Video: Communicating Using Teacher Initiated Messaging (TIM)

[#1]

Summary

With Teacher Initiated Messaging (TIM), teachers communicate with parents, students, or groups of people through the SchoolMessenger App. 

Video explaining how to Communicate Using Teacher Initiated Messaging (TIM)

Create an Account

Follow the steps listed in Signing Up for the SchoolMessenger App Using a Browser to create an account.

Navigating the Messages Screen

1. Your Messages

   • Here you see any messages sent to you, either from a teacher using TIM, a regular broadcast sent through SchoolMessenger Communicate, or even through SafeArrival, if your district uses that program for attendance. 
   • A blue line on the left of the message indicates it has not yet been read. 
     
     

2. Replies

   • For messages sent via TIM, you have the option to reply publicly (seen by everyone in the message), privately (seen only by the teacher who sent the message) or not at all (the sender disabled replies).
   • IMPORTANT NOTE: Even if a reply is set to private and goes only to the teacher who sent the message, if a teacher then responds to a private reply, that teacher's reply will be sent to everyone who received the initial message. Please be aware of this behavior. 
     
     

3. Message Origination

   • An account in the app or website will receive communications not only from TIM, but also from regular SchoolMessenger Communicate broadcasts, and SafeArrival attendance notifications (if active in your district). 
   • The message will indicate the origin. 
   • Note: There will be no reply option for messages originating outside of TIM.

Managing Recipient Groups in TIM.

Access your Group.

Select Recipients

1. Enter Group Name

   •  

     Enter the name of the group you wish to contact here. You can also simply click on the group name in the list below this. 
     
     

2. Group Names

   • Teachers will have their class sections listed here. These are imported from the student information system. Additional groups can be created.

Creating A New Group

Create the Group Name

From the Manage Groups Window, "Create A Group" in the upper right (the image below). Name the group whatever you wish, but keep in mind everyone will see this group name.

Send the Access Code

When you click Create on the new group name you've created, you will receive an access code.  Send this code to those you wish to invite to the group. They will enter the code (as outlined in the following section), and they'll then be able to receive messages sent to that group. 

Joining a Group

Once a group is created and invitations are sent, that person needs to join the group before they'll be able to receive messages sent to that group. 

Add the Access Code

Enter the Access Code: 

The user will enter the code which was generated by creating the group. If they do not have the code, they will need to contact the teacher who created the group to obtain that code before they are able to join.

Creating A New Message

Create a New Message

• From the Messages area, select New Message in the upper right.

Selected the Group or Groups you wish to contact here. Under each group, you'll select whether to contact Students (contacts), Guardians, Teachers, or a combination of those. While only one group is listed here, you can choose more than one group.

Add Message Content

• Add your message content here. There is no formatting allowed beyond paragraph breaks. 

Attachments

• You may add attachments here.  You are limited to one attachment per message. 

Choose How Replies Are Handled

• You can choose to receive replies publicly (the Everyone... option), privately, or to not allow replies.
• IMPORTANT NOTE: If "Me Privately" is selected, replies from recipients to the teacher will be private.  However, if the teacher responds to that reply, everyone in the initial recipient list will see the response. Please be aware of this behavior. 

Additional Privacy Setting

Checking this box will allow all recipients to see the names of every other recipient. 

Was this Article Helpful?

• Kudo this article if you found it helpful. It will help others find this resource.
• Comment directly on this article to request clarification or share feedback about the content of the article.
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[#2]

Summary

With Teacher Initiated Messaging (TIM), teachers communicate with parents, students, or groups of people through the SchoolMessenger App. 

Video explaining how to Communicate Using Teacher Initiated Messaging (TIM)

Create an Account

Follow the steps listed in Signing Up for the SchoolMessenger App Using a Browser to create an account.

Navigating the Messages Screen

1. Your Messages

   • Here you see any messages sent to you, either from a teacher using TIM, a regular broadcast sent through SchoolMessenger Communicate, or even through SafeArrival, if your district uses that program for attendance. 
   • A blue line on the left of the message indicates it has not yet been read. 
     
     

2. Replies

   • For messages sent via TIM, you have the option to reply publicly (seen by everyone in the message), privately (seen only by the teacher who sent the message) or not at all (the sender disabled replies).
   • IMPORTANT NOTE: Even if a reply is set to private and goes only to the teacher who sent the message, if a teacher then responds to a private reply, that teacher's reply will be sent to everyone who received the initial message. Please be aware of this behavior. 
     
     

3. Message Origination

   • An account in the app or website will receive communications not only from TIM, but also from regular SchoolMessenger Communicate broadcasts, and SafeArrival attendance notifications (if active in your district). 
   • The message will indicate the origin. 
   • Note: There will be no reply option for messages originating outside of TIM.

Managing Recipient Groups in TIM.

Access your Group.

Select Recipients

1. Enter Group Name

   •  

     Enter the name of the group you wish to contact here. You can also simply click on the group name in the list below this. 
     
     

2. Group Names

   • Teachers will have their class sections listed here. These are imported from the student information system. Additional groups can be created.

