Guidance for Writing Essays Using Artificial Intelligence for Grade 7 English Students
At Amity Middle School in Orange, Connecticut, English teacher Bill Henry is leveraging the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help students improve their writing skills and prepare for a future where AI will likely play an important role.
Henry's school uses a platform that allows teachers to control what the AI can and cannot do in student interactions. One of the ways this is utilised is by having students generate three theme statements for their books, choosing the one that best fits, and providing examples from their books to back up their choice.
The AI is not meant to replace the writing process, but to aid students in understanding the processes behind writing better, particularly when used in conjunction with the district's curriculum and goals. Teachers are encouraged to use an AI program approved by the district and have control over its functions.
Initially, some students were concerned that AI would replace the writing process, but they became more enthusiastic about it once they understood its intended purpose. Many students have expressed interest in using AI for further assignments.
In Henry's 8th-grade lesson, students create a prompt for the AI asking for a statement related to the themes of their readings, and the AI offers advice on how to improve their prompt. This interactive approach helps students develop their writing skills and integrates technology as a tool, rather than a means to replace their thinking.
To ensure responsible and ethical use of AI in school writing exercises, best practices include committing to structured writing instruction, requiring transparency about AI use, teaching critical evaluation of AI outputs, ensuring human judgment and creativity are central, supporting scaffolds and differentiation using AI, and building trust and reducing anxiety around AI use.
Evidence suggests a mixed but generally positive response when AI is integrated thoughtfully. Students engage more with writing when supported by AI tools that provide scaffolding and instant feedback. Transparent AI usage policies combined with clear instructional guidance help students understand that AI support is a tool for enhancement, not a shortcut. Reducing the fear of plagiarism accusations through trust-building approaches encourages experimentation and deeper engagement with writing tasks.
Contrary to fears, the integration of AI does not signify the obsolescence of English teachers. Instead, AI can provide live feedback for students that supplements the teacher's feedback, allowing teachers to focus on guiding students and fostering creativity. Some students tried to override the approved AI platform with inappropriate prompts, but they still met the lesson objective. Henry teaches students how to use AI in a responsible and ethical manner, using MagicSchool AI, an AI chatbot approved by his district.
In conclusion, the successful integration of AI in education relies on structured writing pedagogy, transparency, critical thinking about AI outputs, focused assessment on human contribution, and creating a supportive, trust-based environment. Students tend to respond better when these conditions help them see AI as a constructive assistant rather than a source of academic shortcuts or anxiety.
- English teacher Bill Henry at Amity Middle School in Orange, Connecticut, uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help students improve their writing skills and prepare for a future where AIwill likely play an important role.
- Henry's school uses a platform that allows teachers to control what AI can and cannot do in student interactions, and one of the ways this is utilized is by having students generate theme statements for their books.
- The AI is not meant to replace the writing process but to aid students in understanding the processes behind writing better, particularly when used in conjunction with the district's curriculum and goals.
- In Henry's 8th-grade lesson, students create a prompt for the AI asking for a statement related to the themes of their readings, and the AI offers advice on how to improve their prompt.
- Contrary to fears, the integration of AI does not signify the obsolescence of English teachers. Instead, AI can provide live feedback for students that supplements the teacher's feedback, allowing teachers to focus on guiding students and fostering creativity.
