Please Bookmark or take note of this idea for future reference as our students do not have access to Notebook LM yet.

🧠 Notebook LM Tip of the Day: Power Student-Led Fact Verification (Video)

The Tip: Use Notebook LM to turn a small set of curated, reliable sources (e.g., three news articles, two PDF primary sources) into a Verification Partner for students, helping them quickly check the accuracy of claims found in their research or generated by a separate general AI.

Why It Matters: In an age of widespread generative AI and misinformation, teaching students to corroborate facts against trusted, closed-set sources is a critical skill. Notebook LM limits the student's search space to only the materials you provide, making fact-checking manageable, less overwhelming, and focused on specific evidence rather than endless, general web searches.

Example in Action:

• General Classroom: A 10th-grade Social Studies teacher uploads three different historical accounts of the Industrial Revolution. Students are given a list of common misconceptions and use Notebook LM's chat to ask, "According to these sources, is it true that factory conditions immediately improved due to new laws?" The AI will synthesize the evidence from the documents.

• Elementary (K-5): A 4th-grade teacher uploads a science text and two related reading passages on biomes. Students use the notebook to verify statements they wrote in a draft report, like "My report says all desert animals sleep during the day. Is that confirmed by these sources?"

• Secondary (6-12): A high school Biology class uses a notebook containing lab protocols and safety sheets. Students can ask, "What are the required disposal steps for chemical X, according to this lab guide?" to check their pre-lab notes.

• Specialist Adaptations:

  • PE/Health: Upload articles on safe strength training. Students use the notebook to verify the correct form for an exercise or the facts about protein intake.

  • Music/Art: Upload art history readings and artist biographies. Students verify biographical dates or the materials used in a famous piece against the provided text.

  • CTE (e.g., HVAC): Upload two different equipment manuals. Students verify a specific troubleshooting step against both sources.

  • SPED: Use a simplified set of sources on a topic and guide students to verify 2-3 key points from a pre-written summary, building confidence in their evidence-gathering skills.

How-To Instructions:

1. Select High-Quality Sources: Choose 3-5 reliable documents (PDFs, Google Docs, or copied web text) that represent a specific body of knowledge.

2. Create the Notebook: Open Notebook LM and create a new notebook. Upload your selected sources.

3. Frame the Task: Teach students to ask verification questions that start with phrases like: "According to Source A, is X true?" or "What evidence do these documents provide for claim Y?"

4. Crucially: Encourage Corroboration: After Notebook LM provides an answer, instruct students to check the Source Citations (the links to the original documents within the Notebook) to see exactly where the answer came from. This reinforces the necessity of evidence.

5. Focus on Evidence, Not Just Answers: The goal is to see the source references, not just the AI's summary. This trains them to value the underlying evidence.

✍️ Gemini Tip of the Day: Draft High-Quality Family Communications Instantly (Video)

The Tip: Use Gemini to quickly generate drafts of common administrative and communication documents—like class newsletters, parent emails, or field trip permission slips—directly in Google Docs or the main Gemini interface.

Why It Matters: Teachers spend countless hours drafting communications, often repeating the same information in different formats. Gemini acts as an administrative assistant, quickly creating a professional, clear draft that you can review and send, freeing up time to focus on instruction.

Example in Action:

• General Classroom: An 8th-grade ELA teacher needs to draft a weekly class newsletter summarizing the week's learning, upcoming project deadlines, and a "Great Work" student shout-out section.

• Elementary (K-5): A 1st-grade teacher uses Gemini to draft a permission slip and detailed itinerary for a zoo field trip, ensuring all logistical details (chaperone ratio, lunch, clothing) are included.

• Secondary (6-12): A high school Physics teacher drafts an email to the parents of students with missing assignments, using a professional but firm tone, and offering an afternoon support session.

• Specialist Adaptations:

  • PE/Health: Draft a monthly email to families explaining the fitness unit's goals and suggesting at-home activities to support healthy habits.

  • Music/Art: Draft a press release or newsletter section promoting an upcoming school concert or art show, including ticket/attendance details.

  • CTE (e.g., Robotics): Draft a sponsorship request letter to local businesses to fund a competition team's materials and travel.

  • SPED: Draft a professional, collaborative email to a parent requesting a quick check-in meeting to discuss a new accommodation strategy.

How-To Instructions:

1. Open Gemini: Go to your school's Gemini tool (either the standalone app or the side panel in Google Docs/Gmail, depending on your district's access).

2. Use a Clear Prompt: Start with your document type and key context. The more detail, the better!

   • Example Prompt: "Draft a friendly, professional weekly class newsletter for my 5th-grade classroom. Our focus was on fractions this week and next week is the solar system unit. Include a request for three parent volunteers for our science center setup and a reminder about the spirit day next Friday."

3. Specify Tone and Length: Add constraints like "Keep the tone warm and encouraging," or "Limit the final draft to under 300 words."

4. Review and Refine: Gemini will generate a draft. Always review it for accuracy. Check names, dates, specific class details, and your school's official policies.

5. Translate (Optional): If needed, ask Gemini to translate the final version into a common home language for your students' families.

🎲 Code Your Own Interactive Classroom Game with Canva Code (Videos)

The Tip: Use Canva Code (often referred to as the AI Code Generator) to instantly create custom, interactive widgets for your classroom with just a simple text prompt—no actual coding knowledge required. You can generate tools like randomizers, quiz games, flashcard activities, or even simple calculators and embed them directly into your Canva presentations, worksheets, or websites.

Why It Matters

Canva Code bridges the gap between static design and dynamic engagement. Instead of just presenting information, you can create a functional, interactive element that immediately checks student understanding, adds an element of gamification, or simplifies a complex calculation. This boosts engagement and gives students instant feedback, all while keeping them within the familiar and safe environment of Canva.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 9th-grade Math teacher needs a quick daily review of slope formulas. The teacher uses Canva Code to generate an "Interactive Slope Formula Quiz Widget" that asks 5 random questions and captures the score. The teacher embeds the widget onto the day's presentation slide so students can play a quick round as a warm-up.

Elementary: Generate a "Randomizer Spinner" widget pre-loaded with different genres or topics (e.g., "Animals," "Space," "Fairy Tales") to pick the subject for the day's writing or reading activity.

PE: Create a "Workout Dice Roller" widget that generates a random exercise and repetition count (e.g., "15 Squats," "20-second Plank") for a fun warm-up activity.

Secondary: Generate a "Historical Date Matching Game" widget. Prompt it with a specific list of events and dates for a unit review, and embed it into a study guide document.

Art/Music: Create a "Color Theory Calculator" or a "Musical Scale Explorer" widget that generates complementary colors or displays notes in a specific key when prompted.

SPED/CTE: Generate a "Step-by-Step Checklist App" for a complex task (e.g., proper hand-washing, machine start-up). The widget guides students through the task, checking off steps as they go, promoting independence.

CTE: Create a "Unit Conversion Calculator" widget specific to carpentry or electronics measurements for quick reference during lab work.

How-To Instructions

1. Access Canva Code: Go to the Canva homepage and look for the "Canva AI" option (often in the sidebar or a launchpad). Choose "Code for me" to open the chat interface. (Alternatively, search the "Elements" tab in the editor for "Generate code.")

2. Write Your Prompt: Describe the interactive element you want to create in natural language. Be specific about the function, content, and design.

   • Example Prompt: "Create an interactive flashcard game for 8th-grade history on the causes of the American Revolution. Use red, white, and blue colors."

3. Refine the Result: Canva will generate the code and show you a preview. If it's not perfect, use the chat box to give feedback: "Make the text larger," or "Add two more questions about taxation."

4. Embed and Share: Once you are satisfied, click "Use in a design." The widget will be added to your canvas, ready to be resized, positioned, and shared with students via a presentation, Doc, or Canva website.

🎧 Create Your Curriculum Podcast with Notebook LM’s Audio Overview (Video)

The Tip: Use Notebook LM's Audio Overview feature to transform your static curriculum documents, lengthy research papers, or complex textbook chapters into an engaging, multi-host, podcast-style audio summary. You can customize the length, tone (e.g., Debate, Critique, Deep Dive), and focus, giving students a compelling, accessible, auditory way to review or pre-learn content.

Why It Matters: This feature is a game-changer for Universal Design for Learning (UDL), as it provides a robust, auditory pathway to core content. It supports English Language Learners, students with reading challenges (like dyslexia), and auditory learners. It also makes your content review portable—students can listen on the bus, while exercising, or during a study hall, transforming passive text into an active, conversational review.

Example in Action: General Classroom: A high school science teacher uploads five different lab reports and scientific articles about climate change. The teacher generates an "Audio Overview" set to Debate format. The AI hosts discuss the different conclusions and methodologies of the sources, allowing students to hear a balanced, engaging summary before the class discussion.

Elementary: Upload a short story or history fact sheets, setting the focus to "Main Characters" or "Key Dates." Generate a "Brief" Audio Overview that sounds like a fun, light news report to review before a quiz.

PE: Upload a document of the rules and strategies for a specific sport (e.g., volleyball rotations). Generate an "In-depth" overview for students to listen to outside of class.

Secondary: Upload a complex primary source, like a Supreme Court ruling. Generate a "Critique" Audio Overview where the hosts discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the majority and dissenting opinions.

Music: Upload articles on music theory and a composer's biography. The Audio Overview can discuss how the theory is reflected in the composer's work.

SPED/CTE: Upload safety manuals or step-by-step assembly guides. Generate an "Interactive Mode" Audio Overview, allowing the student to verbally ask the AI hosts questions as they listen, clarifying procedures in real-time.

Art: Upload art history readings. Generate a "Deep Dive" overview focusing on the elements of design (color, line, form) in a particular artistic movement.

How-To Instructions

1. Open or Create a Notebook: Go to Notebook LM and select the notebook containing the sources (Docs, PDFs, web links) you want to use.

2. Generate Audio Overview: Look in the main chat panel or in the "Studio" area for the Audio Overview feature (often represented by a headphone or podcast icon 🎧).

3. Customize the Audio: You will be prompted to select options:

   • Length: Choose "Brief" or "In-depth."

   • Format/Tone: Select a style like "Deep Dive," "Critique," or "Debate."

   • Focus (Optional): Add a custom instruction like "Focus only on the economic causes" or "Use language suitable for a 9th grader."

4. Listen and Share: Notebook LM generates the audio. Listen to a preview. Once ready, click the share option to get a link that you can post in Google Classroom or your learning management system (LMS) for students to access.

🎒 Brisk Boost: Turn Any Resource into an Interactive AI Tutor (Video)

The Tip: Use Brisk Boost to instantly transform any existing digital content (a Google Doc, a website article, a PDF, or even a YouTube video) into an interactive, AI-powered learning activity for your students. You select the activity type (like "Tutor," "Debate," or "Character Chat") and set the learning objectives, giving students a safe, personalized, and guided chat experience tailored to your content.

Why It Matters

Brisk Boost shifts the AI from a teacher tool to a student learning tool that you control. It provides every student with an adaptive, 1:1 tutor that supports them exactly where they are—asking probing questions, checking understanding, and guiding them toward mastery of your specific learning objectives. This frees you up to facilitate and work with small groups, all while gaining real-time insights into student progress.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 7th-grade history teacher is using a challenging primary source document on the feudal system. The teacher Boosts the Google Doc and selects the "Tutor" activity. Students access the link and interact with the AI tutor, which guides them through paraphrasing key sections, defining vocabulary, and connecting the document's concepts to the unit's learning goals.

Specialist Areas

Elementary: Boost a read-aloud video or simple science fact sheet, selecting a "Character Chat" activity (e.g., chat with a fictional scientist or historical figure) to check comprehension.

PE: Boost a document detailing the rules for a new sport (e.g., Ultimate Frisbee) and use the "Pulse Check" activity to ensure students understand safety and game mechanics.

Secondary: Boost a complex research paper or a technical specification and use the "Debate" activity to have students argue opposing viewpoints on a controversial topic from the text.

Music: Boost an article about the history of the blues and select the "Tutor" mode to help students analyze musical structure and cultural impact.

SPED/CTE: Boost a safety manual or a machine operation guide, setting clear, simplified learning objectives and using the "Inquiry" activity to have the AI guide them through a safe, virtual self-check of the procedures.

Art: Boost an image of a famous painting and select the "Inquiry" mode to prompt students to analyze the composition, light, and historical context.

How-To Instructions

1. Find Your Resource: Navigate to the content you want to use (e.g., a web article, a PDF you have open, or a Google Doc).

2. Open Brisk Boost: Click the Brisk Teaching Chrome extension icon ("B") and select the "Boost Student Activity" option (often marked with a red backpack 🎒).

3. Choose Activity & Objectives: Select an activity type (e.g., Tutor, Character Chat, Debate, Exit Ticket). The AI will generate suggested learning objectives based on the content; review and edit these to match your lesson goals precisely.

4. Set Parameters (Optional): Customize the grade level, language, and add any specific AI guardrails to keep the discussion safe and focused.

5. Share: Preview the activity, then click "Share with students." You will get a unique link, code, or QR code to post in your LMS (like Google Classroom) for students to begin the interactive experience.

🚀 Use Gemini to Create Your Own Custom AI Assistant (Gems) (Video)

The Tip

Use Gemini's Gems feature to create a custom, reusable AI assistant pre-loaded with specific context, a persona, and rules for a recurring teaching task. You define the Context, Task, and Refinement once, and your Gem will generate tailored lesson plans, rubrics, parent communications, or any other output exactly how you need it, every time.

Why It Matters

This is a massive time-saver for repetitive, administrative, or planning tasks. By "caching" your most common, detailed prompts (like "act as a 9th-grade biology teacher," "must include an accommodation for IEPs," and "format as a 5-step lesson plan"), you eliminate re-typing lengthy instructions and ensure consistent, high-quality, differentiated output on the first try.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 10th-grade English teacher creates a Gem called "Standards-Aligned Quiz Generator" that is pre-programmed to: Act as a 10th-grade ELA teacher, generate 5 multiple-choice and 2 short-answer questions for the provided text, and align to Common Core standards for Reading Informational Text. The teacher just pastes the new reading passage into the Gem's prompt box and clicks "Go."

Elementary vs. Secondary (Specialist Areas)

Elementary: Use a Gem for Parent Email Drafting pre-set to a friendly, encouraging tone and a low reading level for all communications.

PE: Create a "PE Lesson Plan Gem" programmed with safety rules, equipment lists, and differentiation for motor skill levels.

Secondary: Use a Gem for Discipline-Specific Hook Generator pre-set with historical context or scientific principles to generate engaging lesson openers.

Art/Music: Create a "Rubric Maker Gem" with criteria for creativity, technique, and historical context built in.

