Issue 27 • Date January 22, 2025

Using artificial intelligence can be incredibly helpful, and being upfront about it matters. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas, polishing writing, or creating something new, I believe in being transparent when AI plays a role. Sharing how we use AI builds credibility and models responsible technology use, showing others the importance of ethical and intentional practices.

When I collaborate with an AI chatbot, it’s like having a digital sidekick that supports me in refining my ideas, suggesting examples, and fixing my grammar.

To be transparent, I want you to know that I use tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Apple Intelligence to help me revise my newsletters. I include a short transparency statement at the bottom of each issue to highlight AI’s role. My goal is to model ethical and responsible practices while I continue learning and refining how I communicate AI’s involvement in my work.

Revisions with Restraint ✏️

As a writer, I know my voice well. While my writing is generally clear and friendly, I tend to struggle with transitions and repetition. When I use AI to revise my writing, it often makes too many changes, adding flowery, over-the-top language that doesn’t sound like me.

I’ve refined a prompt that works really well to revise my writing. It addresses issues in my writing while preserving my voice. Here’s what I typically input into ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude before pasting my draft:

Revise for clarity, flow, and grammar, and list the changes made.

I also like to specify the audience for my writing, as it helps the AI tailor its revisions more effectively.

Instead of simply asking AI to make your writing better, develop a prompt that focuses on your specific needs as a writer. A clear and intentional prompt helps guide the AI to make restrained revisions so that your writing keeps your unique voice and style.

Offline Option 💾

Did you know you can use Canva presentations without an internet connection? It’s a lifesaver when Wi-Fi isn’t cooperating. Here’s how to enable offline access:

1. While you have an internet connection, go to your Canva homepage and find your presentation.

2. Click the More (•••) icon on the presentation’s thumbnail.

3. Select "Enable offline presenting" and confirm by clicking Continue.

Once enabled, your presentation will appear on your homepage, saved to your device and ready to open, even without internet. Note that embedded media, like YouTube videos, will not work without an internet connection.

Decibels Decide 👏

Playing Would You Rather is a classic brain break for classrooms, and ClassroomZen adds a unique twist: students vote with by applauding. Using the teacher’s microphone to measure decibel levels, ClassroomZen shows how much applause each choice receives.

While you can’t input your own choices, the tool offers a variety of engaging questions. The choices are displayed for 10 seconds before voting begins, and students have a quick 5-second window to cast their votes. It’s easy to set up and provides a fun, interactive way to reboot and refocus your class.

Snowflake Science ❄️

The Science of Snowflakes is a interactive document created by Karly Moura. It provides a variety of learning links for students in grades 3-8. There are videos, articles, and charts all about snowflakes. The document also has creative ways for students to apply and extend their learning.

Teachers can make a copy of the document and make changes before sharing with their students. If you do make a your own copy, you can nicely present your copy the way Karly presents hers:

1. In your copy of the Google Doc, click Share.

2. Under General access, change Restricted to Anyone with the link.

3. Click Copy link, then click Done.

4. When you paste the link, you’ll see the URL ends with “/edit?usp=sharing”. Replace with “/preview”.

Now, when the link is followed, the document will open in a distraction-free view that hides menus and editing tools—students only see the content, making it look more like a streamlined web page than a typical Google Doc.

Masked Messages 🎭

Google Fonts has nearly 2,000 fonts, and a couple of the strangest ones are Redacted and Redacted Script—these fonts are actually designed to be unreadable.

When text is changed to Redacted, each letter becomes a solid black rectangle.

With Redacted Script, letters are replaced with scribbles.

Since these fonts replace letters with meaningless markings, they can be used to black out text in a document. This is handy for hiding answer keys or creating mystery word reveals. To unveil the hidden text, simply switch the font back to something readable, like Helvetica, Lexend, or any standard font.

Form of Fortune

Introducing a funky new Google Forms template…

My Form of Fortune template brings a touch of serendipity to Google Forms! Respondents get a randomly selected question, making it particularly useful for exit tickets. The teacher can use the same form again and again, and students won’t have to answer the same question each time.

How does it work? The form's theme uses the Redacted font for text, which blacks out all the multiple-choice options. These choices are randomized and linked to individual sections, each containing a unique question.

The Redacted fonts prevents respondents from knowing which option they are actually choosing because they all look the same. I think it’s a pretty clever way to randomize the question a student receives.

It’s easier to experience than explain, so why not try it yourself? This Form of Fortune has questions designed to spark thoughtful reflection at the end of a lesson. You’re welcome to submit the form multiple times as you discover how it works.

Click the button below to get your own copy of the Form of Fortune with built-in reflection questions!

Reflection isn’t the only time that you might want to use the Form of Fortune. You could use it for thing like…

• spot-checking for understanding

• assigning vocab words to use in a sentence

• surprising students with randomized writing prompts

• giving out mystery research topics

Click the button below to get your own copy of a blank Form of Fortune. It contains instructions for entering your own questions.

Whether you use the template with built-in reflection questions or the template where you enter your own questions, I’d love to hear from you. I’m especially curious about the creative ways you’re using Form of Fortune in your classroom.

I revised the text above with the assistance of ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude.

You’re probably wondering why I use multiple AI chatbots. I have a few reasons. While ChatGPT currently does the best job for me, I often reach the free account limit. When that happens, I switch to another chatbot so I can keep working. Another reason I use multiple tools is to stay informed about how they compare. Over time, I’ve developed a solid understanding of how each one can enhance my writing.

Smiles from Iowa,

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Al was used to help revise and edit this newsletter. AI was used to generate alliterative section titles.