Please find the tutorial video here (I PROMISE you, it's the longest tutorial video I'll make all year)

Cheat Sheet

Toddle has made some aesthetic changes to how we design units and assignments. Please view the following screenshots to get a quick refresher for the concepts covered in the August 5th session and in the video above.

Remember that the AI functions in Toddle are NOT a great substitute for your own expertise. Your teaching experiences, your personality, and your specific techniques for delivering content are what make lessons memorable. 

We all spend hours drafting assignments and unit overviews in Toddle. What if you could cut that time in half? By pairing Gemini with Toddle, you get the best of both worlds: Gemini drafts content fast, and Toddle keeps it organized and ready for students.

Why This Matters

• Gemini gets you 80% of the way there in 2 minutes instead of 2 hours.

• You keep full control. You polish, adapt, and make it fit your students.

• Toddle remains the home for your official rubrics, criteria, and assessment tracking.

“But Toddle Can Already Do It All!”

You might be saying:
“Duffy, another AI tool?! Why? Toddle can already do it all!”

Well, here’s why Gemini is worth adding to your workflow:

• Speed: Instead of staring at a blank Toddle box, Gemini generates a first draft in seconds.

• Variation: Ask Gemini for three versions of an assignment intro, or multiple reflection prompts at different levels. Toddle can’t do that.

• Polish: Gemini can rewrite your draft in a student-friendly voice or simplify complex text instantly.

• Adaptability: Reframe the same task for Grade 5 instead of Grade 7, or raise the challenge for advanced learners.

• Brainstorm Partner: Need a catchy essential question or fresh project idea? Gemini offers options you wouldn’t generate as fast on your own.

In short: Gemini is the drafting workshop, while Toddle is the publishing platform.

Workflows to Try

1. Assignment Builder Boost

Workflow: Draft the student-facing instructions in Gemini → paste into Toddle → build your rubric directly in Toddle.

Demo Prompt (copy and paste into Gemini):

Write a clear student-facing assignment for Grade 7 Science. The task: Create an infographic about renewable energy sources. Keep the output as instructions only. Write in a way I can paste into Toddle’s assignment builder.

2. Unit Skeleton in Minutes

Workflow: Use Gemini to create a draft unit overview → paste into Toddle Unit Builder.

Demo Prompt:

Draft a 6-week unit plan for Grade 7 Science with the Big Idea "Adaptability."
Include: essential question, 3 learning goals, 2 formative checkpoints, and a summative project (infographic on renewable energy). Write in a way I can paste into Toddle’s unit planner.

3. Student Reflection Prompts

Workflow: Generate with Gemini → paste into Toddle Reflection.

Demo Prompt:

Write 5 student reflection questions about how Grade 7 students adapted to challenges while creating an infographic.

4. Parent Communication

Workflow: Draft in Gemini → paste into Toddle Announcements.

Demo Prompt:

Draft a short, friendly parent update for Week 3 of this unit, highlighting progress and reminding parents of the summative deadline.

Why this matters

Typing the same feedback over and over is a patience-killer. A quick comment bank means you always have your best phrases ready to go and it keeps your feedback consistent, kind, and efficient.

And here’s the truth: you’re still the teacher. The bank doesn’t replace your judgment. It just clears space so you can focus on the bits that matter most for each student.

How to do it (2–3 minutes)

1. Open a Google Doc and jot down your most-used feedback phrases.

2. Keep it open while grading.

3. Copy + paste into Toddle when needed.

If you want something I've done already, make a copy of this sample Doc and adapt it to your style.

Bonus tip: Use split screen

Open Toddle on one side, your comment bank on the other. No tab-switching, no wasted clicks.
(Screenshot below shows this in action.)

Why this matters

AI Tutors are cool, but they get way more powerful when you feed them your own stories, readings, or videos. That way, students are working with the same materials you’ve already chosen and avoid any random random internet garbage. 

And remember: you’re still the teacher. The AI is smart, but it only knows what you tell it. You get to teach the AI where to focus.

How to do it (5 minutes)

1. Open a Toddle Task and scroll down to the AI Tutor setup.

2. Pick a template (e.g., Quiz based on a resource, Teach a new student, Debate partner).

3. In the Attach area, drop in your material (from your computer, any accessible links, Google Drive, or even SharePoint if that's your thing):

   • A PDF, Word Doc, or Google Doc (or, ahem, the 12 Wise Habits?)

   • A link to an article, YouTube video, or slide deck.

   • Any multimedia file from Google Drive or OneDrive.

4. Toddle AI will build the tutor around what you uploaded. It will ask questions, give prompts, or nudge discussion in that direction.

5. Try it out! If the questions feel too tricky/simple, just tell it: “Make these easier” or “Add more challenge.”

Why this matters

You already put time into making slides for class, so why not let them work twice? By attaching your existing Google Slides or PowerPoint to a Toddle task, you turn a regular presentation into an interactive learning tool. Students can pause, think, and respond at their own pace, absentees can catch up, and parents gain insight into classroom thinking.

And here’s the truth: you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Toddle simply helps you use what you’ve already created in a way that deepens reflection. That’s Yoniso manasikāra: Applying the mind skilfully in action.

How to do it (2–3 minutes)

1. Go to Toddle Tasks → Create Task.

2. Upload your slide deck (Google Slides, PowerPoint, or export as PDF).

3. Add one or two guiding questions in the instructions box.

   • Example: “Look at slide 5. Which strategy would you use? Why?”

4. Set a due date so students can review and respond.

Bonus tip: Quick reuse

If you’ll use the same slides again next year, just duplicate the task in Toddle and update the questions—instant assignment ready to go.

Why this matters

Many teachers and students loved Google Classroom’s Stream. It's a simple, date-ordered list of what’s happening in class. Toddle has its own version: Class Flow. It shows assignments, announcements, and events in a clean, chronological view so students know exactly what’s next.

And here’s the truth: Class Flow gives students the simplicity of Google Classroom while still giving teachers better organization tools through tags and collections. Best of both worlds.

How to do it (2–3 minutes)

1. Go to Classroom → Class Flow.

2. Post an assignment or announcement through Assignments—it will appear automatically in Class Flow.

3. Add Tags (like “Homework,” “Reading,” or “Formative”) to help students and parents quickly identify what type of task it is.

4. Use Collections to group assignments by unit or theme, keeping your side of Toddle tidy and easy to reuse.

Perfect for: Students who miss the simplicity of Classroom’s Stream and teachers who want clear order plus long-term organization.

Bonus tip

Show students how to filter by tag inside Class Flow. They’ll find what matters faster, which is great for building independence.

Why this matters:

Every subject and every learner is different. Sometimes a number is enough, but often we want to capture how a child is growing, not just what they scored. Toddle lets us choose the right assessment measure for each task, keeping learning evidence both truthful (Sacca) and balanced (Mattanutā: Knowing the right amount).

How to do it:

1. When creating an assignment in Toddle, look for the Assessment Type step.

2. Choose the option that fits your task:

   • Points or Percentages: For quick checks (quizzes, spelling, maths).

   • Rubrics: For richer criteria (ideas, collaboration, presentation).

   • Standards-Linked: To show progress against learning outcomes.

   • No Grades (Feedback Only): For moments when feedback matters more than marks.

3. Once students submit work, open the Gradebook and you’ll see results organised by both student and task.
   
   

Bonus tip:

You don’t need to grade everything. Use rubrics or comments on bigger pieces, and quick points for daily practice. This keeps grading manageable while still giving a full picture of student growth.