SPED/CTE: Use a Gem for Content Simplifier pre-set to simplify complex texts to a specific reading level (e.g., Lexile 500) and highlight key vocabulary.

CTE: Create a "Safety Checklist Gem" that always generates a pre- and post-check for workshop or lab environments.

How-To Instructions

1. Access Gems: Go to the Gemini app and look for the option to "Create a new Gem" (usually under the main menu or a "Gems" manager).

2. Define the Persona/Task: Give your Gem a clear name (e.g., "7th Grade Science Lesson Planner"). In the instructions box, use the C-T-R method:

   • Context (C): Act as a 7th-grade physical science teacher with 15 years of experience.

   • Task (T): Generate a 45-minute inquiry-based lesson plan.

   • Refinement (R): Must include a hands-on activity, one link to an age-appropriate YouTube video, and an exit ticket.

3. Refine the Tone: Adjust the suggested tone or personality if desired (e.g., "Professional," "Encouraging," "Witty").

4. Save and Use: Save your Gem. The next time you need a lesson plan, simply click on your saved "7th Grade Science Lesson Planner" Gem and give it the topic, like: "Create a lesson plan on Newton's Third Law of Motion.

🛑 AI Tip of the Day: WI DPI's AI-Last Protocol for Student Work (Video)

The Tip: Implement the "AI-Last Writing Protocol" recommended by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) in their ethical AI guidance. This protocol ensures students focus on human-first critical thinking by requiring them to draft their work before using AI for refinement, and then they must label and justify every change made by the AI.

Why It Matters

This shifts the focus from "Will AI write my paper?" to "How can AI enhance my human-written work?" By making students disclose, label, and justify AI edits, the protocol maintains academic integrity, promotes AI literacy, and trains students in critical editing skills rather than simple copy-pasting. It ensures the teacher is assessing the student's core thinking and writing, not the AI's.

Example in Action

General Classroom:

A High School ELA teacher gives an essay assignment. The final paper must include a section where the student labels all AI-suggested edits.

The prompt for the student is:

"Draft your introductory paragraph. Then, use an AI tool (like Gemini or ChatGPT) for one 5-minute session to suggest edits for clarity and tone. You must label accepted changes with [AI] and include a one-sentence justification explaining why you accepted the change."

Adaptations:

• Elementary vs. Secondary Teachers:

  • Elementary (Grade 5): Students draft a short story. They can use a simple tool (like Grammarly or a built-in spelling checker) and are only required to verbally disclose to the teacher which AI tool they used for spell-check, practicing disclosure without complex labeling.

  • Secondary (High School History): Students write a summary of a primary source. They must use AI only to suggest better synonyms or conciseness and label all accepted changes, practicing precise language refinement.

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Students write a training log. They can use AI to check grammar on their reflection, but the data and reflection must be human-only.

  • Music/Art: Students write an artist statement or composer analysis. They use AI for formatting or citation style fixes only, labeling all fixes. The core critique/analysis must be their original thought.

  • CTE: Students write a process manual (e.g., how to use a machine). They use AI to improve the step-by-step clarity of their human-written instructions, labeling changes that improved safety or clarity.

  • SPED: Use the protocol to support independence. Students draft their work, and the AI tool is used as a scaffold for sentence structure (not content). They simply highlight the AI-assisted sentence to practice the concept of disclosure.

How-To Instructions

1. Define the "Human-Only Zone": Tell students the initial task must be completed without AI (e.g., the first full draft, the thesis statement, or the reflection questions).

2. Set the "AI-Last Timebox": Allocate a specific, short time window (e.g., 5-10 minutes) for students to use an approved AI tool for enhancement only (e.g., clarity, tone, grammar, not content creation).

3. Provide the AI Prompt: Give students a narrow, specific AI prompt they must use, such as: "Suggest 3 concise edits to improve the clarity and tone of this paragraph. Do not add new ideas."

4. Require Labeling and Justification: Instruct students that when they move the AI-suggested text into their draft, they must:

   • Add a tag: [AI] or highlight the text.

   • Write a one-sentence justification nearby: "I accepted this edit because it made the sentence's tone more formal for a history essay."

5. Assess the Revision: Grade not only the final product but also the student's reflection on their AI use—did they follow the protocol, and were their justifications thoughtful?

6. Try it out!

🎨 AI Tip of the Day: Canva's Magic Design for Presentations (Video)

The Tip

Use Canva's Magic Design for Presentations (part of the Magic Studio suite) to instantly generate an entire, multi-page slide deck based on a simple text prompt. By including your subject, grade level, and key topic in the prompt, Canva provides several visually distinct, professionally designed template options complete with relevant images, slide outlines, and placeholder content.

Why It Matters

This feature is the fastest way to get a visually engaging first draft of any lesson presentation. Instead of spending time choosing fonts, selecting layouts, and searching for non-copyrighted stock photos, teachers can go straight from a simple idea to a fully designed, editable presentation in seconds. This allows you to focus your energy on customizing the pedagogical content rather than the aesthetics.

Example in Action

General Classroom:

A 9th-grade History teacher needs a quick lesson introduction on the Renaissance.

They use the following prompt in the Magic Design feature:

"A 7-slide presentation for 9th Grade History on the Causes and Key Figures of the Italian Renaissance. Use a scholarly, art history style."

Canva generates four design options, all with 7-8 slides, including an introduction, slides for economic and social causes, slides highlighting Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, and a conclusion. The designs are instantly applied with relevant background images and professional fonts.

Adaptations:

• Elementary vs. Secondary Teachers:

  • Elementary (Grade 4 Science): Prompt: "A 5-slide presentation for Grade 4 Science on how honeybees communicate. Use a bright, cartoonish style."

  • Secondary (High School ELA): Prompt: "An 8-slide presentation for Grade 12 ELA analyzing post-colonial themes in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. Use a dark, academic tone."

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Prompt: "A 6-slide presentation for Grade 7 PE demonstrating the safety rules and proper stance for weightlifting. Use a bold, athletic style."

  • Music: Prompt: "A 5-slide presentation for Grade 10 Music Theory explaining the Circle of Fifths. Use a clean, minimalist graphic style."

  • CTE: Prompt: "A 7-slide presentation for CTE Engineering on the principles of 3D printing (fused deposition modeling). Include technical diagrams."

  • SPED: Prompt: "A 4-slide presentation on good choices and positive behavior in the classroom for Middle School Life Skills. Use a simple layout with large icons."

How-To Instructions

1. Start a Design: Log into Canva for Education. On the homepage, click "Create a design."

2. Select Presentation: Choose "Presentation (16:9)" or your preferred format.

3. Activate Magic Design: Once the blank presentation opens, click the "Design" tab on the left sidebar.

4. Enter Your Prompt: Look for the search bar labeled "Magic Design" (or sometimes "Design for you"). Enter a detailed prompt that includes your topic, grade, subject, and desired style.

   • Example: "Create a 6-slide presentation for 8th-grade history on the main causes of the American Revolution."

5. Choose a Style: Magic Design will instantly generate several presentation options. Scroll through the results and select the visual style and design that best fits your needs.

6. Apply All Pages: Click on your chosen design. Canva will give you the option to "Apply all pages."

7. Customize: The complete, multi-slide presentation is now ready in your editor. Your next steps are to:

   • Verify the AI-generated text content for accuracy.

   • Replace generic images with more specific, educational visuals from Canva's library.

   • Add your specific discussion questions and teaching notes.

8. Try it out!

💡 AI Tip of the Day: Lumio AI Lesson Assist for Instant Units (Video)

The Tip

Use Lumio's AI Lesson Assist feature to generate a complete, multi-page presentation (lesson) based on your content prompt, subject, grade level, and standard. The AI automatically includes a mix of informational slides and interactive activities (like a Response quiz or Shout It Out!) for immediate formative assessment, saving the teacher from creating both the content and the assessment steps separately.

Why It Matters

This shifts the teacher's time from creation to curation. Instead of building slides and then manually inserting and formatting interactive elements, Lumio does the heavy lifting. The result is a highly engaging, interactive lesson—not just a static presentation—that’s ready to deliver, allowing teachers to focus on tailoring the content and providing real-time feedback.

Example in Action

General Classroom:

A middle school Math teacher needs a review lesson on calculating the area of complex shapes.

They start a new Lumio lesson and select AI Lesson Assist with the prompt:

"Create a 5-page lesson on finding the area of compound shapes for Grade 7 Math. Include one informational slide, one collaborative workspace, and finish with a Monster Quiz activity. Standard: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.G.B.6 (Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area...)."

Lumio generates a lesson containing: 1) a title page, 2) a content slide explaining the method, 3) a collaborative canvas for students to practice a problem together, and 4) a Monster Quiz to check for understanding.

Adaptations:

• Elementary vs. Secondary Teachers:

  • Elementary (Grade 1 ELA): Prompt for a lesson on identifying nouns. Request simple sentence slides and a Response quiz with pictures.

  • Secondary (High School Government): Prompt for a lesson on the three branches of U.S. government. Request detailed content slides and a Team Quiz that tests knowledge of the checks and balances system.

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Prompt: "Create a lesson for Grade 6 PE on the rules and scoring of Badminton. Include a Shout It Out! activity for students to quickly list different types of shots."

  • Art: Prompt: "Generate a lesson for High School Art Appreciation on M.C. Escher's impossible constructions. Include a Collaborative Workspace page where students can sketch their own impossible object."

  • CTE: Prompt: "Create a 4-page lesson for CTE Culinary Arts on knife safety and proper cutting techniques (dice, chop, mince). Include a Response activity that uses multiple-choice questions about safety rules."

  • SPED: Prompt for a lesson on personal safety in the community (e.g., crossing the street) for High School Life Skills. Specify a low reading level and request high visual content and simple True/False response questions.

How-To Instructions

1. Start a New Lesson: Log into Lumio and click the "New" button in your Library.

2. Select AI Assist: Choose the option for "AI Lesson" or "AI Assist" to begin the process.

3. Enter Your Prompt: In the prompt box, type your content request, making sure to include your constraints:

   • Topic (e.g., "The Water Cycle")

   • Grade Level (e.g., "Grade 5")

   • Desired Pages/Activities (e.g., "Include a fill-in-the-blank slide and a Monster Quiz.")

4. Refine Settings: Use the available dropdowns to specify the Subject, Grade Level, and Learning Standard (if desired).

5. Generate and Review: Click "Generate". Lumio will provide a preview of the lesson layout.

6. Create Lesson: Select your desired background template and click "Create Lesson."

7. Customize: The fully generated lesson opens in Edit Mode. Review the content slides for accuracy, adjust the difficulty of the quiz questions, and add any specific images or video links needed.

8. Try it out!

✨ AI Tip of the Day: Gemini's Instant Slides Builder (Video)

The Tip

Use the Gemini web interface (gemini.google.com) and prompt it to create a Google Slides presentation based on a specific topic. By including your grade level, subject, and instructional goal directly in the prompt, Gemini generates a structured outline and then converts that outline into a multi-slide presentation that is automatically saved to your Google Drive.

Why It Matters

This is the ultimate "blank page killer." Teachers can skip the time-consuming steps of researching, outlining, summarizing, and formatting, and immediately jump to the most important part: editing, adding pedagogical flair, and customizing the content for their specific students. Because the output is a native Google Slides file, all familiar editing and collaboration tools work instantly.

Example in Action

General Classroom:

A 6th-grade Social Studies teacher is starting a unit on ancient civilizations.

They use this prompt in the Gemini chat:

"Create a 10-slide Google Slides presentation for 6th Grade Social Studies on the Five Key Features of a Civilization (like government, specialization, etc.). Use clear, concise bullet points and a friendly tone for a middle school audience. Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2 (Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source...)"

Gemini generates the presentation, and the teacher opens the file to find slides already created for the title, introduction, and the five features, complete with basic layout and text summaries.

Adaptations:

• Elementary vs. Secondary Teachers:

  • Elementary (Grade 1): Prompt Gemini to create a 5-slide presentation about the Life Cycle of a Butterfly. Request "minimal text, large images, and simple transition words."

  • Secondary (High School Chemistry): Prompt for an 8-slide presentation on the Gas Laws (Boyle's, Charles', Gay-Lussac's). Request that it include "one slide for each law with the mathematical equation in LaTeX" and a summary slide. (e.g., $P_1 V_1 = P_2 V_2$)

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Prompt: "Create a 6-slide presentation for Grade 11 PE on the RICE Method for Injury Treatment. Include a step-by-step instruction slide and a slide on when to seek a doctor."

  • Art: Prompt: "Create a 7-slide presentation for Grade 9 Art History introducing the Post-Impressionism movement. Focus on Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Gauguin and include placeholder text for key works."

  • CTE: Prompt: "Create a 9-slide presentation for CTE Auto Repair on the Four-Stroke Engine Cycle. Include a diagram on slide 3 and one slide each for the Intake, Compression, Power, and Exhaust strokes."

  • SPED: Prompt: "Create a 4-slide presentation on Daily Routine and Expectations for a High School SPED Class. Use large, simple fonts, and a visual schedule on every slide."

How-To Instructions

1. Go to Gemini: Open your web browser and go to gemini.google.com (ensure you are logged in with your school's Education Plus account).

2. Enter Your Prompt: In the main chat box, clearly state your intent and include all necessary constraints (Grade, Subject, Standard/Objective, Slide Count, Tone).

   • Example Prompt: "Create a 12-slide Google Slides presentation for a 10th-grade ELA class about the themes and character development in The Great Gatsby."

3. Specify the Output: After Gemini generates the content, it will often provide an outline and then ask or give you a button to "Export to Slides."

4. Confirm Export: Click the "Export to Slides" or similar option that appears with the response.

5. Open and Edit: A pop-up will confirm the presentation has been created. Click "Open Slides" to jump directly to the new file in your Google Drive.

6. Refine: Review the generated slides. Edit the text for conciseness (less is more on slides!), add high-quality, relevant images, and insert your specific discussion prompts or activities.

7. Try it out!

📽️ AI Tip of the Day: Brisk's Presentation Maker from Any Source (Video)

The Tip

Use Brisk Teaching's Presentation Maker to instantly transform any content—including the text of a web article, a PDF, or the transcript of a YouTube video—into a fully customizable Google Slides presentation. You can ensure alignment by setting the grade level, subject, and specific learning objective/standard during creation.

Why It Matters

This tool eliminates the need for manual note-taking, summarizing, and slide design when using external resources like educational videos or long articles. By generating a standards-aligned slide deck in seconds, you save hours of preparation time and ensure that your instructional materials are focused, differentiated, and ready for immediate classroom use.

