Custom groups are a great way to group existing student contacts into groups that are not synced from your SIS. Some examples of groupings are sports teams, all students who were absent on a given day, clubs, bus routes, etc. Determine how to create groups within your TalkingPoints for Schools account.
Screenshots below may look slightly different as TalkingPoints is constantly evolving! Don't worry, we periodically make sure our guides are up-to-date so that you have the latest how-to's.
Create a Group
Step 1: Click 'Groups'.
Step 2: Select 'Add Group.'
Step 3: Name the group and click 'Create.'
Add Staff
Step 1: Select 'Add Staff.'
Step 2: Check the box next to the staff members who you would like to give access to the group, and click 'Add selected.'
Add Students
There are several ways to add students to your groups!
If your district has enabled student messaging, you may also see a 3rd and 4th option to invite confirmed students with a group code.
Option 1: Add via .csv
Please Note: To bulk add existing students to a group, they must already be in TalkingPoints through the Clever, ClassLink, Infinite Campus, or TalkingPoints Connector sync with an SIS ID or added to TalkingPoints via the self-serve .csv Uploader.
In our template or a spreadsheet tool of your choice, please format your file as follows:
Title Column A, Row 1 with sisId, studentid, or id (not case sensitive, but it must be one word)
Please note that Column A, Row 1 must have a title because our system will not recognize this cell as an ID.
In all subsequent rows within this column, please list out the SIS IDs of the students you would like to be added to the custom group you’re creating. Only one SIS ID per cell should be listed.
For Clever: The field that we're pulling as the SIS ID is the value your school or district is sending to the {sisID} field in Clever. Please ensure that the IDs in the spreadsheet match this value.
For ClassLink: The field that we're pulling as the SIS ID is the {identifier} field in ClassLink. Please ensure that the IDs in the spreadsheet match this value.
For IC OneRoster (infinite campus): The field that we're pulling as the SIS ID is the {identifier} field. Please ensure that the IDs in the spreadsheet match this value.
For .csv Uploader: The field that we're pulling as the student ID is the Student ID from the first column of your student list tab from your .csv that you uploaded using the TalkingPoints self-serve .csv uploader.
If you would like to check the number that is coming through to TalkingPoints, follow the instructions below to create the group and click add students individually. Hover over the student's name to reveal the Student ID.
Tip: It is recommended to only have this single column in the .csv file. However, if it makes it easier for you to add additional columns with student first name and last name as a reference for yourself you may do so, but it could increase upload times. Only the first column will be used by our system.
Download the sheet as a .csv file.
Drag and drop the .csv file you downloaded, or browse your computer files. The 'override group with this student list option will appear. Check the box if you would like to replace a current student list with the student list in the new .csv file. Leave the box unchecked if you would like to add the students in the .csv file to the students already in the group. Choose the option that is right for you and hit 'Add' when you’re ready.
Please Note: A popup at the bottom of the screen will let you know the number of students that were not found by our system. This is either because they are a manually added student with no student ID, or the student ID in the .csv file does not match a student ID in the TalkingPoints platform.
Option 2: Add Students Individually
Step 1: Select 'Add Students.'
Step 2: Select 'Add Students individually.'
Step 3: Use the checkboxes to select students that you would like to add to the group, then 'Add Selected.'
