Library › Writing AI › Teachers
Build a kid-friendly rubric with the right point weights
Practice: Saying who it's for. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
You're making a rubric for your 4th graders' how-to paragraphs. Write exactly 4 numbered criteria in the form "Criterion (N pts): I can ...", with the points you decided on adding to 20, each "I can" statement under 12 words in words a 9-year-old understands, plain text. Use your updated weights and leave out spelling, since it's graded separately. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- No fixed shape. The AI builds a big grid with 4 score levels per criterion. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 4 numbered lines: Criterion (N pts): I can ..."
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 85 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each I can statement under 12 words."
- Using the first-draft points. The original 4/6/6/4 split comes first in the notes. Try: Add: "Use the updated points: 3, 8, 6, 3."
- Writing for teachers. The AI writes "Uses transitional phrases to create logical sequence". Try: Add: "Kids read it. 'I can' statements in simple words."
- Adding spelling. Spelling is a common rubric line, so the AI includes it. Try: Add: "No spelling criterion; nothing but the 4 lines."
What a strong prompt includes
- Uses the updated points
- Writes for kids
- Leaves out spelling
- Sets the number of criteria
- Sets a word limit
Related exercises
- Accept a job offer and confirm the exact terms (Writing AI · Job seekers)
- Announce a hybrid work policy change with clear actions (Writing AI · HR and recruiting)
- Announce a promotion with the right date and no pay details (Writing AI · HR and recruiting)
- Announce a team change and answer the first question (Writing AI · Managers and team leads)
- Announce a team meeting change people will actually follow (Writing AI · Managers and team leads)