In part 3 of the series Chat GPT & FLN, we will explore how a Math teacher from a primary school can benefit from using Chat GPT to improve foundational numeracy outcomes in the classroom.

An AI generated image by DALL – E https://openai.com/dall-e-2/

Few examples of how chat GPT can be used for improving foundational numeracy outcomes in classrooms

Math
To generate practice problems and worksheets
To generate assessment on specific concepts
Essential Math TLMs for teachers teaching at grade1 and 2 level.
To generate fun activities related to specific math concepts

Q & A with Chat GPT

Question to Chat GPT: Create worksheet that requires use of concrete material to demonstrate understanding of addition

Chat GPT: Sure, here’s an example of a math worksheet that requires the use of concrete materials to demonstrate an understanding of addition:

Name: _______________________________
Directions: Use base ten blocks, unifix cubes, or other concrete materials to solve the following problems. Show your work.

Use base ten blocks to build the number 5 and add it to the number 3. Show your work.
Use unifix cubes to make a tower of 6 and add 4 more cubes to it. How many cubes are in the tower now?
Use a bead abacus to represent the number 8 and add 3 more beads. How many beads are on the abacus now?
Use a number bond to represent the number 9 and add 6 more. What is the new number?
Use a ten-frame to fill in the number of dots to represent the number 7. Now add 3 more dots. How many dots are there now?

Question to Chat GPT: What are the key components of foundational numeracy ?
Chat GPT: The key components of foundational numeracy include:

Number sense: The ability to understand and work with numbers, including counting, comparing, and ordering.
Operations: The ability to perform basic mathematical operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Place value: The ability to understand the value of digits in numbers and how they relate to one another.
Mental math: The ability to perform mathematical calculations in your head, without the use of paper and pencil.
Number and operations fluency: The ability to perform basic mathematical operations quickly and accurately.
Estimation: The ability to make reasonable estimates of quantities and measurements.
Measurement: The ability to understand and use units of measure, such as length, weight, and volume.
Patterns, relationships, and algebraic thinking: The ability to understand and identify patterns and relationships in numbers and mathematical operations.
Problem-solving: The ability to understand and solve mathematical problems, including word problems and real-world scenarios.
Spatial reasoning: The ability to understand and visualise geometric shapes, patterns and relationships between them.

It’s important to note that these components are interconnected and that the development of one often supports the development of others.

Question to Chat GPT: What are the essential math TLMs a teacher must have to teach at grade 1 and 2 level?
Chat GPT: As a teacher, there are several important math teaching and learning materials (TLM) that you should have to teach math at the grade 1 and 2 level. Some of the most important include:

Concrete manipulatives: Manipulatives are physical objects that students can use to explore and understand mathematical concepts. Examples include base-ten blocks, counting bears, pattern blocks, and number lines.
Number cards: Number cards can be used to teach number recognition, counting, and operations. They can also be used to create number patterns and sequences.
Dice: Dice are a great tool for teaching probability and for generating random numbers.
Math games and activities: Games and activities can be used to engage students in math practice and to make math more fun and interactive.
Math workbook or activity book: These materials can be used to provide students with additional practice and reinforcement of math concepts.
Math assessment materials: These materials can be used to assess student understanding and progress, such as quizzes, tests, and performance tasks.
Math software and apps: There are many educational apps and software programs available that can be used to enhance math instruction, including interactive whiteboards and games.
Multi-sensory math materials: These materials can be used to cater to different learning styles, such as tactile or visual learners.
Math posters and charts: These materials can be used to display important math concepts and formulas, as well as to provide a visual reference for students.

Having these materials on hand and using them effectively can help you to create an engaging and effective math learning environment for your students.

Question to Chat GPT: Design a math worksheet that tests the real life application in addition for grade 3 children
Chat GPT: Instructions:
Solve the following problems by applying your understanding of addition using real-life examples. Show your work and write the solution in the space provided.

If there are 20 students in a class and 5 more join, how many students are there in total?
If a family has 3 kids and they have another child, how many kids do they have in total?
If a basket has 8 apples and you add 4 more, how many apples are there in total?
If a person has 7 books and they borrow 2 more, how many books do they have in total?

Remember to apply your understanding of addition using real-life examples.

