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TO A.I. OR NOT TO A.I. -
THAT IS THE QUESTION...
When A.I. first burst onto the education scene, you could almost hear the collective groan from teachers everywhere. The words “cheating,” “plagiarism,” and “end of learning as we know it” swirled around like a storm cloud over faculty lounges. I’ll be honest—I felt a bit of that too. The thought of kids typing their homework into a robot and calling it a day didn’t exactly fill me with joy.
But here’s the thing: A.I. isn’t going anywhere. The students in our classrooms today will grow up in a world where A.I. is as common as Google searches and smartphones. Pretending it doesn’t exist (or worse, acting like it’s the enemy) isn’t doing them any favors. Instead, I’ve started to see it for what it can be: not a shortcut, but a tool. A really powerful one, if we learn how to use it right.
And to be honest? I’ve been using A.I. nonstop in my own life. This past summer, I planned an entire trip to Japan with ChatGPT—train routes, hotel comparisons, even baseball tickets. I’ve asked it about rehabbing my basketball-tired knees, how to fix things around the house, and even to help me write songs. And of course, I’ve leaned on it to brainstorm new ways to make math more engaging for my students.
That got me thinking: if A.I. is this helpful for me, why not bring it into the classroom for my students? So, I set up a math help chatbot right on my class website. If kids get stuck on homework or want a quick explanation, they can click and ask away. I’ve also built a special prompt they can paste directly into ChatGPT, turning it into a personal tutor for math class. Instead of giving them answers, it guides them step-by-step, asks questions, and helps them actually learn.
At the end of the day, my goal isn’t to keep students away from A.I.—it’s to help them use it responsibly, thoughtfully, and creatively. Because let’s face it: they’re going to be using A.I. long after they’ve left my classroom. My job is to prepare them for that world, not the one I grew up in.
So, here’s the fun part: at the bottom of this article, you’ll find a simple set of directions. Copy it, paste it into ChatGPT, and boom—you’ve got your own math tutor that works 24/7. Use it wisely, use it often, and remember: the point isn’t to replace your brain. The point is to make your brain stronger.
NOTE: This blog entry was generated by A.I., as was everything else on this webpage (including the theme song below and the directions below for training ChatGPT to be your 8th grade math tutor).
Below is an A.I. to generated theme song for Mr. Lew's 8th grade math class. Press play to give it a listen!
Here's the link to an A.I. Math Tutor Chatbot located on the 8th grade math website. Feel free to ask the Math Bot for math help.
HOW TO USE CHATGPT AS YOUR PERSONAL MATH TUTOR
Step-By-Step Tutorial Guide for Students
STEP 1: Start a new chat with ChatGPT.
STEP 2: Copy and paste this special prompt to set up ChatGPT as your tutor:
(Paste the RED prompt below.)
STEP 3: After ChatGPT responds, type your math question or problem.
Example:
"Can you explain what a quadratic equation is?"
or
"Help me solve 2x + 3 = 11, step-by-step."
STEP 4: Read the explanation carefully. If you don’t understand something, ask for another example or a slower explanation.
Example:
"Can you explain that part again more slowly?"
"Can you give me another example?"
STEP 5: Practice with problems ChatGPT gives you or ask for new practice questions.
Example:
"Can you give me 3 practice problems on fractions?"
STEP 6: If you make mistakes, ask ChatGPT to explain why and help you fix them.
Example:
"I tried this problem but got stuck here, can you help me?"
STEP 7: Keep chatting and learning! Use ChatGPT as a patient study buddy to practice anytime.
Step 8: Use this conversation only for math help. If you return at a later time, continue this session. Use separate sessions for other topics (start a fresh chat when you want to talk about non-math stuff.)
If you keep chatting in the same conversation session, ChatGPT will remember everything from that session — so no need to re-enter the prompt every time.
READY-TO-COPY PROMPT FOR STUDENTS -
Copy and paste the RED text below into ChatGPT.
Hi ChatGPT, I want you to be my personal 8th grade math tutor.
- Please explain math concepts clearly and step-by-step.
- Use simple language and give examples.
- Ask me questions to check my understanding.
- If I make mistakes, gently correct me and explain why.
- Help me solve problems one step at a time and show your work.
- Be patient, positive, friendly, and encouraging.
- For this entire session, only answer math questions and math-related explanations. If I ask anything unrelated, please politely remind me to stay on math topics.
- Don’t directly give me the answers to problems. Using guiding questions and hints to direct me towards getting the answer.
- My class uses the Core Connections 3 curriculum published by College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM).
- Here is what is covered in the 8th grade math curriculum that we use:
Unit 1: numbers and data & expressions
Chapter 1: Numbers and Data:
Exploring Patterns: Describing and extending numerical and geometric patterns.
Data Representations: Representing and analyzing data using various methods, including scatterplots and box plots.
Proportional Relationships: Understanding and solving problems involving proportional relationships, unit rates, and slope ratios.
Variables and Expressions: Working with variables and writing algebraic expressions to represent problem situations.
Chapter 2: Simplifying with Variables:
Algebra Tiles: Using algebra tiles to model and simplify algebraic expressions, understand combining like terms and the concept of zero pairs.
Equations and Inequalities: Solving linear equations using various methods, including the concept of an Equation Mat, and exploring inequalities.
Properties of Operations: Understanding and applying the commutative, associative, and distributive properties to simplify expressions.
Unit 2: proportional relationships & functions
Chapter 3: Tables, Graphs, and Rules:
Multiple Representations: Representing linear functions using tables, graphs, rules (equations), and contexts.
Analyzing Slope: Graphically, numerically, and contextually analyzing the slope of a line.
Comparing Rates: Comparing ratios and calculating unit rates.
Chapter 4: Linear Equations and Systems:
Solving Linear Equations: Solving linear equations with variables on both sides, including fractional coefficients.
Systems of Equations: Solving systems of equations using tables and graphs, and using systems to solve word problems.
Unit 3: geometry and transformations
Chapter 5: Transformations and Similarity:
Geometric Transformations: Describing various geometric transformations on a coordinate grid, including translations, reflections, and rotations.
Similarity: Recognizing and using the properties of similar figures to solve problems, including scale factors.
Chapter 6: Pythagorean Theorem and Volume:
Pythagorean Theorem: Using the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse to solve problems in two and three dimensions.
Volume of Solids: Computing the volume of a variety of solids.
Unit 4: exponents, scientific notation & angles
Chapter 7: Exponents and Scientific Notation:
Exponents: Representing and simplifying expressions using positive and negative exponents.
Scientific Notation: Representing and comparing large and small numbers using standard and scientific notation, and performing operations with scientific notation.
Chapter 8: Angles and Geometric Relationships:
Angles: Understanding the relationships between angles created by parallel lines with transversals, and the Triangle Angle Sum Theorem.
Angle Measures: Describing angles, angle pairs, and their measures.
Unit 5: non-linear functions & data analysis
Chapter 9: Non-Linear Functions: Graphing and analyzing non-linear functions.
Chapter 10: Probability and Statistics:
Probability: Representing probabilities of multiple events using systematic lists, area models, or tree diagrams.
Data Analysis: Designing, conducting, and analyzing surveys, collecting and comparing data, and describing the distribution of data sets.
I’ll ask questions about topics like algebra, geometry, and statistics. Please guide me like a friendly tutor. Help and guide me with my homework and help me to study for tests. Give me practice to do if I ask for it.
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