Example in Action

General Classroom:

A high school Environmental Science teacher finds a 15-minute YouTube documentary on ocean plastic pollution. Instead of watching and taking notes, they open the video, click the Brisk icon, and choose "Presentation Maker." They specify Grade 10, Environmental Science, Standard: NGSS ESS3-4 (Evaluate solutions to reduce the impacts of human activities on Earth's systems). Brisk instantly creates a 12-slide presentation that outlines the problem, causes, and potential solutions, ready for classroom discussion.

Adaptations:

• Elementary vs. Secondary Teachers:

  • Elementary (Grade 2 Math): Open a simple webpage explaining skip counting. Use the tool and specify Grade 2, Math, Objective: Introduce skip counting by 5s. The slides will be visually simple with large text and practice prompts.

  • Secondary (High School History): Open a long primary source document (e.g., the Declaration of Independence). Use the tool and specify Grade 11, History, Objective: Analyze the philosophical foundations of the document. Brisk structures the slides around key arguments and authors.

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Open a YouTube video demonstrating the rules of flag football. Request a presentation for Grade 8 PE focusing on Offensive and Defensive Penalties.

  • Music: Open an article about the structure of a symphony. Request slides for High School Music Theory that visually break down the four movements and typical form (sonata-allegro, theme and variations, etc.).

  • CTE: Open an online guide for safe power tool usage. Request a presentation for CTE Woodworking, Safety Module focusing on Safe Use of the Table Saw.

  • SPED: Use a short, simple article as the source. Specify a lower reading level and choose the option to include many images to create a highly scaffolded visual presentation for increased comprehension.

How-To Instructions

1. Open Your Source: Navigate to the content you want to use (e.g., a YouTube video, a web article, or a Google Doc).

2. Activate Brisk: Click the Brisk Teaching Extension Icon (often the white 'B' in a black circle) in your browser toolbar or the icon that appears in the corner of your screen.

3. Choose the Creator: In the Brisk menu, click on the "Create" button.

4. Select Presentation: Select "Presentation" from the list of creation tools.

5. Define Output: Use the settings panel to customize the presentation:

   • Prompt/Focus: (If using a YouTube video, the prompt will automatically suggest summarizing the video. You can refine this).

   • Grade Level

   • Subject

   • Standards/Learning Objective (Paste in the exact standard or describe the objective).

   • Number of Slides (Optional, but helpful for pacing).

6. Generate: Click "BRISK IT!" A new, fully editable Google Slides file will open in a new tab, ready for you to customize, teach with, and share.

Magic Write: Instantly Draft Interactive Whiteboard Activities (Video)

The Tip: Use Canva's Magic Write feature inside the Canva Whiteboard template to quickly generate text prompts and ideas for collaborative class activities. You can prompt Magic Write to create things like "Fill-in-the-Blank" lists, "Categorization Labels," "K-W-L Chart questions," or "Debate Prompts" in seconds. This saves you hours of brainstorming and typing up instructions for interactive lessons.

Why It Matters

Interactive and collaborative activities are crucial for student engagement, but setting up the digital canvas (like a Whiteboard or JamBoard) takes time. Magic Write quickly populates your interactive space with the necessary text elements—prompts, categories, and titles—allowing you to move immediately into the design phase. You get highly structured, complex activity text without the effort, making your collaborative lessons more efficient and focused.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 9th-grade English teacher wants students to categorize themes in a novel.

1. They open a new Canva Whiteboard.

2. They click Magic Write and prompt: "Generate 15 short statements about the themes in Romeo and Juliet that can be sorted into categories: 'Love,' 'Conflict,' or 'Fate.'"

3. Magic Write instantly populates the whiteboard with the statements and the three category headings, creating an activity where students can use virtual sticky notes to drag and drop the statements into the correct column.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Use a Whiteboard to build a collaborative class story. Prompt Magic Write for: "Generate a list of 10 silly adjectives and 10 strong verbs related to animals." Students use the words to fill in the blanks on the Whiteboard.

• Secondary Teachers (Science): Use a Whiteboard for a pre-lab review. Prompt Magic Write for: "Create a 12-item list of 'Steps in the Scientific Method' that are out of order." Students work collaboratively to sequence the steps correctly on the board.

• SPED Specialists: Use a Whiteboard for a clear review of class rules. Prompt Magic Write for: "Create 5 simple 'If/Then' statements about classroom behavior (e.g., If I am quiet, then I can read)." Students vote on which rule is most important.

• CTE Teachers: Use a Whiteboard to plan a project. Prompt Magic Write for: "Generate 4 leveled goals for a photography project: Basic, Proficient, Advanced, and Expert. Focus the goals on camera settings." Students choose their goal level.

How-To Instructions

1. Open Canva Whiteboard: Log into Canva and select "Whiteboard" from the "Create a design" menu.

2. Activate Magic Write: Click anywhere on the Whiteboard canvas and look for the Magic Write button (usually a purple icon or an option that appears after adding a text box).

3. Enter Your Prompt: Tell Magic Write exactly what you need to populate the activity:

   • Quantity: (e.g., "10 statements," "5 labels").

   • Purpose: (e.g., "for categorizing," "for debating," "for brainstorming").

   • Topic: (e.g., "about the causes of World War I").

4. Review and Arrange: Magic Write will generate the text directly on the Whiteboard.

5. Design the Activity: Move the generated text blocks, add images, and create shapes (like columns or arrows) to turn the text prompts into a full, engaging interactive activity for your students.

Slide Deck Architect: Generate Instant, Source-Verified Presentations (Video)

The Tip: Use Notebook LM's updated feature to instantly convert your uploaded sources (Docs, PDFs, or articles) into a fully-structured Slide Deck outline. By prompting the AI, you can generate a professional, sequenced presentation outline that is ready to copy/paste into Google Slides, complete with key talking points derived only from the documents you provided. 

Why It Matters

Instructional design requires sequencing, chunking, and summarizing content—the exact steps needed to build a presentation. This feature bypasses hours of manual outlining and summarizing. You feed Notebook LM your unit materials, and it structures the entire lesson presentation, ensuring the content is accurate and verifiable (since it only uses your sources). This frees you to focus on design, engagement, and delivery, not the tedious task of outline creation.

Example in Action

General Classroom: An 11th-grade U.S. History teacher has a 40-page PDF of a historical essay they want to cover in one class period.

1. They upload the PDF to Notebook LM.

2. Prompt: "Generate a 10-slide presentation outline covering the main arguments of this essay. Each slide must include a title and three key bullet points. Structure the presentation with an Introduction, 8 main points, and a Conclusion."

3. Notebook LM delivers a perfectly structured outline, allowing the teacher to quickly copy the text and paste it directly into their Google Slides template.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Upload a collection of simple animal fact sheets. Prompt for: "Generate a 6-slide presentation outline on 'The Tundra Habitat.' Slides should use simple, clear vocabulary and focus on 3 animals from the fact sheets."

• Secondary Teachers (Science): Upload a technical paper on photosynthesis. Prompt for: "Create a 12-slide deck outline. Slides 1-3 should define the process; Slides 4-8 should detail the chemical reaction steps; Slides 9-12 should cover energy output."

• CTE Teachers: Upload a welding safety manual. Prompt for: "Generate a 5-slide orientation presentation outline titled 'Shop Safety 101.' Each slide should contain one safety rule and two bullet points explaining the consequence of breaking it."

• SPED Specialists: Upload a simplified novel chapter summary. Prompt for: "Create a 4-slide presentation outline on the main character's journey in this chapter. Use only short, action-oriented sentences to make the sequence easy to follow."

How-To Instructions

1. Open Notebook LM: Go to notebooklm.google.com and open the notebook containing the source documents you want to present.

2. Generate Slides (New Feature): In the chat interface, look for a feature or prompt option related to "Generate" or "Create" and specifically select the "Slide Deck" output.

3. Provide a Detailed Prompt: Tell Notebook LM:

   • Topic: What the deck is about.

   • Length: How many slides or sections you need.

   • Structure: Specify titles, introductions, conclusions, or specific sub-topics.

   • Example: "Create a 15-slide deck outline on the causes and effects of the Vietnam War using only the five PDFs in this notebook."

4. Review and Copy: Review the generated outline structure. It will be text-based, clearly formatted with titles and bullet points.

5. Build Your Deck: Copy the outline text and paste it into your preferred presentation software (Google Slides, Canva, PowerPoint), which dramatically speeds up the creation of your visual presentation.

The Rubric Generator: Create & Convert Rubrics for Immediate Use (Video)

The Tip: Use the Gemini app (gemini.google.com) or the Gemini feature inside Google Classroom to instantly generate a detailed rubric based on your assignment description or learning standard. You can also upload an existing rubric (from a Drive file or a local document) and use Gemini to convert it into a scorable format for use in Google Classroom or Sheets, saving hours of manual data entry.

Why It Matters

Creating high-quality rubrics that clearly define performance levels (Exemplary, Approaching, etc.) is essential for clear feedback but takes significant time to draft. This Gemini workflow is the ultimate time-saver, allowing you to move straight to refining the criteria rather than drafting them. Furthermore, the ability to convert existing rubrics means you can finally digitize years of effective, paper-based rubrics for efficient, online grading.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 9th-grade English teacher needs a rubric for a persuasive speech assignment.

1. They go to the Gemini app.

2. Prompt: "Create a 4-point rubric for a 9th-grade persuasive speech assignment. The criteria must include: Evidence Use, Organizational Structure, and Delivery. For the highest level ('Exemplary'), describe the student using advanced rhetorical devices."

3. Gemini generates the rubric table. The teacher then copies it to Google Sheets and imports it into Google Classroom for fast, click-to-grade scoring.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Use a prompt focused on foundational skills: "Create a 3-point rubric for a 4th-grade narrative writing piece. The criteria should be Punctuation, Sentence Structure, and Main Idea Clarity."

• Secondary Teachers (Science/CTE): Copy-paste a complex technical or state standard. Prompt for: "Convert this NGSS standard into a 5-level rubric for a high school lab report conclusion section."

• SPED Specialists: Use the prompt to focus on process and effort: "Generate a simplified 3-level rubric for a weekly progress check. The criteria should be 'Task Completion,' 'Following Directions,' and 'Asking for Help,' with descriptions focusing on observable behaviors."

• Art/Music Teachers: Prompt for performance assessment: "Create a 4-point rubric for assessing a 7th-grade student's woodwind performance. Criteria must include Tone Quality, Rhythmic Accuracy, and Articulation.

How-To Instructions

1. Access Gemini:

   • Option A (Web App): Go to gemini.google.com.

   • Option B (Google Classroom - if available in your domain): Look for the Gemini tab/section in your Classroom interface and select "Create a Rubric."

2. Provide Assignment Details: Input a detailed prompt outlining your assignment, the grade level, the number of points/levels, and the required criteria.

3. Generate and Review: Click "Generate." Review the draft rubric.

4. Export/Convert:

   • If using the Web App: Copy the rubric table generated by Gemini and paste it directly into a Google Sheet or Google Doc.

   • If using Google Classroom's feature: Use the built-in option to convert the generated output or an uploaded file directly into a scorable rubric for your assignment.

5. Final Polish: Always make final edits to ensure the language of the rubric is 100% aligned with your personal expectations and student success goals.

Brisk Boost: Simplify Complex Text and Scaffolding (Video)

The Tip: Use the Brisk Teaching Chrome Extension's "Brisk Boost" feature to instantly simplify or scaffold any online article, Google Doc, or PDF reading passage. You can choose specific adjustments like changing the reading level, translating the text, or adding comprehension scaffolds (like a vocabulary glossary or guiding questions) right on the document you're viewing.

Why It Matters

Differentiation is a huge time commitment, especially adapting texts for diverse reading levels or language needs. Brisk Boost transforms complex, grade-level reading material into accessible versions in seconds, all from the teacher's device. This tool allows you to pre-scaffold documents for your small groups (ELL, SPED, or remedial readers) without waiting for district approval or manual rewriting, ensuring all students can access the core content.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 10th-grade World History teacher finds a challenging primary source document on the fall of the Berlin Wall in a Google Doc.

1. They activate Brisk Boost on the document.

2. They select "Simplify" to a 7th-grade reading level and "Add Comprehension Questions" to the bottom of the page.

3. The teacher saves this new, scaffolded version and assigns it only to the students needing reading support, while the rest of the class tackles the original text.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Take a challenging informational article and use Brisk Boost to "Re-write as a simple story" and "Bold key vocabulary." Use this simplified version for literacy centers or reading group instruction.

• Secondary Teachers (Science): Take a technical lab procedure document. Use Brisk to "Convert to step-by-step bullet points" and "Add a glossary for 5 technical terms" to ensure all students understand the instructions before entering the lab.

• SPED Specialists: Use Brisk Boost on a standard classroom assignment and select the option to "Increase Line Spacing" and "Summarize in 3 key points" to reduce visual clutter and focus on the main objective, aligning with IEP accommodations.

• Music/Art Teachers: Take a history article on a music movement (e.g., Baroque). Use Brisk to "Translate" the article into the native language of an emergent multilingual student, providing immediate, scaffolded access to the content.

How-To Instructions

1. Access the Document: Open the article, Google Doc, or PDF that contains the text you want to adapt.

2. Activate Brisk Boost: Click the Brisk icon (the Chrome/Edge extension) in your browser toolbar or the icon that appears in the bottom-right corner of the page.

3. Choose "Brisk Boost": In the Brisk menu, select the 'Brisk Boost' option.

4. Define Adaptations: In the pop-up menu, select the specific actions you want the AI to take. You can stack actions:

   • Change Reading Level (e.g., 7th grade, College).

   • Translate (choose target language).

   • Add Scaffolds (e.g., Glossary, Questions, Summary).

5. Generate and Save: Click 'Brisk It!' Brisk will create a new, modified version of the document in a new tab. Always save this new document with a clear title (e.g., "Original Doc - Simplified") before sharing it with students.

Magic Media Text-to-Image: Create Authentic Visuals for Your Lessons (Video)

The Tip: Use Canva's Magic Media Text-to-Image Generator to create unique, contextually accurate visual aids for your lessons, worksheets, or presentations. By typing a descriptive prompt, you can generate images that exactly match your curriculum needs (e.g., "A Roman soldier eating a sandwich," or "A cell undergoing prophase in a watercolor style") without spending time searching for stock photos.

Why It Matters

Generic stock photos often don't match the specific context of a lesson, which can be distracting or confusing for students. Magic Media allows you to create highly relevant, niche visuals instantly. This improves student focus, reinforces vocabulary (especially for ELL students who benefit from clear visual-text association), and ensures you have unique, copyright-free images for all your teaching materials. This tool is completely teacher-facing, and the students only see the resulting image.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 6th-grade Social Studies teacher is creating a worksheet about medieval Europe.

