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How to access TalkingPoints

Rhianon Gutierrez Updated by Rhianon Gutierrez

Family and student contact info should be updated in Aspen and will sync overnight to TalkingPoints.

What is TalkingPoints and who has access?

TalkingPoints is a two-way multilingual family engagement platform that allows teachers and schools to have communication with families across language barriers! The platform translates messages back and forth into over 100 languages, to allow for teachers and school administrators to be able to reach families in their preferred languages directly, which in turn increases parent engagement in the classroom and school communities!

All Teachers and School Administrators have access to TalkingPoints via Clever. Teachers will automatically be given access to their class rosters to be able to communicate with their families. Since TalkingPoints is a rostered app, any changes should be made in Aspen to carry over to TalkingPoints.
For those without classes in Clever (i.e. family liaisons, operations staff, and social workers), you want to be sure that you have a Type (role) in Aspen such as Administrator, Teacher, Paraprofessional, Social Worker, Psychologist, etc. You can reach out to the BPSTech Service Desk at 617-635-9200 to update this role for you. Once this is set, you can login to the app via Clever the next day.

How do I login as a teacher or admin?

Chromebook or Laptop:

Step 1: Go to Clever: www.bostonpublicschools.org/backpack. Be sure to sign in using your BPS Gmail and password.

Step 2: Look for the TalkingPoints icon under Communication.

Mobile Phone:

Download the TalkingPoints for Teachers Mobile Application in either the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

How do families log in?

As soon as a teacher starts sending communication in TalkingPoints, families will automatically receive messages from the teacher on their cell phones as basic SMS text messages.

Help! My families are being asked for a code.

Families should not be entering codes. If a family reports this, do the following:

1. Ensure that their number is listed under Cell Phone, not Home Phone, in Aspen in order to receive your messages.

2. Verify that the number they are using to register in TalkingPoints matches what is on file under Cell Phone in Aspen. If they are using a different cell number, change it in Aspen under the Cell Phone contact for that family member. Any changes made in Aspen will need to sync overnight to be updated in TalkingPoints.

3. Check all students in Aspen who have this family member. Make sure that their cell number is the same across Aspen - having the same person with two different cell phone numbers will cause a sync issue.

TalkingPoints has also developed an optional, and free TalkingPoints for Families mobile application which families can use to receive messages and bypass the SMS texts. The TalkingPoints for Families mobile app is available for download on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Through the TalkingPoints for Families mobile app, parents can update their language preferences directly, react to messages with likes, and view delivered and read receipts. For families with more than 1 child in BPS, using the TalkingPoints for Families mobile app will allow them to see teacher communication for all students in one place.

How can I send messages in another language?

TalkingPoints will automatically send messages to families in the preferred language that has been indicated in your Student Information System (Aspen X2), so you don't have to do anything to send messages in another language!

How can families communicate with me?

Families can respond to your message in their home language via text message, because TalkingPoints will translate their messages into English for you.

What if a family member prefers to get messages in another language than what's in Aspen?

You can locate that particular family member in their Student's Details, and click on the three dots next to the contact, and click on the "Edit Contact," where you'll be able to update their language!

If families have downloaded the TalkingPoints for Families mobile application, they can also change their own language preference in the app!

Can I see my translated messages?

Yes! Teachers can see how their messages look in the family's home language by following the directions in How Can I See my Translated Message?

What resources can I share with families?

Where can I learn more about TalkingPoints?

Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

Email hello@talkingpts.org or by clicking the "Help Center" question mark icon in your TalkingPoints account.

For BPS-specific translation and interpretation questions, contact translations@bostonpublicschools.org.

How did we do?

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