Fourth graders at Unqua Elementary School are combining the expert knowledge of their teachers with emerging digital tools to become stronger writers. As the Massapequa School District embraces artificial intelligence as a resource for student learning, educators and students are exploring the possibilities together.
Technology learning coach Meredith Marin has been visiting fourth grade classrooms to support AI integration into the curriculum. This is in addition to hosting before-school professional development sessions for teachers.
During a recent activity, students looked at a picture of a sad girl who had just dropped her ice cream, and had to create an original short story. They then put this story into Magic School and had AI give suggestions to make the writing better. Among the AI advice that students received was writing a catchier introduction, adding dialogue and including more sensory details.
“AI isn’t going anywhere,” Ms. Marin said. “Students need to learn how to use it as a helping tool.”
Teacher Leanne Leder said that her fourth graders are in the middle of a narrative writing unit, and AI will be used to help them with their nonfiction stories. The assignment with the ice cream picture was to get them familiar with the approved AI resources available to them.
Students are crafting small moment stories focusing on a challenge they faced and overcame. Ms. Leder first introduced the concept of narrative writing and the elements their stories should include. Part of the writing process includes editing and revising, and she noted that self-editing can be difficult for even the most accomplished writers. Students will use AI to help improve their narrative pieces before having their individual writing conferences with their teacher.