1. They go to Magic Media in Canva.

2. Prompt: "A young peasant woman in a medieval village looking at a cart, in a children's book illustration style."

3. They generate the perfect image to use on their worksheet, illustrating the historical setting without relying on complex, grainy photographs.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Use simple, specific prompts for storytelling: "A happy blue monster reading a book under a large oak tree." The resulting unique visuals can be used for sequencing activities or sight word flashcards.

• Secondary Teachers (Science): Generate hard-to-find conceptual images: "A large, friendly neuron sending an electrical signal across a synapse, in a technical drawing style." Use the image to illustrate complex biological processes.

• SPED Specialists: Prompt for clear, uncluttered images that represent abstract concepts: "The concept of 'cooperation' shown with three colorful hands working together to build a wooden block tower." These visuals are great for behavior charts or social-emotional learning materials.

• Art/Music Teachers: Generate images that show diverse historical styles or instruments: "A Renaissance lute being played by a woman in a courtyard, in an oil painting style." This provides high-quality, relevant visual examples for critiques and history lessons.

How-To Instructions

1. Open Canva: Open the Canva design (presentation, document, or worksheet) you are working on.

2. Access Magic Media: On the sidebar, click the "Apps" or "Magic Studio" tab, and then select "Magic Media" or "Text to Image."

3. Enter Your Prompt: In the prompt box, write a detailed description. Be sure to include four key things:

   • Subject: What is it? (e.g., "A volcano").

   • Action/Context: What is it doing or where is it? (e.g., "erupting over a city").

   • Style: How do you want it to look? (e.g., "in a cartoon style" or "a 3D render").

   • Clarity: Add details for specificity (e.g., "bright colors, no text").

4. Generate and Select: Click "Generate." Canva will produce several image options. Select the one that best fits your needs.

5. Insert: Click the selected image to automatically insert it into your current design and scale it as needed.

The Audio Textbook: Create Unit Podcasts with Audio Overview

The Tip: Use Notebook LM's Audio Overview feature to instantly convert a set of uploaded unit sources (readings, lecture notes, textbook PDFs, Google Docs) into a custom, AI-generated podcast-style discussion. This allows you to provide an auditory summary of the unit's core concepts, offering a critical accessibility and differentiation resource for students.

Why It Matters

Many students, especially auditory learners, English Language Learners (ELLs), or students with reading difficulties (dyslexia, etc.), struggle to process dense text. The Audio Overview function allows you to quickly create an engaging, multi-perspective audio version of your content without you ever having to record or edit. This dramatically improves content accessibility and gives students a flexible way to review material (on the bus, during independent work, or at home), boosting retention and catering to the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 10th-grade World History teacher uploads five primary and secondary source articles about the Cold War. They use Audio Overview to generate a "Debate" format audio summary. They then share the audio link with the class. Students who struggle with the complex historical language can listen to the AI hosts discuss the key viewpoints before reading the actual documents, providing a strong pre-reading scaffold.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Upload fact sheets for a science unit. Use the Brief format Audio Overview to create a simple, engaging single-host summary that acts like a short story, helping students recall key facts about habitats or weather.

• Secondary Teachers (ELA): Upload a detailed analysis of a chapter's themes and characterization. Generate a Critique format audio to hear two AI hosts discuss the different interpretations, modeling sophisticated analytical thinking.

• SPED Specialists: Upload simplified vocabulary lists and guided notes. Generate the Brief audio overview so students can listen to the key terms and definitions repeated clearly and at their own pace for independent review.

• CTE Teachers: Upload a document containing the steps for a complex procedure. Generate an audio overview that students can listen to while working in the lab or shop, acting as a hands-free instruction guide.

How-To Instructions

1. Access Notebook LM: Go to notebooklm.google.com and sign in.

2. Upload Sources: Open your unit notebook (or create a new one). Click "Add Sources" and upload all your relevant material (Docs, PDFs, copied text, etc.).

3. Find Audio Overview: Once your sources are processed, look for the "Audio Overview" option, often near the top of the chat interface or in a Studio/Reports menu.

4. Select Format: Choose the audio format you want:

   • Brief: A single host summarizes the core ideas.

   • Debate: Two hosts discuss opposing perspectives on the topics.

   • Critique: Two hosts review the material, offering feedback (great for reflecting on an essay draft).

5. Generate and Share: Click "Generate". Notebook LM will create the audio file. Once generated, use the Share feature to get a public link that you can post in Google Classroom or your LMS for students to listen to.

This video demonstrates how to use NotebookLM's features, including the Audio Overview for creating study guides. How to Use Google NotebookLM to Master Any Subject

Weekly Planning Scaffold: Generate Lesson Hooks, Quizzes, & Differentiated Objectives (Video)

The Tip: Use the Gemini web app (gemini.google.com) to provide a single, detailed prompt about your unit's learning objectives for the week. Gemini can then generate a complete, scaffolded package of materials for the teacher in one response, including an attention-grabbing hook, learning objectives at three DOK/Bloom's levels, and a final assessment outline.

Why It Matters

Teachers are often forced to plan in a linear, day-by-day fashion. By inputting your weekly goals into Gemini, you receive a holistic, differentiated plan upfront. This ensures vertical alignment between your hook, your objectives, and your assessment, allowing you to plan for every learner and prepare all necessary resources (like the leveled questions or quiz framework) before the week even starts. This saves significant planning time.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 7th-grade Science teacher is beginning a unit on plate tectonics.

1. They go to the Gemini app.

2. Prompt: "I am planning a week-long unit on plate tectonics for 7th graders. The final objective is to identify and explain the results of the three main boundary types. Generate a plan that includes: a) A high-interest, real-world lesson hook. b) Three learning objectives leveled using Bloom's Taxonomy (e.g., Identify, Explain, Justify). c) A 5-question short-answer quiz outline based on the final objective."

3. Gemini delivers the structured response, giving the teacher a detailed roadmap for the week's instruction and assessment creation.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Focus the plan on one day or one concept (e.g., main idea). Prompt for: "A fun way to introduce the topic, three short activities leveled for different reading groups, and one exit ticket question."

• Secondary Teachers (ELA/History): Use the prompt to focus on skills over content: "For a unit on the Great Depression, generate three leveled essay thesis statements (Basic, Mid-Level, Advanced) and a list of five relevant primary source documents needed to support them."

• SPED Specialists: Prompt for: "A list of five key vocabulary words, a simple mnemonic device to help remember them, and a template for a graphic organizer based on the main objective."

• CTE Teachers: Prompt for a Project Planning Scaffold: "For a CAD design project, generate three leveled project checkpoints (check for completion, check for criteria, check for efficiency) and a bulleted list of potential troubleshooting issues."

How-To Instructions

1. Open the App: Navigate to gemini.google.com in your browser and sign in with your teacher account.

2. Craft the Detailed Prompt: Write a single prompt that clearly defines the topic, grade level, time frame, and required outputs. Use specific verbs and concepts (e.g., mention Bloom's, DOK, or specific assessment formats).

3. Refine the Output: After the response generates, use follow-up prompts to refine the output. For example: "Make objective #2 more accessible," or "Create one more question for the quiz that is higher-order thinking."

4. Copy and Integrate: Copy the sections of the plan (Hook, Objectives, Assessment Outline) and paste them directly into your official lesson planning documents, Google Docs, or LMS.

Quiz Maker: Instantly Turn Any Resource into a Google Form Quiz (Video)

The Tip: Use the Brisk Teaching Chrome Extension's Quiz Maker to instantly transform any online resource—a website article, a PDF, a Google Doc, or even a YouTube video—into a fully-formed, auto-graded quiz in a Google Form or Google Doc. You maintain total control over the questions, format, and final review before sharing it with students.

Why It Matters

Assessment creation is a huge time sink. The Quiz Maker allows you to generate a check for understanding in seconds, directly from the content you're already using. This is purely a teacher workflow tip: the AI does the initial drafting of the assessment, complete with an answer key, which saves you hours of writing multiple-choice options and transferring questions to a Form.

Example in Action

General Classroom: An 8th-grade Science teacher finds an excellent 5-minute YouTube video explaining mitosis.

1. They open the video and activate the Brisk extension.

2. They prompt Brisk to generate a 5-question, multiple-choice quiz based on the video's content, ready to be exported as a Google Form.

3. The teacher reviews the quiz questions for quality, edits one of the multiple-choice options, and then assigns the auto-graded Form in Google Classroom.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Open a short, digital story. Use the Quiz Maker to generate True/False or short answer questions to assess basic plot comprehension. Export as a Google Doc for a quick, paper-based exit ticket.

• Secondary Teachers (ELA/History): Open a primary source document or a literature review. Ask Brisk to generate a 10-question quiz focused specifically on vocabulary or citing evidence.

• CTE/Technical: Open an online technical manual or safety guide. Prompt Brisk to create a scenario-based quiz (multiple-choice) to test students on correct safety procedures.

• SPED Specialists: Open a highly scaffolded or simplified article. Use the Brisk Quiz Maker to generate a quiz with only two options per question to reduce cognitive load and simplify the assessment process.

How-To Instructions

1. Access the Resource: Open the webpage, PDF, Google Doc, or YouTube video you want to use as the source for your quiz.

2. Activate Brisk: Click the Brisk icon (the Chrome/Edge extension) in your browser toolbar or the icon that appears in the bottom-right corner of the page.

3. Select Quiz Maker: In the Brisk menu, click 'Create' and then select 'Quiz Maker'.

4. Define Parameters: In the pop-up menu, specify:

   • Question Type (e.g., Multiple Choice, Short Answer).

   • Number of Questions (e.g., 5 or 10).

   • Output Format (select 'New Google Form' for auto-grading).

   • Optional: Enter a custom prompt to focus the quiz (e.g., "Focus only on character motivation" or "Do not use vocabulary words").

5. Generate and Review: Click 'Brisk It!' A new tab will open, and Brisk will populate a Google Form with your quiz and the embedded answer key.

6. Final Check: Review and edit the questions in the Form to ensure they perfectly match your teaching objectives before assigning them to students.

Magic Summary: Turn Any Presentation Deck into a Study Document (Video)

The Tip: Use Canva's Magic Switch (formerly part of Magic Resize) to transform an entire presentation deck (created in Canva or imported) into a cohesive summary document. This AI feature automatically synthesizes the main points and body text from your slides, creating a clean, text-based handout or study guide in seconds.

Why It Matters

Teachers spend time creating great visual presentations, but students often need a separate, text-based document to review, take notes on, or use for accessibility purposes. Manually copying, pasting, and summarizing dozens of slides is tedious. Magic Summary eliminates this work, instantly providing a polished review document that maintains consistency with your lesson's content, maximizing your instructional design time.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 12th-grade Economics teacher delivers a 20-slide presentation on fiscal policy. Immediately after class, they use Magic Switch to convert the deck into a US Letter summary document. They then share this document with students who were absent or who need a printed, concise text review sheet before the quiz.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Turn a visually heavy, image-based slideshow (e.g., about the lifecycle of a butterfly) into a simple, sequential Story Document. The summary can act as a reading passage for a reading group or a simplified text for parents.

• Secondary Teachers (Science/Math): Convert a "steps and procedures" presentation (e.g., how to solve a quadratic equation) into a Numbered Procedure Handout. This is perfect for students who need a hard copy of the process flow chart next to them during practice.

• SPED Specialists: Take a standard presentation and convert it to a Document where you can then easily adjust the line spacing, font size, and contrast—or even simplify the text further—to meet specific IEP reading goals without having to rebuild the entire resource.

• CTE Teachers: Turn a "How-To" presentation on using a specific piece of machinery into a Quick Reference Guide or a printable safety log, allowing students to check off steps in the shop environment.

• Music/Art Teachers: Convert a presentation on music theory or art history into a Vocabulary Review Sheet, focusing the summary on key terms and definitions present in the slides.

How-To Instructions

1. Open Your Deck: Open the Canva presentation file you want to summarize.

2. Find Magic Switch: Locate and click the Magic Switch button in the top menu bar of your Canva interface (it often looks like an icon for resizing or transforming).

3. Choose Document Summary: In the Magic Switch menu, look for the option that says something like "Document" or "Summary Doc."

4. Select Format: Specify the desired final format (e.g., "US Letter Document").

5. Generate and Copy: Click "Transform" or "Copy and resize." Canva will open a new file containing the text summary of your slides.

6. Review and Finalize: Review the generated text. Since AI did the heavy lifting, you'll only need to make minor edits for clarity or formatting before printing or sharing the final summary document.

Instructional Design: Build a Unit Master Guide with Citations (Video)

The Tip: Upload all your fragmented unit materials (old lesson plans, anchor texts, key websites, YouTube transcripts, and state standards/rubrics) into one Notebook LM file. Then, prompt the AI to generate a cohesive Unit Study Guide or FAQ for students, complete with inline citations linked directly back to the source documents you provided.

Why It Matters

This workflow transforms scattered resources into a single, authoritative, and student-friendly knowledge base. The key is the citation feature: students get immediate, verified answers to their questions while learning to cross-reference the AI's output with the original source. This not only builds their research skills but also models responsible AI use by showing them where information comes from.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 10th-grade Biology teacher is starting a Genetics unit.

1. They upload 5 PDFs (textbook chapter, state standards, a lab procedure, two online articles).

2. Prompt: "Create a comprehensive Study Guide for this unit. Include a section for Key Vocabulary, a 10-question practice Quiz, and an FAQ that answers the 5 most common student questions about DNA structure."

3. Notebook LM generates the guide, and every answer or definition includes a little number (e.g., [3]) that students can click to see the exact quote from the uploaded source document.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Upload fact sheets, picture book transcripts, and reading group notes for a "Community Helpers" unit. Prompt for a "Briefing Document" that summarizes each helper's role in simple sentences, with citations linking to the source material.

• Secondary Teachers (History/ELA): Upload primary source documents, critical essays, and historical timelines. Prompt Notebook LM to generate "Five key themes or connections" between all the documents, which you can use as discussion prompts.

• CTE/Technical: Upload equipment manuals, safety regulations, and project rubrics. Prompt for a "Safety Checklist" or "Troubleshooting Guide" where every step is linked back to the correct manual section.

• SPED Specialists: Upload a simplified version of a class novel or science text. Prompt Notebook LM to create a "Vocabulary Glossary" and a "Timeline" of events. This gives students a focused, manageable study tool.

How-To Instructions

1. Access Notebook LM: Go to notebooklm.google.com and sign in.

2. Create a Notebook: Click "+ New Notebook" and name it after your unit (e.g., 'Genetics Unit Master').

3. Upload Sources: Click "Add Sources" and upload all relevant unit materials. This can include Google Docs, PDFs, website links, or pasted text. Wait for the tool to finish processing.

4. Open the Chat: Use the chat box at the bottom and enter a detailed prompt to create your resource. Be specific about the output format you want (Study Guide, FAQ, Quiz, etc.).

