Using AI in the Classroom: 5 Strategies for Success in Middle School ELA

Writing is one of the most difficult subjects to teach. In an age of artificial intelligence (AI), kids are now tempted to cheat more than ever. Platforms such as ChatGPT and other forms of AI make it easier than ever for kids to give in to temptation. We must show students how to work with AI rather than not allowing it in the classroom. Read here for tips for using AI in the classroom.

1. Using AI in the Classroom – Know When and How

There are certainly times when using AI is more acceptable than others. Here are some great times for your kids to use AI:

• Essay ideas
• Brainstorming titles for narratives
• Brainstorming ideas for poetry writing
• Giving examples of poetic devices
• Brainstorming an outline for a nonfiction article
• Helping with vocabulary

More importantly, showing kids HOW you use AI is the biggest game changer. Kids need to know that AI is not there to say, write an entire essay, but rather a tool to help improve parts of it.

2. Setting Parameters When Using AI in the Classroom

Kids will need to be explicitly told about your rules for using AI in the classroom. As always, we can’t ever assume kids know the rules. They have to be taught, just like any other lesson.

I recommend creating a slideshow with your AI guidelines. Ideas to include:

• When they can/cannot use AI
• Using AI for parts of writing, not to write entire essays or paragraphs
• The concept of academic integrity
• The idea that students will need to still write on paper at times and that writing skills therefore need to be strong to move along in the academic system
• What AI systems you will allow them to use (ChatGPT?)
• How AI, when used inappropriately, is plagiarism and that there are strict consequences for this (maybe mention your school’s policy here)
• How easy it is for you as a teacher to spot writing done entirely on AI
• How important their “voice” is in their writing

It’s a good idea to put this slideshow on your website so it’s up for the year. I would also go over it with parents on back to school night, as well as send a copy home with a parent signature.

I have a FREE slideshow that includes all of the guidelines mentioned above. It’s editable as well so you can make it personal for your classes. Click here to grab your free AI Guidelines slideshow.

3. Teaching Strategies when Using AI in the Classroom

As a teacher, author, creator, blogger, podcaster, and YouTuber, I sometimes use AI for ideas. For example, the last thing I typed into ChatGPT was “Tell me 10 titles of middle school age fiction books about Native Americans”. AI is a phenomenal tool and should be used. However, we want kids to know how to use it.

The most important thing to note is that AI is used for ideas and pieces of writing, not the entire piece. As AI is relatively new, this will take a lot of guidance on your part.

I recommend doing “guided AI writing” with your students as part of your writing program. For example, if you are doing a poetry writing unit, give the students steps to follow and perhaps do this as a class rather than independently. For example, you might say to students, “type in 10 similies about the ocean, pick your favorite, and then re-word so it sounds like your writing”.

In fact, I just did the above prompt about the similes. Here is one that I got: “The ocean is like a vast book, with every ripple telling a story”. Show kids how you would know immediately realize that this is not their own writing. Tell them to change it up to make sense for what they are writing and to sound more like their own “voice”. Here’s an example of how you can change it: “The ocean is as wise as a book, with each wave telling its own story.”

The point is, kids will need guidance and practice with this. I would include a guided writing lesson for every unit that you teach. I’ve given you some examples for 3 units below: Essay writing, narrative writing, and poetry.

4. Essay Writing

Kids will benefit from some guided instruction for using AI when writing an essay. The most important thing for kids to understand is that you can’t use AI for the entire essay or even an entire paragraph.

The following are items that can be used for kids to search on AI when writing an essay. For this example, we will use the topic of “Should cell phones be allowed in the classroom?”.

• Reasons for your thesis – Example: “give me a list of pros and cons of using cell phones in the classroom”.
• Sources: Example: “give me 5 current articles on the benefits of cell phones in the classroom”
• Hooks: Example: “10 different hooks for an essay on why cell phones should be allowed in school”. It’s important that you tell them to pick their favorite but to change the wording so that it sounds like it is in their voice
• Concluding Statement: Example: “10 different concluding statements for an essay on why cell phones should be allowed in school”. Again, be sure to change up the wording to make it sound more natural.