Creating A New Group

Create the Group Name

From the Manage Groups Window, "Create A Group" in the upper right (the image below). Name the group whatever you wish, but keep in mind everyone will see this group name.

Send the Access Code

When you click Create on the new group name you've created, you will receive an access code.  Send this code to those you wish to invite to the group. They will enter the code (as outlined in the following section), and they'll then be able to receive messages sent to that group. 

Joining a Group

Once a group is created and invitations are sent, that person needs to join the group before they'll be able to receive messages sent to that group. 

Add the Access Code

Enter the Access Code: 

The user will enter the code which was generated by creating the group. If they do not have the code, they will need to contact the teacher who created the group to obtain that code before they are able to join.

Creating A New Message

Create a New Message

• From the Messages area, select New Message in the upper right.

Selected the Group or Groups you wish to contact here. Under each group, you'll select whether to contact Students (contacts), Guardians, Teachers, or a combination of those. While only one group is listed here, you can choose more than one group.

Add Message Content

• Add your message content here. There is no formatting allowed beyond paragraph breaks. 

Attachments

• You may add attachments here.  You are limited to one attachment per message. 

Choose How Replies Are Handled

• You can choose to receive replies publicly (the Everyone... option), privately, or to not allow replies.
• IMPORTANT NOTE: If "Me Privately" is selected, replies from recipients to the teacher will be private.  However, if the teacher responds to that reply, everyone in the initial recipient list will see the response. Please be aware of this behavior. 

Additional Privacy Setting

Checking this box will allow all recipients to see the names of every other recipient. 

Was this Article Helpful?

• Kudo this article if you found it helpful. It will help others find this resource.
• Comment directly on this article to request clarification or share feedback about the content of the article.
• Use the product-specific forum for questions not directly related to this article.

[#3]

Summary

With Teacher Initiated Messaging (TIM), teachers communicate with parents, students, or groups of people through the SchoolMessenger App. 

Video explaining how to Communicate Using Teacher Initiated Messaging (TIM)

Create an Account

Follow the steps listed in Signing Up for the SchoolMessenger App Using a Browser to create an account.

Navigating the Messages Screen

1. Your Messages

   • Here you see any messages sent to you, either from a teacher using TIM, a regular broadcast sent through SchoolMessenger Communicate, or even through SafeArrival, if your district uses that program for attendance. 
   • A blue line on the left of the message indicates it has not yet been read. 
     
     

2. Replies

   • For messages sent via TIM, you have the option to reply publicly (seen by everyone in the message), privately (seen only by the teacher who sent the message) or not at all (the sender disabled replies).
   • IMPORTANT NOTE: Even if a reply is set to private and goes only to the teacher who sent the message, if a teacher then responds to a private reply, that teacher's reply will be sent to everyone who received the initial message. Please be aware of this behavior. 
     
     

3. Message Origination

   • An account in the app or website will receive communications not only from TIM, but also from regular SchoolMessenger Communicate broadcasts, and SafeArrival attendance notifications (if active in your district). 
   • The message will indicate the origin. 
   • Note: There will be no reply option for messages originating outside of TIM.

Managing Recipient Groups in TIM.

Access your Group.

Select Recipients

1. Enter Group Name

   •  

     Enter the name of the group you wish to contact here. You can also simply click on the group name in the list below this. 
     
     

2. Group Names

   • Teachers will have their class sections listed here. These are imported from the student information system. Additional groups can be created.

Creating A New Group

Create the Group Name

From the Manage Groups Window, "Create A Group" in the upper right (the image below). Name the group whatever you wish, but keep in mind everyone will see this group name.

Send the Access Code

When you click Create on the new group name you've created, you will receive an access code.  Send this code to those you wish to invite to the group. They will enter the code (as outlined in the following section), and they'll then be able to receive messages sent to that group. 

Joining a Group

Once a group is created and invitations are sent, that person needs to join the group before they'll be able to receive messages sent to that group. 

Add the Access Code

Enter the Access Code: 

The user will enter the code which was generated by creating the group. If they do not have the code, they will need to contact the teacher who created the group to obtain that code before they are able to join.

Creating A New Message

Create a New Message

• From the Messages area, select New Message in the upper right.

Selected the Group or Groups you wish to contact here. Under each group, you'll select whether to contact Students (contacts), Guardians, Teachers, or a combination of those. While only one group is listed here, you can choose more than one group.

Add Message Content

• Add your message content here. There is no formatting allowed beyond paragraph breaks. 

Attachments

• You may add attachments here.  You are limited to one attachment per message. 

Choose How Replies Are Handled

• You can choose to receive replies publicly (the Everyone... option), privately, or to not allow replies.
• IMPORTANT NOTE: If "Me Privately" is selected, replies from recipients to the teacher will be private.  However, if the teacher responds to that reply, everyone in the initial recipient list will see the response. Please be aware of this behavior. 

Additional Privacy Setting

Checking this box will allow all recipients to see the names of every other recipient. 

Was this Article Helpful?

• Kudo this article if you found it helpful. It will help others find this resource.
• Comment directly on this article to request clarification or share feedback about the content of the article.
• Use the product-specific forum for questions not directly related to this article.