5. Review and Share: Review the generated content on the right side of the screen. Look for the inline citations. Once satisfied, you can copy the text to a Google Doc or use the sharing features to distribute the notebook to students (check your domain settings for student access).

6. Model Use: Show students how to click the citation numbers to confirm the information in the original source, making the AI a research assistant, not the final authority.

The "Differentiated Paste": Re-Level Text Using the Gemini App (Video)

The Tip: Use the free Gemini web application (gemini.google.com) to quickly adapt complex reading material for different student needs. By pasting in your source text and prompting, you can instantly generate multiple versions: Simplified, Grade-Level Appropriate, and Advanced (with added nuance/detail), which you then copy back to your teaching document.

Why It Matters

Differentiation is essential, but manually rewriting texts is a huge time commitment. This accessible Gemini workflow allows you to provide three distinct reading levels for the same core content in minutes. This ensures that every student, regardless of their current reading level, can successfully engage with the essential curriculum material.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 9th-grade Social Studies teacher is using a dense, primary source excerpt about the Constitution.

1. They copy the excerpt and paste it into the Gemini App prompt box.

2. Prompt: "Please generate three versions of this text: 1) A simplified version for an 8th-grade reading level. 2) A version suitable for 9th grade, with academic vocabulary bolded. 3) An advanced version that includes three critical analysis questions."

3. Gemini produces the three distinct versions, which the teacher then quickly copies and pastes into a differentiated assignment guide in Google Docs or their LMS.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Copy a science explanation. Prompt Gemini to "Re-write this as a short, illustrated paragraph for 3rd graders, using simple verbs and bolding the main science word."

• Secondary Teachers (Science/Math): Copy a technical description of a chemistry process. Prompt for a "simple, step-by-step procedure guide" and a version that "Explains the underlying theoretical principles" for advanced students.

• SPED Specialists: Copy instructions from a complex assignment (e.g., a "persuasive essay rubric") and convert it into "A clear, short, bulleted checklist of only the four most important steps."

• CTE Teachers: Copy a section from a technical manual. Prompt Gemini to create a version that is a "simple, numbered safety checklist" and a version that "Explains the technical reason behind each safety rule" for deeper understanding.

How-To Instructions

1. Open the App: Navigate to gemini.google.com in your web browser and ensure you are logged in with your Google account.

2. Copy Source Text: Open your teaching document (e.g., the complex article, textbook excerpt, or instructions) and copy the text you want to adapt.

3. Enter Prompt: In the Gemini chat box, paste the source text, followed immediately by your differentiation request. Be specific about the number of versions and the target complexity (e.g., "5th grade level," "Advanced AP-style," "bullet points").

4. Review Output: Gemini will generate the multiple outputs. Review them for accuracy and tone.

5. Paste Back: Copy the new, differentiated texts from the Gemini window and paste them directly into your assignment, handout, or presentation document.

Batch Feedback: Grade a Whole Class's Essays in Minutes (Video)

The Tip: Use Brisk Teaching's Batch Feedback feature to upload an entire folder of student work (like a set of essays or lab reports) from Google Drive or Google Classroom and generate personalized, high-quality feedback comments for all of them simultaneously. You can then review, edit, and post the drafts in one streamlined session.

Why It Matters

Timely feedback is essential for student growth, but grading a stack of assignments often takes an entire weekend. Batch Feedback drastically cuts down the time spent drafting personalized responses, transforming a multi-hour task into a few minutes of generation and a focused review session. This helps students get guidance while the material is still fresh in their minds, encouraging immediate revision and closing the learning loop faster.

Example in Action

General Classroom: An 11th-grade English teacher has 45 argumentative essays submitted to Google Classroom. Instead of opening each one, they upload the folder to Brisk's Batch Feedback tool. Brisk generates "Glows & Grows" for each student, highlighting a key strength (Glow) and a specific area for revision (Grow), which the teacher then quickly reviews and posts as private comments.

Adaptation Notes

• Elementary Teachers: Use it for a stack of student journal entries or narrative writing pieces. Ask Brisk to generate "Next Steps Feedback" focused on punctuation or adding descriptive language, making the feedback highly actionable and bite-sized for younger learners.

• Secondary Teachers: For a stack of complex lab reports, upload your scoring rubric. Ask Brisk for "Rubric Criteria Feedback" to ensure every student gets a comment directly tied to the Data Analysis or Conclusion section of your rubric.

• SPED Specialists: Upload simplified assignments and ask Brisk to generate feedback focused on one or two high-leverage IEP goals (e.g., "staying on topic" or "using transition words") to ensure feedback is targeted and manageable.

• CTE/Art/Music: Use the feature to give feedback on submitted design proposals (CTE), portfolio reflection documents (Art), or even written concert critiques (Music). The comments can focus on alignment to technical standards or artistic elements.

How-To Instructions

1. Access Brisk: Log into your Brisk Teaching account and open the Brisk Chrome/Edge extension or navigate to the Brisk Web Experience (often called Brisk Next).

2. Select Batch Feedback: Click on the "Give Feedback" menu option, then choose "Batch Feedback."

3. Upload Student Work: Follow the prompts to upload your folder of student assignments directly from Google Drive or Google Classroom.

4. Customize the Feedback: Select your preferred feedback style (e.g., Glow & Grow, Next Steps, or Rubric Criteria). You can also upload an existing rubric or specify a focus (e.g., "Focus only on clarity and evidence").

5. Generate and Review: Click "Brisk It." The tool will generate draft comments for the entire batch.

6. Approve and Post: Review the generated feedback for each student. You can edit, personalize, or delete comments as needed. Once satisfied, click the button to post all comments to the students' original documents.

🙌 AI Tip of the Day: Use Canva's Magic Switch to Auto-Convert Content (Video)

The Tip: Leverage Canva's Magic Switch (formerly Magic Resize & Translate) to instantly transform a single piece of content (like a presentation, a worksheet, or a document) into a completely different format or even translate its text into a new language.

Why It Matters: This tool is a massive time-saver for repurposing content and ensuring accessibility. Instead of manually copying, pasting, and redesigning elements for a new format (e.g., turning a slide deck into a handout or an infographic into an exit ticket), Magic Switch does the heavy lifting instantly. It also supports inclusion by providing a quick way to translate materials for multilingual learners.

Example in Action:

• General Classroom (Secondary): A history teacher creates an amazing slide presentation on the causes of World War I. They use Magic Switch to immediately convert the presentation into a printable Canva Doc handout with an automatic summary and then into a compact Infographic to serve as a visual review sheet.

• Elementary: A 2nd-grade teacher uses Magic Switch to change a reading comprehension worksheet into a Spanish version for a student in their classroom who primarily speaks Spanish at home.

• Adaptations for Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Convert a "Rules of the Game" poster into a Google Classroom Banner (resizing) and translate the rules into another language for all students to access.

  • Music: Transform a single-page timeline of a musical genre's history into a series of Instagram-style social media slides for student-created presentations or class review.

  • Art: Take a supply list and instruction document and convert it into a mobile-friendly format for students to access on their phones during studio time.

  • CTE: Resize a safety diagram poster for a workshop into a compact lanyard-sized reference card.

  • SPED: Use the translation feature to simplify or offer materials in the student's first language, or use the resize feature to convert dense text into a single-point, highly visual document.

How-To Instructions:

1. Open Your Design: Open the Canva design you want to transform (Presentation, Document, Poster, etc.).

2. Access Magic Switch: In the top toolbar, click the "Magic Switch" icon (it often looks like two arrows forming a circle or an "a" icon).

3. Choose Your Action: You will see options for:

   • Transform to Doc: Converts to a Canva Document.

   • Resize: Lets you choose a new format (e.g., Presentation $\rightarrow$ Poster, A4 Document $\rightarrow$ Social Media Post).

   • Translate: Allows you to select a language and translate the text in the design.

4. Select & Generate: Select the desired format or language, and then click "Convert" or "Translate".

5. Review: Canva will automatically generate a new copy of your design in the chosen format/language, leaving your original intact. Review the new design for minor formatting tweaks.

Title – Upload Your Data: Find Instructional Gaps with Notebook LM (Video)

The Tip: Use Notebook LM to upload collections of student work, assessment data (e.g., common quiz answers, short-answer responses, or observation notes), and your original scoring rubric. The AI can then synthesize the information to identify common misconceptions, highlight patterns of errors, and suggest specific remediation topics, all grounded in your own class data.

Why It Matters: Traditional data analysis is time-consuming. This tip allows you to quickly move from collecting data to actionable instructional design. Instead of spending hours tallying errors, Notebook LM becomes your expert data analyst, showing you precisely which learning objective the class as a whole—or specific groups of students—struggle with. This leads to more focused re-teaching and small-group planning.

Example in Action

• General Classroom (Secondary): A high school English teacher uploads 20 short-answer responses on a theme analysis, along with the rubric criteria. They prompt Notebook LM: "Analyze these responses against the rubric, identify the top three most common errors, and suggest one brief re-teaching strategy for each error." The AI identifies a common failure to cite textual evidence properly.

• Adaptations:

  • Elementary: A 3rd-grade teacher uploads a document containing all student errors from a unit fractions quiz (e.g., student A: 2/4 = 2/2, student B: 1/3 + 1/3 = 2/6). They ask Notebook LM: "Based on these errors, what is the single biggest conceptual misunderstanding about fraction addition?"

  • Specialist Areas (PE/Art): Upload a Google Doc of observation notes taken during a team-building activity (PE) or during a sculpture project critique (Art). Ask Notebook LM to "Summarize common areas for growth in collaboration skills" or "Identify the most frequently cited challenge in using the clay modeling tools."

  • SPED/Intervention: Upload a student's IEP goals, past progress reports, and a set of recent work samples. Prompt the AI to "Synthesize this data to generate three specific, targeted Next Steps for the student's reading fluency goal."

How-To Instructions

1. Collect and Compile Data: Gather a set of student work or assessment summaries (e.g., copy/paste student responses, or upload a Google Sheet/Doc of aggregated error types). Ensure all documents are anonymized to protect student privacy.

2. Create a New Notebook: Go to Notebook LM and click to create a New Notebook. Give it a specific name (e.g., "Q1 ELA Data Analysis").

3. Upload Sources: Upload your student data documents and the original assignment rubric/standards document.

4. Ask the AI to Analyze: In the chat box, use a specific, high-leverage prompt like:

   • Using the rubric, identify the most significant trend in student performance across all submitted documents. Provide 2-3 key phrases I should use in a brief re-teaching lesson tomorrow.

5. Review and Act: Review the AI's analysis, checking the citations to ensure it is grounded in your uploaded data. Use the AI-generated insights to refine your next day's lesson plan.

AI Tip of the Day: Brisk Boost, Turn Any Resource into an Interactive, Safe AI Chat

(Video)

The Tip: Use Brisk Boost to transform any existing online resource—like a web article, a PDF of a primary source, or a YouTube video—into a structured, interactive, and safe AI-powered chat activity for your students. You select the activity type (like 'Tutor,' 'Debate,' or 'Writing Coach') and set the learning objectives and AI guardrails.

Why It Matters: Brisk Boost provides a secure, contained environment for students to interact with generative AI, promoting AI literacy while deepening their understanding of content. It shifts AI use from simple output generation to a scaffolded, critical-thinking dialogue. It also gives the teacher clear insights into student progress and engagement without collecting extensive student data.

Example in Action:

• General Classroom: A middle school Science teacher uses a web article about cell biology. They choose the 'Tutor' activity type, set the objective as "Students will explain the function of three main organelles," and share the link. Students chat with the AI tutor, asking clarifying questions about the article until they can meet the objective.

Adaptations:

• Elementary: Use a simple PDF story about kindness. Select the 'Character Chat' activity to let students interview a main character.

• Secondary: An English teacher uses a poem and selects the 'Debate' activity, prompting the AI to take a stance on the poem's central theme for students to argue against.

• Specialist: CTE: Upload a technical guide on engine repair. Select 'Real World Math Problems' to generate practice questions based on the technical specs.

• Specialist: SPED: Upload a history text that is already leveled down. Use the 'Writing Coach' activity with a simplified prompt to guide students in composing a summary.

How-To Instructions

1. Open Your Resource: Navigate to the website, open the Google Doc, or the PDF you want to use.

2. Launch Brisk: Click the Brisk Teaching extension icon in your browser toolbar.

3. Select Boost: Click the "Boost Student Activity" option.

4. Configure the Activity:

   • Choose your Activity Type (e.g., Tutor, Debate).

   • Customize the Learning Objectives and set the appropriate Grade Level.

   • (Crucially) Adjust the AI Guardrails to guide the conversation and prevent off-topic tangents.

5. Share with Students: Review the activity and then share the unique link, code, or QR code with your class.

6. Monitor: Use Brisk's Insights dashboard to monitor student engagement and progress in real time.

💎 Gemini Tip of the Day: The Differentiated Tutor Gem (Video)

The Tip: Use Google Gemini’s Gems feature to create a hyper-specialized, reusable AI assistant ("Gem") that acts as a consistent tutor, coach, or resource generator, dramatically simplifying differentiated instruction for your students.

Why It Matters

Manually creating materials at multiple reading levels or perspectives is incredibly time-consuming. A custom Gem can be pre-loaded with a specific persona (e.g., "7th Grade History Coach," "Vocabulary Expert for ELLs") and set of instructions, allowing you to generate perfectly tailored resources for diverse learners with a simple, quick prompt. It ensures consistent scaffolding and personalized support at scale.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 9th-grade science teacher creates a Gem called "Science Simplified 101." The Gem's instructions are to "Explain complex chemistry concepts using simple, everyday analogies and check for understanding with 3 multiple-choice questions."

• Teacher Prompt: "Explain the concept of valence electrons."

• Gem Response: A simplified explanation comparing electrons to "puzzle pieces" and checking for understanding, instantly accessible for students needing the core concepts broken down.

Adaptations:

• Elementary vs. Secondary:

  • Elementary: Create a "Phonics Pal Gem" that only generates decodable sentences using a specific list of high-frequency words and the short 'A' sound.

  • Secondary: Create a "Counter-Argument Builder Gem" that accepts a thesis statement and generates three opposing viewpoints and supporting evidence, guiding students on advanced rhetorical analysis.

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Create a "Workout Planner Gem" that generates low-impact exercise routines for students with mobility restrictions.

  • Art: Create an "Art History Deconstructer Gem" that only analyzes the formal elements (line, shape, color) of a user-uploaded image of a painting, avoiding complex contextual theory.

  • CTE: Create a "Code Debugger Gem" that accepts a block of Python code and explains the error line-by-line without giving away the solution.

  • SPED: Create an "Executive Function Coach Gem" that takes a project outline and breaks it down into daily, concrete, color-coded steps.

