Resources by Tag
Writing
January 2026: Custom Assignments for Students and Groups
January’s biggest update makes differentiation easier. Instead of giving every student the same test or writing activity, you can now assign work to specific students or groups — and adjust settings for individuals when needed. Targeted Assignments This is one teachers have asked for repeatedly: assign work to only the students who need it. Three ways to assign: * Individual students — Assign a test or writing activity to specific students by name. Only those students will see it in their
Small Wins, Big Persistence: What 88 Messages Taught Us About Scaffolding
Privacy: We paraphrase learner messages, use randomized IDs, and never train on student work. What you'll learn: Why students give up, and how to stop it. The science of small wins, self-efficacy, and scaffolding—plus 4 classroom-ready strategies. The podcast above covers the same material. Choose your preferred format: watch on YouTube or continue reading below. The Scene It's 12:37 PM on a Monday when a student types these words into their writing activity: "i dont get the prompt". They'
Instructron Unstructured: Episode 2
Back-to-School & The Writing Center Deep Dive Summer’s Over—Back to the Classroom! * After nine glorious weeks of summer break, we (Joe & Quyen) are back in the classroom and gearing up for the new school year. * Teaching means starting fresh every year: new students, new personalities, and new chances to do things better. The Challenge: Writing Feedback Overload * Last year, we tried "mystery writing" and were excited to see students writing more than ever. * But with 32 students, gra
Why Instructron Takes a Different Approach to AI and Assessment
Let’s get one thing straight: grading essays is time-consuming. Like, "why do I do this to myself every Sunday night?" time-consuming. So it would be easy for us to build an AI that reads student writing and spits out a score. But that’s not what Instructron is about. We believe student writing deserves more than a number. Here's why we don't auto-grade essays and what we do instead. Writing Is a Process, Not a Product Instructron is built on the idea that writing should be coached, not judg
How to Assign a Writing Activity in Instructron (and Let Tronnie Be the Coach)
Need a way to support every student writer without cloning yourself? Instructron’s Writing Activities let you assign a prompt and have Tronnie, your built-in AI coach, offer personalized, skill-specific feedback students actually understand. Here’s how to do it from both the teacher and student sides: 👨🏫 Teacher Side: Creating a Writing Assignment 1. Sign In and Head to Writing Activities From your teacher dashboard, scroll down and click “Writing Activities.” Then hit “Create Activity.