a course dash card from the Grades section of the dashboard for more grade details
View Courses
Set Alerts
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Manage alerts for your paired children's:
- Course grades
- Missing assignments
- Posted assignment grades
- Announcements
- You can do so by going to Manage Students >> select student >> adjust users
- Once alerts are setup, you can view them