It is also helpful for kids to then write their essays and ask AI to write an essay. They can do a comparison to see which one is better. Doing this in class as a guided exercise will benefit students greatly and will make using AI in the classroom beneficial rather than a disaster.

I have an entire product that takes students step-by-step in writing an essay with help from AI. Be sure to check it out in my TPT store.

5. Narrative Writing

As in essay writing, narrative writing provides a great learning experience for using AI in the classroom. Again, kids need to know to use it as a tool, not for their entire story.

I advise kids to do some brainstorming for their narrative before even touching AI. Using some basic plot structures might prove helpful.

The following are items that can be used for kids to search on AI when writing a narrative. For this example, we will use the ideas created in the photo above. I find it best to focus on “author’s crafts” as listed below. I’ve given you an example of what kids could possibly type in for ideas.

• Hook: Example: “5 different hooks for a story about a campfire taking place in a woodsy area of Pennsylvania in October where the main character thinks there is an intruder”
• Dialogue: Example: “5 different dialogue examples for a story with the main character of Linda and the minor character of Cara when they think someone is sneaking around their campsite”
• Symbolism: Example: “5 possibilities for symbolism for a campfire”
• Figurative Language: Example: “5 different simile examples for being afraid”
• Ending: Example: “5 different endings that shows a lesson learned for a story with the main character of Linda and the minor character of Cara when they catch a racoon sneaking around their campsite”

Whichever they select, it is crucial to have kids re-word it to make it their own. This is why I find it best to have kids write the AI version and then how they re-worded it. And again, I would also have them compare their narrative to one written entirely by AI so that they can see how much better it sounds in their own voice.

6. Writing Poetry

Using AI in the classroom to write poetry is similar to narrative writing. Select a few poetic devices to use, and have kids search them up. Searching for possible titles for a poem that is already written is another good strategy.

Here are some examples for a poem about growing pains:

• Simle: Example: “5 different similes for growing up”
• Personification: Example: “5 different examples of personifying clothes”
• Alliteration: Example: “5 different examples of alliteration for growing up”
• Title: Example: “5 different titles for a poem with the lines… (fill in lines of the poem here)”

Again, be sure to re-word and compare your own poem to a poem written completely with AI.

In Summary: Using AI in the Classroom

Some key takeaways:

• AI is a powerful tool for students.
• It’s not going away, so it’s crucial that we show students how to use it.
• Kids need to use it for ideas, and then re-word in their own “voice”.
• It is helpful for kids to compare a completed piece of writing to one generated solely with AI and to do some comparison and analysis.

Need More Support?

I’ve developed a membership for ELA teachers. This has been highly requested. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do because I know how ill-prepared many new teachers are after college. This has nothing to do with the teachers and everything to do with teachers’ colleges and the lack of good onboarding in districts in our country. Aside from curriculum, I offer new meaningful seasonal activities each month.

It’s a very robust membership. Some of the highlights:

• Complete curriculum mapping with access to 9 full-month units for the year
• Access to literacy centers, mini-lessons, a full-year grammar program, choice boards, video lessons, and seasonal activities
• Access to a private Facebook group, where I can answer your questions and go live to help you with more complex units

Click here for more information. As of now, we are in the “founding members” stage. You can lock into the price for as long as you keep up your membership. I’d love to have you!

Using AI in the Classroom: You’ve Got This!

Taking advantage of new technologies will serve you well with your middle schoolers. I would love to hear how you are using AI in the classroom. Please comment below! Any questions, feel free to email me at linda@allinonemiddleschool.com.

-Linda A. “All in One Middle School“

Helpful Resources

• Join the All in One Middle School Membership!
• Essay Writing Using AI Product
• Narrative Writing Using AI Product
• FREE AI Guidelines Slideshow
• My YouTube Channel – FREE lessons where I teach your class, plus First Chapter Fridays!
• Free First Chapter Friday Recording Sheet
• Click here to join the Middle School Language Arts Facebook Group