How-To Instructions

1. Access Gems: Go to Gemini ($\text{gemini.google.com}$) and look for "Explore Gems" (it may be under a "New Chat" menu or in the sidebar). Click "New Gem."

2. Name Your Gem: Give it a clear, descriptive name like "Algebra Review Expert" or "ESL Vocabulary Builder."

3. Write Instructions (The Magic): This is the core. Use clear, multi-part instructions to define its role, task, and format.

   • Persona: "Act as a friendly, patient 6th-grade math tutor."

   • Context/Task: "Only use vocabulary appropriate for a 6th-grade reading level. Explain concepts using real-world scenarios. Always provide a step-by-step example before asking a quiz question."

   • Guardrails: "Never give the direct answer to a math problem; always guide the student toward the process."

4. Preview and Refine: Use the preview window to test it (e.g., "Explain how to divide fractions"). Tweak your instructions until the response is perfect.

5. Save and Use: Click "Save." Your new Gem is now a one-click tutor, ready to generate perfectly differentiated content anytime you or your students need it.

Brisk Boost: Multi-Material Creation from the Extension (Video)

The Tip: Brisk Teaching's latest update allows you to select up to three different instructional materials (like guided notes, a quiz, and a presentation) to create simultaneously from a single source document or prompt, right within the Brisk Chrome Extension.

Why It Matters

This feature dramatically reduces the "context-switching" administrative load for teachers. Instead of running Brisk three separate times for three related resources, you generate an entire, cohesive instructional set (notes, practice, review) in one click, saving you critical planning time.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A high school English teacher uploads a difficult primary source document (e.g., an excerpt from The Great Gatsby). Using the Brisk Extension, she selects:

1. Change Level to create a simplified reading version.

2. Guided Notes to build a scaffolded note-taking sheet.

3. Quiz to generate a 5-question comprehension check.

Adaptations:

• Elementary vs. Secondary:

  • Elementary: Use it on a science article to create a summary, a flashcard deck, and a simple visual aid description.

  • Secondary: Use it on a lengthy syllabus section to generate a student-facing FAQ document, a parent email summary, and a "course at a glance" graphic text.

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Upload a rulebook for a new sport and simultaneously create a student cheat sheet, a warm-up routine, and an exit ticket quiz.

  • Music: Upload an article on a composer and create a biography summary, a set of discussion questions, and a simple timeline for a bulletin board.

  • SPED: Upload a high-school level text and create three different reading levels (e.g., 3rd, 5th, and 7th grade) to support differentiated instruction across IEP goals.

How-To Instructions

1. Install/Update Brisk: Ensure you have the latest Brisk Chrome Extension installed.

2. Open Source: Navigate to any document (Google Doc, PDF, web article) you want to use as your source material.

3. Click Brisk: Click the Brisk Teaching Chrome Extension icon (the little lightning bolt ⚡) in your browser toolbar.

4. Select Multi-Create: In the Brisk sidebar, choose "Create More at Once" (or look for the option that lets you select multiple outputs).

5. Choose Three: Select up to three desired outputs (e.g., Guided Notes, Quiz, Presentation).

6."Brisk It!": Click the final generation button. Brisk will now create all three resources simultaneously in the background for quick review.

Title: Visualize Student Data with Canva Magic Charts & Insights (Video)

The Tip: Leverage Canva Sheets and its AI features—Magic Charts and Magic Insights—to transform simple data (like quiz scores, project rubric points, or attendance logs) into instant, engaging, and customizable visual reports.

Why It Matters: Data visualization is crucial for communication. Instead of sharing a wall of numbers with students, parents, or administrators, you can quickly generate a clear, colorful chart or graph. This saves you time on formatting and makes student progress, class trends, and subject mastery instantly understandable.

Example in Action:

• General Classroom: A middle school Science teacher inputs the scores from a unit exam into a Canva Sheet. They use Magic Charts to create a bar graph showing the class distribution and then use Magic Insights to generate a bulleted summary of the class's top three strengths and two biggest areas for review.

• Elementary vs. Secondary Teachers:

  • Elementary: A teacher inputs weekly reading minutes for their class and uses a brightly colored pie chart to show what percentage of students are meeting their goal, making it a visible class goal.

  • Secondary: A teacher inputs AP Literature essay rubric scores. Magic Charts generates a scatter plot showing the correlation between "Thesis Strength" and "Evidence Use," helping students see where they need to focus.

• Specialist Areas (PE, Music, Art, CTE, SPED):

  • PE: Input student fitness data (e.g., timed mile runs over a semester) and use a line chart to visualize individual progress.

  • Music: Input assessment data on musical theory concepts (rhythm, harmony) and use a stacked bar chart to show progress across the different domains.

  • Art: Input points from a critique rubric (Composition, Technique, Originality) and generate a radar chart for personalized student feedback.

  • CTE: Input project completion times or efficiency ratings for a workshop task. Magic Insights can flag bottlenecks or high-achieving steps in the workflow.

  • SPED: Input frequency data on behavior goals or IEP skill mastery. The visual chart helps clearly communicate progress to parents and the IEP team.

How-To Instructions:

1. Start a Canva Sheet: In Canva, go to Create a Design and search for "Canva Sheet" or go to Docs and select Sheets.

2. Input Your Data: Enter your class data (names, scores, dates, etc.) into the spreadsheet rows and columns.

3. Generate a Magic Chart: Select the data range you want to visualize. Click on the Magic icon or the Charts option in the toolbar and choose a chart type (bar, line, pie, etc.). Canva will instantly generate the visual.

4. Get AI Insights (Optional): Click the Magic Insights tool, typically found near the chart tools, and prompt it with a question about the data, such as: "Summarize what this data tells me about student mastery" or "Identify the three lowest-performing students."

5. Customize and Share: Customize the chart colors, fonts, and labels to match your school or lesson theme. You can now embed this chart directly into a presentation, worksheet, or parent newsletter.

Today's Tip is brought to you by 6th Grade Math Teacher Mr. Hunt (Video)

(If you have an AI Tip to share, please email it to Luke Short at shortlc@chipfalls.org) 

Use Gemini to bypass the tedious manual entry for educational game platforms like Blooket (or Kahoot, Quizizz, etc.). By providing a topic, specific constraints, and a picture of the platform's Import Template in your prompt, you can have Gemini instantly generate a perfectly formatted, customizable question table that's ready to export to Google Sheets and then download as a .CSV file for direct upload.

Why It Matters

This workflow drastically cuts down the time spent creating engaging review activities. Instead of spending 30–60 minutes typing questions and answers into a template, you can generate 30-40 questions in under 5 minutes. It allows you to focus on refining the quality of the questions rather than just creating them. Plus, you can easily add fun, contextual elements like mentioning a specific teacher or school reference.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 6th-grade math teacher needs a review game on integers and rational numbers. They prompt Gemini to create 30 fluency-based questions, include the teacher's name and format the output using the Blooket template.

• Elementary vs. Secondary Teachers:

  • Elementary: A 3rd-grade teacher could generate 15-20 questions focused on sight words or state capitals.

  • Secondary: A high school science teacher could generate 50+ vocabulary questions from a specific chapter on photosynthesis.

• Specialist Areas (PE, Music, Art, CTE, SPED):

  • PE: Generate questions on muscle groups or rules of a new sport like ultimate frisbee.

  • Music: Create a quiz on music notation symbols, composers, or instrument families.

  • CTE: Generate questions on safety procedures, industry-specific vocabulary, or tool identification.

  • SPED: Use the prompt to request simpler, shorter sentences and only two answer choices for better accessibility and focus.

How-To Instructions or click the link to Mr. Hunt's Instructional Document

Follow this 7-step process to generate your next game content quickly:

1. Craft Your Core Prompt: Write a clear request detailing the subject, grade level, topic, and number of questions (e.g., "I am teaching 6th grade math. Please make 30 questions related to integers and rational numbers...").

2. Add Constraints: Include essential details like fluency-only questions (no paper-and-pencil work), and any custom elements (like including a teacher's name.

3. Review and Refine: Copy your prompt into Gemini (Step 1), let it generate the questions, and ask for changes until you are satisfied with the question bank.

4. Capture the Format: Take a screenshot of the platform's Import Template (the image showing Question Text, Answer 1, Time Limit, etc.

5. Prompt for the Table: In a new prompt, upload the template screenshot using the + button, and copy/paste this request: "Make a table using these 30 questions. Follow the format shown in the uploaded image. Format the table in a way that will trigger gemini to add an 'export to google sheets' button at the bottom of the table"

6. Export and Download: Click the 'export to sheets' button that appears, open the Google Sheet, and then download the file as a .CSV

7. Upload to Blooket: Go to Blooket.com, click Create, select upload .CSV file, and choose your downloaded file.

Title: Create Three Discussion Guides in Minutes (Video)

The Tip: Use Notebook LM's prompting ability to quickly generate three differentiated discussion and reading guides from a single complex source text: an Access guide (simplified takeaways), an Analysis guide (deep critical questions), and a Synthesis guide (connections to the outside world).

Why It Matters: This strategy ensures every student has an entry point into a challenging text, reducing cognitive load for those who need basic comprehension support while providing rigor and depth for advanced learners. It’s a huge time-saver for planning a nuanced, whole-class discussion with built-in differentiation.

Example in Action: General Classroom: A 10th-grade English teacher uploads a difficult primary source essay. They use the three guides to assign students to small groups: the Access group focuses on vocabulary and main ideas, the Analysis group dives into rhetorical devices, and the Synthesis group prepares to connect the essay's theme to a modern social issue.

Adaptations:

• Elementary vs. Secondary:

  • Elementary (4th/5th Grade): Upload a science article. The Access guide becomes simple, factual "I Can Statements." The Synthesis guide can ask students to connect the topic to a family experience or a related book.

  • Secondary: Perfect for dense history primary sources, scientific journal articles, or complex literature excerpts.

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Upload a fitness research article. Access = Define key terms (e.g., VO2 Max). Analysis = Evaluate the study's methods. Synthesis = Apply findings to personal fitness goals.

  • Music: Upload an article on music theory or history. Access = Identify main composers/styles. Analysis = Compare/contrast two compositions. Synthesis = Discuss the music's cultural impact.

  • SPED: Use the Access guide (Key Takeaways, flashcards) as a pre-reading support to build essential background knowledge before introducing the full text or the class discussion.

How-To Instructions:

1. Open Notebook LM and create a new project, then upload your source text (e.g., a PDF, Google Doc, or a copy-pasted article).

2. Generate the 'Access' Guide: In the prompt bar, ask: "Using the uploaded source text, create a simple, bulleted 'Key Takeaways' guide. For each takeaway, generate two flashcards for the most important vocabulary terms."

3. Generate the 'Analysis' Guide: In a new prompt, ask: "Based on the uploaded source material, generate five 'Analyze' level discussion questions that require students to compare/contrast, evaluate evidence, or determine the author's purpose."

4. Generate the 'Synthesis' Guide: In another new prompt, ask: "Based on the text, create five discussion questions that connect the ideas to a current event, a different unit of study, or a personal experience."

5. Copy and Paste the three sets of output into a Google Doc or Slides to easily distribute the differentiated guides to your groups.

🎃 AI Tip of the Day: Batch Feedback with Brisk Teaching (Video)

The Tip

Brisk Teaching's Batch Feedback feature allows teachers to upload a folder of student assignments (Docs, PDFs, even images of handwritten work) and generate personalized, high-quality draft feedback for the entire class in one go. You review and approve every comment before it is sent back to students.

Why It Matters

This feature is a massive time-saver that solves the problem of timely, consistent feedback. By drafting personalized comments across all student work in minutes, you can return assignments while the learning is still fresh—sometimes the same day. This ensures every student receives clear, actionable guidance, helping to close the learning loop faster and boosting student revision skills.

Example in Action

General Classroom: A 10th-grade English teacher uploads a folder of 28 persuasive essays to Brisk's Batch Feedback. The teacher selects "Targeted Feedback" aligned to the "Use of Evidence" rubric criterion. Brisk generates personalized, embedded comments in each document. The teacher quickly reviews, edits the drafts to add a personal touch, and publishes the feedback, all before the end of their planning period.

• Elementary vs. Secondary:

  • Elementary: A 4th-grade teacher uses it on a folder of student-written "All About Me" books (as Google Docs or PDFs). They select "Glows & Grows" feedback to focus on clear topic sentences and use of descriptive adjectives.

  • Secondary: A high school math teacher uploads photos of student-solved geometry proofs. They select "Next Steps" feedback to guide students on the common errors in their logical flow, ensuring consistent expectations across the class.

• Specialist Areas (PE, Music, Art, CTE, SPED):

  • PE: Uploading a folder of student-written fitness plans or reflection journals, getting feedback on alignment with health goals.

  • Music: Uploading brief analysis essays on a piece of music, requesting "Rubric Criteria Feedback" on historical context and musical terminology.

  • CTE: Uploading a folder of technical reports or safety checklists (as PDFs), requesting feedback on completeness and professional language.

  • SPED: Use Batch Feedback with the "Change Level" feature in Brisk to ensure the feedback language itself is simple and direct, focusing on 1-2 key, actionable steps for each student.

How-To Instructions

1. Open Brisk: Ensure you have the Brisk Chrome/Edge extension installed and open the Brisk interface (usually by clicking the 'B' icon).

2. Select Batch Feedback: From the main Brisk menu, choose the "Feedback" option, then select "Batch Feedback" (or find it in the "Brisk Next" web hub).

3. Upload Student Work: Click to import a folder containing student work from Google Drive or Google Classroom. Batch Feedback accepts multiple file types (Docs, PDFs, images, etc.).

4. Customize Your Feedback: Select your preferred feedback style (e.g., Glows & Grows, Targeted, Rubric Criteria, Next Steps). You can also add a custom prompt, your grade level, and specific focus standards/rubrics.

5. Generate and Review: Click "Brisk It." Brisk will draft the personalized feedback for every assignment in the folder. Review the drafts one by one—edit, delete, or approve comments to maintain your voice and high standards.

6. Return to Students: Once reviewed, send the feedback back to students (e.g., as comments in their Google Docs) so they can immediately begin their revisions.

The Tip: Use Google Gemini's ability to instantly generate a complete, criterion-based rubric from a simple description or by converting a file directly within the Google Classroom assignment workflow. (Video)

Why It Matters: Creating high-quality rubrics is essential for clear student expectations and fair, consistent grading, but the process is tedious. Gemini transforms this task from a manual data-entry job into a quick, editable first draft. This gives you more time to focus on refining the criteria to perfectly match your learning objectives, not spending time on formatting and descriptive writing.