Question to Chat GPT: Suggest a math activity for grade 1 children to help them understand single digit subtraction
Chat GPT: Here is a simple math activity for grade 1 children to help them understand single digit subtraction:

Activity 1 – “Subtraction Matching Game”. To play the game, you will need a set of cards with single digit subtraction problems and their answers. Mix the cards and place them face down on a table. Each child will take turns flipping two cards over, and try to find the subtraction problem and its answer. If the two cards match, the child keeps the pair and takes another turn. If the cards do not match, they turn them back over and the next child takes a turn. The child with the most pairs at the end of the game wins. This activity will help children learn single digit subtraction problems and improve their subtraction skills through hands-on practice and play.

Activity 2 – Subtraction Bingo: Create a bingo board with subtraction problems such as 4 – 2, 5 – 3, 6 – 1, etc. Call out the subtraction problems and the children can cover the corresponding answer on their bingo board. The first child to cover all the answers in a row wins. This is a fun and interactive way for children to practice and reinforce their subtraction skills.

This article was written under the aegis of the Centre for Education Research in India (CERI). CERI, an initiative powered by Madhi Foundation, is a digital repository and think-tank catering to policymakers, practitioners, and academics in the education sector and the larger community, to catalyse reform in the education ecosystem in India.

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In India, attaining foundational literacy and numeracy remains a challenge in schools, with a large percentage of children unable to read and do basic arithmetic operations proficiently even after several years of schooling.

An AI generated image by DALL – E https://openai.com/dall-e-2/

Chat GPT, a powerful language model that can generate human-like responses to text inputs. By leveraging the capabilities of Chat GPT, educators can create engaging learning experiences that cater to the individual needs of each student, leading to more effective and personalized instruction. In this blog post, we explore how Chat GPT can be used to improve foundational literacy.

During this exercise, it is also realized that prompts play a crucial role in shaping the conversation and determining the response from the chatbot. The effectiveness of Chat GPT depends on the quality and specificity of the prompts provided. A clear and concise prompt will lead to a more accurate and relevant response, while a vague or ambiguous prompt may result in a less useful response.

The potential use of the Chat GPT are outlined in the above illustration

Examples of how chat GPT can be used for improving foundational literacy outcomes in classrooms

Language prompts
To understand the key components of foundational language and literacy
To understand how to select story book for specific grades
To understand how to build reading culture / environment in school
How can teachers encourage parent’s involvement in supporting their children reading skill
To create short stories based on students level and with character limit

Question to Chat GPT: What are the key components in Foundational Language and Literacy in English language?

Chat GPT: The key components of foundational language and literacy in the English language include:

Phonological awareness: The ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words.
Phonics: The relationship between the letters of written language and the sounds of spoken language.
Vocabulary: The words a person knows and uses.
Fluency: The ability to read text accurately, quickly, and with expression.
Comprehension: The ability to understand and make meaning from text.
Writing: The ability to express ideas in written form.
Spelling: The ability to spell words correctly.
Grammar and sentence structure: The rules and conventions of the English language that govern how words are put together to form sentences.
Listening comprehension: The ability to understand spoken language.
Oral language: The ability to communicate effectively through spoken language.

It’s important to note that these components are interconnected and that the development of one often supports the development of others.

Question to Chat GPT: How to select story books in English that are appropriate for Grade 1 children?

Chat GPT: When selecting story books for grade 1 children in English, there are several factors to consider:

Vocabulary: The book should use simple, age-appropriate vocabulary that the children can understand.
Sentence structure: The sentences should be simple and easy to read, with short, clear sentences.
Illustrations: The book should have colorful and engaging illustrations that will help the children understand the story.
Interest: The book should be interesting and engaging for the children, with a fun plot and relatable characters.
Cultural relevance: The book should reflect the cultural diversity of the students and should avoid stereotypes.
Reading level: The book should be at an appropriate reading level for the children, not too hard or too easy.
Theme: The book should have a theme that is age-appropriate and that is relevant to the children’s interests and experiences.
Length: The book should be a manageable length for the children and should not be too long for them to hold their attention.
Language fluency: The book should be written in fluent and clear language.

It’s also important to preview the book before giving it to the students and to consider the students’ interests and backgrounds when selecting books.

