MAKING IT EASIER TO BE A BETTER TEACHER

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Here’s our weekly roundup of interesting education stories from around the world. Click each link to dive deeper:

• Your students aren’t unmotivated, they’re just unmoved. How should you help them find what matters?

• Summer = students staying up all night. But earlier bedtimes are now officially linked to better brain function via this recent study.

• Just in time for vacation - screen time officially increases when under grandparents’ care.

TECH TOOL

My students keep asking AI to write for them

We all want students to get help when they’re stuck. But there’s a difference between guidance and ghostwriting. 

With so many AI tools that instantly spit out finished answers, it’s easy for students to disengage from the actual thinking part of thinking.

Some apps are now flipping that script - and Gauth might just be one of the better-kept secrets out there.

The Solution: Gauth

Originally known as a math problem solver, Gauth has quietly added a suite of writing tools that help students develop their own ideas, not just copy someone else’s.

Its essay helper breaks down the writing process: from brainstorming and structuring ideas, to organizing arguments and editing drafts. 

Unlike many AI writing tools, Gauth is more of a coach than a ghostwriter - helping students improve their writing with personalized suggestions and clear explanations, not full-blown essays in one click.

Plus, if students are still struggling with math or science problems, the original problem-solving tools (step-by-step breakdowns, hints, and visual aids) are still there - just smarter than before.

In Your Classroom:

AI isn’t going anywhere, and banning it outright only encourages students to get sneakier. Instead, why not adopt tools that guide students to use AI to think better - not avoid thinking altogether?

Gauth meets that moment, especially when students are early in the writing process or overwhelmed by where to start.

Here’s how you can use it (even if you’re school year is winding down):

Strategies

• Boost pre-writing skills: Have students use Gauth to build outlines and main ideas before they even draft, prompting them to organize arguments.

• Rebuild confidence after feedback: Students who get overwhelmed by corrections can input a paragraph and get revision suggestions broken down by clarity, grammar, and cohesion.

• Save time on conferencing: Gauth’s structured prompts help students reflect on what’s not working in their writing - so when it’s time to meet with you, they already know where they’re stuck.

Tools like Gauth don’t just provide answers - they teach strategies. 

In a world of one-click AI, that’s the kind of support students actually need.

The core features are free and available via browser or app. And yes, it still solves math problems too… just maybe have them write about it afterwards.

BRAINY BITS

Can poetry class finally get a remix?

This week, we explore a recent study asking whether writing poems online - alone or in teams - changes how seventh graders experience poetry. 

Spoiler: teamwork wins on confidence, but solo work still has its poetic power.

The Study: Individual vs. Collaborative Online Poetry Writing

Researchers at the University of Helsinki recruited two Grade 7 classes to compare individual and collaborative poetry writing using a digital tool. Over a series of lessons in their regular classroom, students:

1. Drafted poems on laptops - either solo or paired.
   

2. Completed pre- and post-lesson questionnaires measuring enjoyment, confidence, and perceived quality.
   

3. Joined follow-up interviews to share what worked (and what didn’t).

Quantitative data came from surveys; qualitative insights from thematic analysis of student interviews and written reflections.

The Results:

Students in collaborative writing pairs reported higher enjoyment and confidence, finding that teamwork helped them generate stronger ideas and richer metaphors. 

Individual writers, however, treasured the freedom to explore personal themes without compromise, valuing full creative ownership of their poems.

 Overall, paired activities felt more accessible - students noted that talking through poetic devices made them easier to grasp, while solo work remained essential for nurturing unique voices.

In Your Classroom:

In an age of AI shortcuts, nurturing students’ creative writing skills is more important than ever. This research reminds us that genuine craft comes from imagination and collaboration, not just prompts and auto-complete.

If poetry feels daunting, pairing students up can break the ice and boost their confidence to craft verses. But don’t ditch individual work: solo time lets shy writers find their unique voice.

So how can you bring this insight into the end of your school year and start of next?

Strategies

• Pair for Practice: Start with small writing duos to co-create imagery and rhythm.

• Rotate Roles: Let one student brainstorm metaphors while the other polishes word choice.

• Blend Modes: Alternate collaborative lessons with independent sessions so students benefit from both shared ideas and personal reflection.

Poetry isn’t one-size-fits-all. Mixing collaboration with solitude might be the secret to unlocking every writer’s spark - at least according to this study.

REFERENCES

This week’s issue adapts information from the following sources:

Tech Talk:

Gauth (2025). Gauth Essay Co-Writer. Retrieved from https://www.gauthmath.com/essay-writer

Brainy Bits:

Kangasharju A.I, Ilomäki L and Toom A (2024) Online poetry writing at school – comparing lower secondary students’ experiences between individual and collaborative poetry writing. Front. Educ. 9:1380790. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2024.1380790