Example in Action: General Classroom: A 7th-grade English teacher posts a new persuasive essay assignment in Google Classroom. Instead of manually creating the rubric, they click the "Create new with Gemini" option and prompt: "Generate a 4-level rubric for a persuasive essay on a local issue. Include criteria for Argument Strength, Use of Evidence, Organization, and Conventions."

• Elementary vs. Secondary teachers:

  • Elementary: A 2nd-grade teacher uses the prompt: "Create a 3-point rubric for a simple storytelling project. Criteria: Clear Beginning, Middle, and End; Use of Descriptive Words; Neatness of Illustration."

  • Secondary: A physics teacher uploads a Word document containing the text of a complex lab report assignment and uses the "Convert from file" feature to instantly populate the rubric fields in Classroom.

• Specialist areas (PE, Music, Art, CTE, SPED):

  • PE: Prompt: "Create a 4-level rubric for student assessment of teamwork and sportsmanship during a basketball unit. Use the levels Needs Improvement, Proficient, Exemplary, and Outstanding."

  • Art: Prompt: "Generate a rubric for a high school clay sculpture project. Criteria must include Craftsmanship, Creativity/Originality, and Use of Form/Space."

  • CTE: Prompt: "Generate a checklist-style rubric for evaluating the safety procedures followed during a welding simulation, with a focus on PPE and proper machine shutdown."

  • SPED: Use the initial generation, then ask Gemini to refine the descriptor for the lowest level to include specific scaffolded steps or accommodations rather than just stating what the student missed.

How-To Instructions:

1. Start an Assignment: In Google Classroom, go to the Classwork tab and create a new Assignment. Give it a title.

2. Access Rubric Tool: In the Assignment details panel on the right, click + Rubric and select Create Rubric (or look for the "Create new with Gemini" button, depending on your version).

3. Prompt Gemini: You have two main options:

   • Prompt from Scratch: Click the option to create a new rubric and look for the Gemini icon or button. Type a detailed prompt (like the examples above) to generate the criteria and levels.

   • Convert from File (New Feature): If you have an existing rubric in a Doc or PDF, click Convert from file and upload it. Gemini will automatically extract the criteria and performance levels.

4. Review and Edit: Gemini will populate the rubric fields. Crucially, review every criterion and descriptor. Use the easy-to-edit interface to rename levels, adjust point values, and—most importantly—tweak the language to perfectly match your instructional focus.

5. Save: Click Save to attach the rubric to your assignment. It’s now ready for grading!

Differentiate in a Snap: Re-Leveling Text with Gemini (Video)

The Tip: Use Google Gemini's text re-leveling capability to instantly adapt complex reading material—like articles, primary sources, or textbook excerpts—to suit specific student reading levels, interests, or language needs.

Why It Matters: Differentiation is key to an inclusive classroom, but manually rewriting texts is incredibly time-consuming. Gemini makes it possible to provide every student with material that is challenging but accessible, saving you hours of prep time and ensuring students can access the core content. This is a huge win for literacy development and content mastery.

Example in Action: General Classroom: A 9th-grade science teacher is covering the concept of nuclear fusion. They input a challenging excerpt from a science journal and prompt Gemini to "Re-write this passage about nuclear fusion for a 6th-grade reading level, focusing on an analogy to a bumper car collision."

• Elementary vs. Secondary teachers:

  • Elementary: A 4th-grade teacher pastes a complex news article about a local event and asks Gemini to "Simplify this for an independent 2nd-grade reader, using shorter sentences and a maximum of 10 new vocabulary words."

  • Secondary: A high school history teacher uploads a section of a historical document and prompts, "Translate this 19th-century text into modern, clear English while maintaining the original meaning."

• Specialist areas (PE, Music, Art, CTE, SPED):

  • PE: Paste a complex training or safety manual section and ask, "Re-level this instruction on proper deadlift form for a student with emerging literacy, using a numbered list and simple action verbs."

  • Music: Upload an article on the history of jazz and request, "Re-level this article for a student who is an English Language Learner (ELL), defining all musical terms in a separate glossary."

  • CTE: Upload an equipment troubleshooting guide and ask, "Re-level this for a novice trainee, explaining each step in a highly accessible bulleted list."

  • SPED: Input any challenging class material and ask for a version with sentence frames or a word bank to support independent reading and response.

How-To Instructions:

1. Get Your Text: Find the text you want to adapt (e.g., copy a challenging paragraph from a website, Google Doc, or a digital textbook).

2. Open Gemini: Go to the Gemini web interface or access the Gemini tool within Google Classroom (if available in your domain).

3. Use a Clear Prompt: Paste the text and add a specific instruction that details the level and purpose of the re-write. Use language like:

   • "Re-level this passage to a 3rd-grade reading level."

   • "Simplify this for a B1 English language learner."

   • "Adapt this for a student with reading comprehension difficulties, using only common, high-frequency words."

4. Review and Refine: The AI will provide the new text. Always read the output to ensure it maintains factual accuracy and aligns with your pedagogical goals. You may need to follow up with a refinement prompt, like, "Now, add a quick comprehension check quiz at the end."

5. Distribute: Copy the new text into your assignment, slide deck, or independent reading folder.

Please note: Students do not have access to Gemini or the Guided Learning feature as of yet.  This tip is for future knowledge as we will more than likely have to open up AI for the students.

Title: Tutor in Your Pocket: Use Gemini's "Guided Learning" (Video)

The Tip: Use the "Guided Learning" feature in Google Gemini for Education. When students ask a question about a complex topic or problem, this mode acts as a personalized Socratic tutor. Instead of just giving a final answer, it breaks down the concept and walks the student through the solution with step-by-step explanations and probing questions.

Why It Matters: This feature shifts Gemini from an "answer machine" to a "thinking partner." It promotes critical thinking, builds metacognition, and prevents students from just copying and pasting. It provides on-demand, differentiated support, allowing students to get "unstuck" and build real understanding even when you're busy helping someone else.

Example in Action:

• General Classroom: A 9th-grade algebra student is stuck on solving a system of equations. They ask Gemini, which (in Guided Learning mode) responds: "Great question! There are a couple of ways to solve this. Do you think 'substitution' or 'elimination' would be a good first step here? Why?"

• Elementary: A 4th grader is confused about the difference between "area" and "perimeter." Guided Learning asks them to imagine building a fence for a garden (perimeter) versus covering the garden with soil (area).

• Secondary: A history student drafting an essay asks, "What were the main causes of WWI?" Guided Learning prompts back, "That's a big topic! Let's start with one category. Have you heard of the M.A.I.N. acronym? Which of those—Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, or Nationalism—do you think was the biggest spark?"

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE (Health): A student uses Guided Learning to understand the Kreb's cycle, with Gemini breaking down each chemical step.

  • Music: A student asks to understand 12-bar blues. Guided Learning prompts them to identify the I, IV, and V chords in a progression.

  • Art: A student explores the principles of one-point perspective, and Gemini guides them through the steps of setting a horizon line and vanishing point.

  • CTE (Coding): A student's Python code has a bug. Guided Learning asks, "What does the error message say? Let's look at line 5. What is that variable supposed to be doing?"

  • SPED: A student with executive function challenges uses Guided Learning to break down a multi-step project, with Gemini prompting them on the first step, then the next, acting as an on-demand coach.

How-To Instructions:

1. Open Google Gemini (gemini.google.com).

2. When a student asks an academic question (e.g., "How do I solve $2x + 5 = 15$?"), the response will often include a "Guide me" or "Guided Learning" option. Click it.

3. Alternatively, you can prompt Gemini directly: "Act as a Socratic tutor and help me understand [topic]" or "Don't give me the answer, guide me through the steps to solve [problem]."

4. Engage with Gemini's follow-up questions, which are designed to scaffold learning.

5. Encourage students to explain their own thinking back to Gemini to get the best guidance.

Title: Ditch the Copy-Paste: Instantly Convert Rubrics with Gemini! (Video)

The Tip: Google has just added a major time-saver to Google Classroom. You can now use Gemini to automatically convert your existing rubrics—whether they're Google Docs, Word files (.docx), or PDFs saved in your Drive or on your computer—directly into an editable Google Classroom rubric.

Why It Matters: This is a huge workflow improvement! No more manually re-typing your favorite rubrics, cell by cell, into Google Classroom. It bridges the gap between your curriculum library (all those rubrics you've perfected over the years) and your live assignments, making digital feedback faster and more consistent.

Example in Action:

• General Classroom: An 8th-grade ELA teacher has a detailed narrative writing rubric saved as a Word doc on their laptop. When creating a new assignment, they click "+ Rubric," select the new "Convert from file with Gemini" option, and upload their .docx file. Gemini scans the document, extracts the criteria and point values, and builds the digital rubric in seconds, ready to be attached.

• Elementary: A 3rd-grade teacher uploads a PDF of their "Good Citizen" behavioral rubric to use for a social studies project.

• Secondary (Science): A physics teacher converts their "Lab Report" rubric from a Google Doc they've used for years, instantly applying it to a new experiment.

• Specialist Adaptations:

  • PE: Convert a "Skill Performance" rubric (e.g., for basketball dribbling form) from a local file.

  • Music: Digitize a "Solo & Ensemble Performance" rubric from a PDF used by the whole department.

  • Art: Upload a "Project Critique" or "Studio Habits" rubric from a Google Doc to grade visual art portfolios.

  • CTE: Convert a "Shop Safety" or "Project Build Quality" rubric from an old .docx file.

  • SPED: Quickly convert simplified, goal-specific rubrics (e.g., "IEP Goal: Topic Sentences") from Docs to attach to assignments for easier data tracking.

How-To Instructions:

1. In Google Classroom, go to the "Classwork" tab and create a new Assignment.

2. In the assignment details on the right, click the "+ Rubric" button.

3. Select the new option: "Convert from file with Gemini". (You may also see "Create rubric" and "Reuse rubric").

4. Gemini will prompt you to select a file from Google Drive or upload one from your computer (e.g., .gdoc, .docx, .pdf).

5. Gemini will analyze the file and show you a preview of the digital rubric it created.

6. Review the criteria, descriptions, and point values. You can make any necessary edits.

7. Click "Save" to attach the new digital rubric to your assignment.

Title: Brisk Update: Create "Resource Bundles" in One Click! (Video)

The Tip: As of yesterday (Oct 21, 2025), Brisk Teaching has released a "Bundles" feature. This allows you to create up to three connected instructional materials (like a presentation, guided notes, and a quiz) from a single source document, all at the same time.

Why It Matters: This is a massive time-saver for unit planning. Instead of generating each resource one-by-one, you can now create a cohesive set of materials from your core text, article, or video with a single prompt, ensuring everything is aligned from the start.

Example in Action:

• General Classroom: A high school biology teacher takes a complex article on CRISPR. Using the new "Bundles" feature, they instantly generate a 10-slide Google Slides presentation, a set of scaffolded guided notes for students to fill in, and a 5-question multiple-choice quiz for an exit ticket.

• Elementary: A 3rd-grade teacher uses a ReadWorks article about the water cycle and bundles it into a vocabulary list (with definitions), a simple presentation with images, and a "think-pair-share" question set.

• Specialist Areas (PE/Music/Art): Upload the rules for pickleball (PE) or an artist's biography (Art) and create a bundle with a "Key Terms" handout, a "Rules Quiz," and a "Skill Drill" idea sheet.

• Specialist Areas (CTE/SPED): Take a technical safety manual (CTE) or a social story (SPED) and bundle it into a simplified summary, a "check for understanding" worksheet, and a visual guide.

How-To Instructions:

1. Open the resource you want to use (e.g., a Google Doc, website, PDF).

2. Click the Brisk Teaching icon (bottom right).

3. Click the Create button.

4. You will now see the option to select up to three different resource types (e.g., "Presentation," "Guided Notes," "Quiz").

5. Select your desired materials.

6. Add your details (grade level, standards, etc.) and click "Brisk It."

7. Brisk will generate all three resources and save them in an organized bundle (often in a new folder) in your Google Drive.

Title: Master Concepts with Gemini's Examples & Non-Examples (videos)

The Tip: Use Google Gemini to instantly generate a list of both examples and non-examples for any concept, vocabulary word, or skill you are teaching. This helps students move beyond simple definitions to truly understand the boundaries of an idea. 🧠

Why It Matters: True understanding isn't just knowing what something is; it's also knowing what it isn't. Generating quality non-examples can be surprisingly tricky on the fly. Gemini can act as your brainstorming partner, providing clear examples and common misconceptions that help students build a more robust and accurate mental model of a concept.

Example in Action: A middle school science teacher is introducing the concept of inherited traits. They ask Gemini to generate 5 examples (eye color, natural hair color, height potential) and 5 non-examples (dyed hair, a scar from an accident, learning to ride a bike). They use this list for a quick card-sorting activity.

• Elementary: A 2nd-grade teacher asks Gemini for examples and non-examples of nouns. The AI provides things like "dog" and "school" as examples, and "jump" and "quickly" as non-examples, which the class can then discuss and categorize together.

• Secondary: A high school history teacher preparing a lesson on primary sources asks Gemini for examples (a diary, a photograph, an original document) and non-examples (a textbook, a documentary made last year, a biography). This clarifies a critical research skill.

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Ask for examples and non-examples of "good sportsmanship" to facilitate a class discussion on behavior during games.

  • Music: Generate examples and non-examples of syncopation in rhythms to help students aurally identify the concept.

  • Art: Request examples and non-examples of negative space in a composition, showing famous artworks to illustrate each.

  • CTE: In an auto shop class, ask for examples of tasks that require safety goggles (grinding, cutting) versus non-examples (reading a manual, checking tire pressure).

  • SPED: For students who struggle with abstract concepts, providing concrete examples and non-examples is a powerful and direct instructional strategy. Use it to pre-teach vocabulary or reinforce a key skill from a general education lesson.

How-To Instructions:

1. Navigate to Gemini (gemini.google.com).

2. Start a new chat.

3. Write a clear and specific prompt. A great template is: "Act as a [grade level/subject] teacher. I am teaching the concept of '[your concept here]'. Please generate a list of 5 clear examples and 5 common non-examples. For each non-example, briefly explain why it doesn't fit the definition."

4. Review Gemini's output to ensure it's accurate and appropriate for your students.

5. Copy the list to use as a discussion starter, a quick quiz, or a sorting activity in your lesson.

Title: Boost Any Resource into an Interactive AI Tutor with Brisk (Video)

The Tip: Use Brisk Boost to turn any online resource—a Google Doc, a web article, a PDF, or even a YouTube video—into a safe, interactive, AI-powered chat activity for students. You can set the AI's role to be a Tutor, a Debate Partner, a Writing Coach, or an Exit Ticket generator, all customized to the content of your selected resource.

