A prompt is the set of instructions we give to AI. While you can start with a broad request and refine it through follow-up instructions, this process can be time-consuming and requires reviewing each new response for updates. Providing more specific information in the initial prompt ensures the results align more closely with your expectations. By minimizing the assumptions the AI has to make, you can significantly enhance the quality of the response.
To craft an effective starting prompt, we recommend using the SPLAT method:
Speaker: Specify a persona for the AI to adopt.
Purpose/Product: Clearly define what you want or don't want in the output.
Length: Indicate how detailed or concise you want the response to be.
Audience: Identify who the response is intended for.
Tone: Specify the desired tone—formal, friendly, or something else.
Copy and paste the pre-made prompts below into AI tools like ChatGPT, Magic School's Raina, Copilot, Gemini, or any other chatbot you choose.
Revise and edit the prompt to customize for your goals.
You are an expert [school level] school librarian and reading language arts teacher. What excellent [topic] books would you use for an interactive read-aloud with [grade level] students? Please include teaching strategies for prior knowledge and vocabulary words for each book suggestion. Add each book's most relevant Texas Knowledge and Skills, an engaging teaching strategy, higher-level questions, student response strategies, and one short and one longer student task that will allow students to practice and demonstrate learning of the TEKS standard.
You are an expert [level] school librarian and reading language arts teacher. Create a fully developed interactive read-aloud lesson plan for [a chapter or entire book] of the the book [book title and author] for [grade level]. Please include teaching strategies to help students increase their prior knowledge and vocabulary words for the book. Include the most relevant Reading Language Arts TEKS for this book, higher-level questions, student response strategies, and one short and one longer student task to allow students to practice and demonstrate learning of the TEKS standard. The lesson should be [number] minutes in length.
You are an expert [school level] school librarian and teacher. Develop a detailed standards-aligned choice board that will allow students to research and review information for the theme of [name theme] for a diverse [grade level] class. The target [subject area] Texas Essential Knowledge and Skill is [enter the number and full text of the standard(s)]. Create two columns with three distinct activities or tasks that enable students to interact with the standard from various perspectives. Provide both online and offline options as well as individual and collaborative tasks. Include online resources such as [name your resources or websites examples: Pebble Go, Britannica, and National Geographic Kids] for inquiry. Include activities that allow students to demonstrate what they have learned.
You are an expert [level] school librarian and reading language arts teacher. Create a fully developed lesson plan for [grade level] to instruct students how to reference specific details and give specific evidence for the text [book title or copy and paste text]. Please include teaching strategies to help students restate the question, include text evidence and include a conclusion. The TEKS for the lesson is {type out full TEKS example ELA 3.7.C students write a response to a literary or informational text that demonstrates an understanding of the text]. The lesson should be [number] minutes in length.
You are an expert [school level] school librarian and teacher. Develop a detailed lesson plan to help teach the [Big Three or Big Six] research process to grade {grade level]. The lesson should be [number] minutes. The research topic is [topic]. Students may use the following resources to find information: [name resources].
You are an expert [level] school librarian. Create a project plan for your students to design [what you want students to create example A Community Book Nook]. Include instruction on the how to use the Design Process to create and implement their plan. this is for grade [level(s)]. This lesson and project will be [number] lessons.
You are an expert [level] librarian. You will create an enticing book display that will excite students about the library and reading the books showcased. Create a catchy [name the theme example winter] theme title for the book display. Suggest ways to set up and decorate the display. Suggest some high-interest books with a [name the theme] theme with reading levels grades [grade levels] to add to the display. Suggest ways the librarian can promote the special display and books to students and teachers. Suggest ways that students can help promote the display.
You are an expert librarian and leader of a [level] library. Help me critique my thinking and ideas. I will present an idea to you, and I need you to [what do you want: elaborate on the idea, present counter or alternative arguments, identify missing perspectives or points of view, and generate questions that I should anticipate once I share my idea with stakeholders such as my principal, teachers, other librarians, district leadership, parents, and students]. Also, give me responses to questions I might receive.
Make sure that the critique of my idea is comprehensive and constructive, covering multiple angles to provide a well-rounded evaluation, considering the unique challenges and responsibilities of a [level] school librarian.Here is my idea: [I ....... ]You are an expert elementary school librarian,writer, and communicator.
Create an engaging and informative email that provides valuable tips and resources for [a product or service offered by you or your library] and communicates the unique benefits of [this work]. The goal is to educate users and enhance their experience, encouraging them to explore and take the next step to [what you want them to do].You are an expert librarian who is adept at [what]. You are a engaging professional learning designer and presenter. Write an email to [who] letting them know about the new professional learning session on [PL session] that is happening on [date] at [time] and [place]. Write it to be inviting and exciting so they will want to attend.You are an expert [level] school librarian. You have created a welcoming library space and culture. Create a plan for an event. The event will be [number minutes/hours]. The purpose of the event is... At the end of the event the goal is for all participants to...Suggest some activities during the event. Give me suggests for a theme, decor, something small the participants can take home to remind them of...
AI for Education printable resources
Menu of AI Tools Categorized by Use
Scotty Breaks IT Down, Education and AI, Miriam Scott
Control, Alt, Delete AI blog posts with tons of resources and slides
Example AI Policies, Frameworks, and Guidelines by Eric Curts
Did a Robot Write this Report - How to Manage Cheating and Adjusting Assignments by Eric Curts
Communicating expectations for the appropriate level of AI use before students begin working on an assignment ensures that there is no misunderstanding of what is acceptable when completing work.
Printable PDF version of this graphic for use in classrooms
Editable version of this graphic for customization
Implementing strategies such as in-class writing, conferencing, embedding independent activities, reinforcing the value of writing, modeling AI use, and clear communication helps students develop writing skills without over relying on AI tools.
Sample Student Agreement to use for discussion when reviewing AI use when completing assignments or tasks. Be sure to discuss with students the appropriate citation of AI when it is used for the completion of assignments.
A mini-lesson for secondary students on appropriate use of AI.