#teachertips

Last week’s winner: Number Talks

🥇 1. The Teacher is a Learner

You may find as a teacher, it can be seen as weakness if you don’t know something. Children feel the exact same most of the time! So show them that it’s okay not to know the answer all the time (even as an adult). It’s inspiring for the pupils to see that becoming a successful adult isn’t so far out of reach. 

🥈 2. Read children’s books!

After reading ‘Wonder’, I now see why the university was so keen to get us reading children’s literature. In Wonder’s case you look through the lens of a student and it is deeply inspiring to read. It also helps you relate to children more by being able to talk about stories children may know.  

🥉 3. Celebrate PROGRESS, not finished work

It may be tempting to judge a pupil’s ability based on the worksheets they are completing, but you shouldn’t do that! Children will often seek challenges (manageable ones) so this is why you be happy to see a child improve from week-to-week even if they are not ticking all the boxes right away.

Some other strategies…

How did “we” get there - as a teacher try not to single out someone by saying, “you”. Instead, when asking or answering a questions encourage the other children by using “we” in the sentence. It builds the relationship you have with your class and takes the pressure off of the person answering. 

Counting by 1s could be the reason a child is falling behind - as you can imagine, the larger the number, the longer it is going to take to count when answering sums. When going through sums, encourage children to find the more effective answer as some methods are slower and this might demotivate the children. 

Creativity outside - On my outdoor learning course, we learned that you can make art and be creative with just about anything. It can be a really freeing experience for children to express themselves. Picking up a pile of leaves and seeing it morph into something you’re proud of is actually very rewarding believe it or not.

Asking questions while reading - a simple, “what’s going to happen next?” will keep children engaged as well as build their skills [in the example’s case, prediction skills]

Make your success criteria with the pupils - if you AND your pupils create the success criteria, you and your pupils will have an element of shared understanding.

Tea Party at Number 10 -  a great activity for counting which shows the term “bridging through ten” in action. Children when given a sum have to jump to each lillypad and pit stop at the multiples of 10. 

Hope this helps!

In the fast-paced modern classroom, teachers are facing a new challenge: distinguishing between student creativity and AI-generated content. As ChatGPT and other models become more integrated into student life, having a reliable toolkit is essential for maintaining academic standards without spending hours on manual verification. Here are eight of the best ChatGPT detectors designed to help educators scan essays quickly and accurately.

1. GPTZero

Created by a Princeton student, GPTZero is often the first choice for academics. It specifically measures "perplexity" and "burstiness," offering a detailed report that highlights which parts of an essay likely came from a machine versus a human hand. It’s fast, intuitive, and built for school environments.

2. Turnitin AI Writing Detection

If your school already uses Turnitin for plagiarism, you likely already have access to one of the most powerful AI detectors. It integrates directly into the grading workflow, allowing teachers to check for both traditional plagiarism and AI-generated text in a single scan.

3. Copyleaks

Copyleaks stands out for its high accuracy in detecting content from advanced models like GPT-4. It offers a browser extension that allows teachers to scan text across different platforms, making it a versatile tool for various assignment types.

4. Sapling AI Detector

Sapling is known for its speed. It provides a real-time percentage score as you paste text into the box. It’s perfect for a "quick check" during a busy grading session when you just need an initial indicator of a paper's authenticity.

5. Winston AI

Winston AI is geared specifically toward educators and web publishers. It offers a unique feature: OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology. This allows teachers to scan photos of handwritten essays or printed papers, which is a major time-saver for physical classrooms.

6. ZeroGPT

ZeroGPT is a popular free option that provides a straightforward probability gauge. It highlights specific sentences that appear robotic, allowing teachers to have targeted conversations with students about those particular sections.

7. Originality.ai

While often used by professional editors, Originality.ai is excellent for higher education. It is one of the few tools that can effectively detect when AI-generated text has been "paraphrased" to hide its robotic origins, making it a robust defense for complex research papers.

Content at Scale AI Detector

This tool is great because it doesn't just give a percentage; it rates content based on "Predictability," "Probability," and "Pattern." This deeper level of analysis can help teachers understand exactly why a piece of writing feels "off."

The Educator's Imperative: Adapting, Not Just Reacting

Recognize the need for proactive adaptation strategies, not just reactive measures.

Master the use of essay scanning tools – they're critical, but just a piece of the puzzle.

The key lies in re-strategizing grading techniques to alleviate risks of AI-generated submissions.

Work towards encouraging original work and promoting academic integrity.

Remember, it's a game of adaptation. The goal is not to win, but to evolve.

Final Thoughts: Empowering Teachers, Not Just Catching Cheaters

While detecting AI plagiarism is important, the heart of the matter is empowering teachers to uphold academic standards. It's about fostering an environment where authentic student work is the norm, not the exception. Equipping educators with tools to discern AI-generated text from original content encourages meaningful dialogue about the value of personal contribution to knowledge. It's not merely about catching cheaters, it's about cultivating authenticity, fostering ethical use of technology and enhancing educators' grading efficiency.

Fine motor skills are the foundation for writing. ✍️

Turning a 2D sheet into a 3D helicopter isn't just fun—it's building hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and patience.

Creating Predictability

Children thrive when they know what to expect. Consistent classroom routines are more than just schedule management; they are the foundation of emotional safety. By establishing predictable daily rhythms, teachers reduce student anxiety and create a calm environment where learning can flourish.

Practical Insight: The Morning Circle