Why It Matters: This tool is a game-changer for differentiation and engagement. It provides every student with an instant, personalized support system, essentially giving them a 1:1 coach who can answer questions, clarify concepts, and offer feedback 24/7. This saves you, the teacher, valuable time while ensuring students get targeted help right when they need it, leading to a deeper understanding of the material.

Example in Action:

• General Classroom (High School): A teacher has students read a complex web article about the causes of WWI. They "Boost" the article and select the Tutor role. Students can now ask the AI questions like, "What is a primary source?" or "Explain the concept of 'militarism' from the text in simpler terms," receiving help directly related only to the content provided.

• Elementary vs. Secondary Teachers:

  • Elementary (3rd Grade): Boost a PDF of a science textbook chapter on the water cycle, choosing the Pulse Check activity to check for understanding with simple multiple-choice questions throughout the reading.

  • Secondary (10th Grade): Boost a Google Doc of a student's rough draft, using the Writing Coach role to guide the student on revising for better thesis support before turning it in.

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Boost a document on the rules of a new sport (e.g., Ultimate Frisbee), using the Debate Partner role to quiz students on proper technique or rule infractions.

  • Music: Boost a sheet music piece and its composer biography, setting the AI to a Character Chat with the "composer" to discuss their inspiration and musical choices.

  • CTE: Boost a technical manual or safety guide, using the Tutor role to help students study for a certification exam by asking comprehension and procedural questions.

  • SPED: Use the Tutor role on a leveled text to provide scaffolding and re-explain difficult vocabulary or concepts in simpler language, promoting independent work.

How-To Instructions:

1. Open Your Resource: Navigate to the resource you want to "Boost" (e.g., a website, a Google Doc, or a YouTube video).

2. Activate Brisk: Click the Brisk Teaching extension icon (the 'B') in your browser toolbar, then click the 🎒 Boost Student Activity button.

3. Customize the Activity:

   • Select an Activity Type (e.g., Tutor, Debate, Writing Coach, Pulse Check, Exit Ticket).

   • Review and adjust the Learning Objectives that Brisk generates based on the content.

4. Generate and Share: Click the "Brisk It!" or "Create" button. Brisk generates a unique, safe chat link.

5. Share with Students: Share the generated link with your students (via Google Classroom, email, etc.). They simply click the link and start interacting with the AI based on the role you set, and you can monitor their progress from your Brisk Dashboard.

Title: Design a Digital Scavenger Hunt with Canva's Magic Activities (Video)

The Tip: Use Canva for Education's Magic Activities tool (part of Magic Studio) to quickly generate engaging, visually rich, and interactive classroom activities like digital scavenger hunts or 'Breakout' style puzzles from a simple text prompt.

Why It Matters: Teacher time is precious. Instead of spending an hour manually searching for clip art, formatting questions, and designing an appealing activity sheet, Magic Activities rapidly converts your instructional goal (e.g., "Review key vocabulary for the French Revolution") into a beautiful, ready-to-use Canva template. It dramatically reduces design time, allowing you to focus on the educational content and creative instructional use.

Example in Action: General Classroom: A middle school Science teacher is starting a unit on the water cycle. They open the Magic Activities prompt and type: "Create a digital matching game activity to review the terms: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection, and transpiration." Canva instantly generates a set of visual card templates with clear design, which the teacher then shares as an assignment for students to match definitions and images.

• Elementary vs. Secondary Teachers:

  • Elementary: A 2nd-grade teacher inputs a prompt for a sight word game: "Generate a word wall activity template for the high-frequency words 'said,' 'came,' and 'look,' with spaces for students to type a sentence for each."

  • Secondary: A high school English teacher prompts for a quick review: "Create a 5-question trivia game template about themes in 'The Great Gatsby' for students to complete in teams."

• Specialist Areas (PE, Music, Art, CTE, SPED):

  • PE: Prompt: "Design a visual sequencing activity for the steps of a basketball free throw." Students drag the steps into the correct order.

  • Music: Prompt: "Generate a 'find the error' puzzle for students to identify three incorrect notes on a sheet music staff using the treble clef."

  • CTE: Prompt: "Create a drag-and-drop labeling activity for the parts of a small engine using clear technical diagrams."

  • SPED: Use the tool to generate visual schedules or choice boards, customizing the prompt to include simplified text and specific student-friendly images, which can then be printed or used digitally.

How-To Instructions

1. Log in to Canva for Education (it is free for eligible K-12 teachers).

2. On the Canva homepage, navigate to the Magic Studio section, or search for "Magic Activities" in the main search bar.

3. Click "Generate Magic Activity" or similar button to open the prompt box.

4. Enter Your Activity Prompt: Be specific about the type of activity and the content. (e.g., "Create a flashcard set for five Spanish verb conjugations" or "Make a quiz on the three branches of government.") Pro Tip: Use Gemini to help you create your prompt.

5. Refine and Customize: Canva will generate a template set (like a match-up, quiz, or flashcards). Click on the design to enter the editor, where you can easily change colors, images, and text to perfectly fit your lesson.

6. Share: Use the Share button, select "Assign Classwork," and post it directly to your Google Classroom or LMS, ready for students to complete.

Title: Boost Concept Clarity with Gemini's Example/Non-Example Generator (Video)

The Tip: Use Google Gemini as a quick and powerful tool to generate a list of both examples and, crucially, non-examples for any complex concept or vocabulary word you are teaching.

Why It Matters: Definitions are often not enough. Students truly understand a concept when they can identify its boundaries—what it is and what it is not. This strategy, made instant by AI, helps prevent common misconceptions from taking root and forces deeper critical thinking beyond simple memorization.

Example in Action: A high school biology teacher is introducing the concept of homeostasis. They ask Gemini to create a list of examples and non-examples. Gemini provides examples like "shivering to generate heat when cold" and non-examples like "a rock getting hot in the sun" (as it's a passive change, not an active regulation). The teacher uses this list for a quick card-sorting activity to check for understanding.

• Elementary: For a lesson on "mammals," generate examples (whale, bat, human) and non-examples (shark, penguin, lizard) to solidify the key characteristics like having fur/hair and producing milk.

• Secondary: An English teacher defining "dramatic irony" gets examples from Romeo and Juliet and non-examples that are simply coincidences or sad events, helping students distinguish the precise literary term.

• Specialist Adaptations:

  • PE: Concept: "Traveling" in basketball. Examples: taking three steps without dribbling. Non-examples: a pivot, a jump stop.

  • Music: Concept: "Crescendo." Examples: a gradual increase in volume. Non-examples: an abrupt change from soft to loud (subito forte), a steady volume.

  • Art: Concept: "Asymmetrical Balance." Gemini can generate descriptions of art pieces that exemplify it and contrast them with non-examples that show perfect symmetry.

  • CTE: In a culinary class, define "emulsion." Examples: mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce. Non-examples: oil and vinegar in a bottle before it's shaken.

  • SPED: Use this to create very clear, concrete sorting tasks (e.g., T-charts) for students who need help with abstract categories. Pair the text with images for reinforcement.

How-To Instructions:

1. Navigate to Gemini (gemini.google.com).

2. Use a specific and structured prompt. A great template is: "Act as a [Your Subject] teacher for [Your Grade Level] students. I am teaching the concept of [Your Concept/Term]. Please generate a list of 5 clear examples and 5 clear non-examples. For each non-example, briefly explain why it doesn't fit the definition."

3. Review the list Gemini provides. Check for accuracy and appropriateness for your students.

4. Copy the list to use in a slideshow, as a warm-up, an exit ticket, or for a small group discussion.

AI Tip of the Day: Pinpoint Writing Errors with Brisk (Video)

The Tip: Use Brisk Teaching's "Inspect Writing" feature to automatically scan a student's Google Doc and generate a detailed report of their specific spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

Why It Matters: This saves you countless hours of line-editing and shifts the focus from simple correction to skill-building. By generating a clear, organized list of errors, you can provide students with personalized, actionable feedback that helps them identify and fix their own recurring mistakes.

Example in Action: A middle school ELA teacher is reviewing a batch of narrative essays. Instead of manually marking every comma splice, they run "Inspect Writing" on a student's draft. Brisk produces a document with a table listing 5 instances of run-on sentences and 3 misspelled words, complete with sentence examples. The teacher uses this report to guide a quick 1-on-1 student conference.

• Elementary: A 3rd-grade teacher uses it on a student's short story to identify common capitalization or punctuation errors (like missing periods) to create a targeted mini-lesson for a small group.

• Secondary: A high school history teacher uses it on a research paper to quickly address writing conventions, allowing them to focus their own feedback on historical analysis and argumentation.

• Specialist Areas:

  • CTE: Analyze a student's technical report or business plan for professionalism and clarity.

  • SPED: Identify specific error patterns tied to an IEP goal (e.g., subject-verb agreement) and use the report as data to track progress.

  • Art/Music: Check artist statements, music critiques, or program notes for writing conventions.

  • PE: Review a student's written reflection on a fitness goal for clarity and correctness.

How-To Instructions:

1. Open a student's assignment in a Google Doc.

2. Click the Brisk icon, which typically appears in the bottom-right corner of your screen.

3. From the Brisk menu, select the "Feedback" option.

4. Click on "Inspect Writing."

5. Brisk will analyze the text and generate a new Google Doc containing a table that outlines each error type, provides an example from the student's text, and suggests a correction.

6. Use this generated document to guide your feedback or share it directly with the student.

Title: Brisk Boost Your Sub Plans 🧑‍🏫 (Video)

The Tip

Use Brisk Teaching's "Boost" feature to instantly generate a complete, well-structured substitute teacher plan from any existing lesson material, document, or even just a simple prompt.

Why It Matters

Unexpected absences happen, and writing detailed sub plans from scratch is stressful and time-consuming. Brisk Boost eliminates that pressure by creating clear, usable plans in seconds, ensuring that classroom learning continues seamlessly and your substitute feels confident and prepared.

Example in Action

• General Classroom: A 7th-grade social studies teacher is leaving for a planned professional development day. They open their Google Slides presentation on Ancient Rome and use the Brisk Boost prompt, "Create a detailed sub plan from this presentation," to generate a full lesson with a warm-up, guided notes activity, and an exit ticket.

• Elementary: A 3rd-grade teacher has a simple math worksheet on multiplication. They use Boost to create a full plan that includes instructions for reviewing concepts, modeling the worksheet, and an early-finisher activity.

• Specialist Areas:

  • PE: Boost the rules for a game of kickball into a full period plan, complete with team setup instructions, safety reminders, and a cool-down activity.

  • Music: Use a link to a YouTube video of a classical piece and ask Boost to create a listening guide and reflection questions for students.

  • Art: Take a project rubric for a clay sculpture unit and Boost it into a step-by-step plan for a guided work day, including material distribution and clean-up procedures.

  • CTE: A welding instructor can Boost a safety checklist into a full lesson for a substitute, focusing on shop rules and a theory-based review worksheet.

  • SPED: Use a student's social-emotional learning goal and Boost it into a structured small-group activity with clear scripts and prompts for the substitute or paraprofessional to use.

How-To Instructions

1. Open your source material. This can be a Google Doc, Slides presentation, PDF, or even a website with an article or video.

2. Activate Brisk. Click the Brisk Teaching icon, typically located in the bottom-right corner of your screen.

3. Select "Boost." This feature is designed to enhance or repurpose your existing content.

4. Write your prompt. In the text box, clearly state what you need. For example: "Create a substitute plan from this document for a 10th-grade English class. Include a 'Do Now,' step-by-step instructions for the main activity, and a brief closing."

5. Generate and review. Click the Boost button. Brisk will analyze your content and generate the plan. Always take a moment to read it over and make any small adjustments to fit your classroom's specific needs.

Title: Differentiate Exit Tickets in 60 Seconds with Gemini (Video)

The Tip: Use Google Gemini to instantly generate differentiated exit tickets for the same lesson objective. By providing Gemini with your learning target and student needs, you can create multiple versions of a quick assessment in a fraction of the time it would take to do it manually.

Why It Matters: Differentiation is crucial for meeting every student's needs, but creating varied materials is time-consuming. This strategy allows you to quickly assess what all students have learned, not just those who can access the standard version of a task. It ensures your checks for understanding are equitable and accessible, providing a clearer picture of whole-class comprehension.

Example in Action

• General Classroom: A 7th-grade science teacher finishes a lesson on the water cycle. They ask Gemini to create three exit ticket questions for the objective "Students will be able to describe the four main stages of the water cycle." They ask for one version with a word bank, one with open-ended questions, and one that asks students to draw and label a diagram.

• Elementary: A 2nd-grade teacher asks Gemini for an exit ticket on identifying nouns. One version asks students to circle nouns in a sentence, while another provides images and asks students to write the noun for each picture.

• Specialist Adaptations:

  • PE: Create an exit ticket after a volleyball lesson. Ask for a version where students match terms like "bump" and "set" to images, and another where they describe the proper form for a serve in their own words.

  • Music: After a lesson on quarter and half notes, ask Gemini for a ticket where students circle the correct note based on its name, and another where they draw the notes themselves.

  • CTE (Culinary): Generate a ticket on knife safety. Provide a version with true/false questions and another requiring students to list three key safety rules for using a chef's knife.

  • SPED: Ask Gemini to create an exit ticket using simple sentence stems, icons, or a cloze (fill-in-the-blank) format to reduce cognitive load and support students with writing challenges.

How-To Instructions

1. Open Gemini (gemini.google.com).

2. State Your Goal: Start your prompt by clearly stating what you want. For example, "Create three differentiated exit tickets for a lesson on..."

3. Provide the Learning Objective: Clearly state the skill or concept you are assessing. For example, "...the main causes of the American Revolution."

4. Specify the Differentiation: Tell Gemini how you want the tickets to be different. Use prompts like:

   • "...one multiple-choice version."

   • "...one version with a word bank for support."

   • "...one version requiring a short written explanation."

   • "...one version for an English Language Learner with simplified vocabulary and visuals."

5. Review and Refine: Read through the generated tickets. Copy and paste them into a Google Doc or slide for easy printing or projection. Ask Gemini for tweaks if needed, like "Make the vocabulary in version two simpler."

Title: Make Learning Stick with Real-World Connections (Video)

The Tip: Use Google Gemini to instantly brainstorm and generate relevant, real-world applications for any abstract concept you're teaching.

Why It Matters: This is a powerful way to answer the classic student question, "When will I ever use this?" By connecting classroom content to everyday life, careers, and current events, you can significantly boost student engagement, relevance, and long-term retention. It turns abstract ideas into concrete, memorable knowledge.

Example in Action: A high school physics teacher is starting a unit on wave properties. They ask Gemini, "What are some real-world examples of the Doppler effect that would be interesting to teenagers?" Gemini suggests explaining how it's used in police radar guns, weather forecasting satellites, and even the changing sound of a passing ambulance siren.