Messages are private conversations between you and one student, scoped to one class. Open them from Messages, or from the message icon on a student's row in the Students tab.
Unread counts show in the sidebar and on your dashboard.
Notices, messages, reminders
Three different tools that get confused:
| Use | When |
|---|---|
| Notice | Everyone in the class needs to know |
| Message | One student, private, needs a reply |
| Remind | One student, overdue fee, no reply needed |
Posting a notice about one student's unpaid fees is the mistake to avoid. Use a message.
What messages are good for
- A fee conversation — a payment plan, a student in difficulty
- A question about their work — falling marks, missed sessions
- Something they asked that other students don't need
- Following up a rejected receipt, where the reason needs explaining
Why not just WhatsApp
Plenty of teachers will keep using WhatsApp, and that's fine. What the in-app thread gives you:
- It's tied to the class and the student, so you're not scrolling a year of chat to find what you agreed
- Your personal number stays out of it if you'd rather it did
- It's there next year when a student disputes what was agreed
For anything about money, the written record is worth having.
Writing them
Students read on phones, usually between other things.
- Say the thing in the first line. Context after.
- Be specific about dates and amounts. "The Rs. 2,500 for August" beats "your fee".
- Say what you want them to do. "Send the receipt by Friday" beats "please sort this out".
Response times
Students expect a faster reply from a teacher than from a company. You don't owe anyone an instant answer, but the unread badge exists so a question doesn't sit for a week.
If you're going to be slow — exam marking, travel — post a notice saying so. A student who knows you'll reply Monday stops worrying on Saturday.
What you can't do
There's no group message. That's what notices are for.
You can't message someone who isn't enrolled, including a student whose request is still pending. If you need to tell them something about their receipt, put it in the rejection reason — they'll see that.