Question to Chat GPT: As a teacher how can I build a reading environment at school for grade 1 children

Chatp GPT: As a teacher, you can build a reading environment at school for grade 1 children by:

Creating a dedicated reading area: Set up a cozy and comfortable reading area in the classroom where children can sit and read. This could be a corner of the room or a separate room with bean bags, rugs, and other comfortable seating.
Stock the area with age-appropriate books: Fill the reading area with a wide selection of books that are appropriate for grade 1 children. This could include picture books, easy readers, and other books that match the children’s reading level and interests.
Making it interactive: Make the reading area interactive by adding activities like word walls, word banks, and word games that will help children learn new vocabulary and concepts.
Encouraging reading aloud: Encourage children to read aloud to their classmates or to the teacher. This will help children to build fluency and confidence in their reading.
Creating a library system: Create a library system where children can borrow and return books. This will give them access to a wider range of books and will help to build a sense of responsibility.
Incorporating technology: Use technology to enhance the reading experience. For example, you can use tablets with interactive e-books that have audio, animation, and interactive elements.
Making it fun: Make reading fun by organizing reading-related games and activities that will motivate children to read.
Fostering a love of reading: Foster a love of reading by encouraging children to talk about the books they have read, sharing interesting and exciting book-related information, and recognizing children who have achieved a certain reading goal.
Setting a good example: Encourage teachers and staff to read aloud to the children, and model the behavior of reading for pleasure regularly.
Incorporating reading in daily routine: Incorporate daily reading time into your routine, where children can read independently or with a partner, this will help them to develop reading fluency and comprehension.

It’s important to keep in mind that creating a positive reading environment takes time and effort, but the benefits to children’s literacy development are well worth it.

Question to Chat GPT: Lesson plan on phonics and decoding

Promt given to Chat GPT – I want you to be a primary school English teacher. The students you are teaching come from a low resource background and their English competencies are very low. I want you to create a lesson plan for Grade 3 students which achieves these objectives: 1) What are phonics 2) How to decode words and read them

Chat GPT: Lesson Title: Introduction to Phonics and Word Decoding

Objectives:
Students will be able to understand what phonics is.
Students will be able to decode simple words using phonics.

Materials:
Whiteboard and markers
Flashcards with letters and corresponding sounds
Worksheets with simple words for decoding practice
Chart paper and markers for word-building activities

Procedure:
Introduction (10 minutes):

Draw attention to the whiteboard and write the word “phonics” on it.
Ask the students if they know what phonics is. Write down their answers on the board.
Explain phonics as the relationship between letters and sounds.
Show them the flashcards and explain that each letter makes a specific sound.

Word decoding (20 minutes):

Write simple words (e.g. cat, dog, sun, etc.) on the whiteboard and ask the students to decode them by sounding out each
letter.
Help the students decode the words by sounding out each letter and blending the sounds together.
Pass out the worksheets and ask the students to decode the words on their own, with your support.

Word-building activity (20 minutes):
Write simple words on chart paper (e.g. cat, dog, sun, etc.)
Cut out the letters of each word and give a set to each student.
Ask the students to build the words with the letters and then read them out loud.
Repeat the activity with different words to reinforce the concepts.

Closing (10 minutes):
Review the concepts learned during the lesson.
Summarize the relationship between letters and sounds in phonics.
Encourage the students to use the phonics skills they learned to decode new words.

Assessment:

Observe the students during the word decoding and word-building activities to see if they understand the concept of phonics.
Check the worksheets to see if the students can decode words independently.

This lesson plan provides hands-on and interactive activities to help students understand the basics of phonics and develop their decoding skills.

Question to Chat GPT: How can teachers encourage parent’s involvement in supporting / improving their children reading skills
Chat GPT: There are several ways to encourage parents’ involvement in supporting their children’s reading skills:

Communicate regularly with parents about their child’s reading progress and provide them with suggestions for ways they can support their child’s reading at homeProvide resources such as recommended reading lists, reading logs, and other materials that parents can use to help their child practice reading at home.
Invite parents to attend reading-related events at the school, such as book fairs, author visits, and parent-teacher conferences.
Encourage parents to read to their child at home and provide them with tips and strategies for reading aloud effectively.
Provide opportunities for parents to volunteer at the school and participate in reading-related activities such as book clubs or reading groups.
Encourage parents to establish a regular reading routine at home, such as reading before bed or setting aside a specific time each day for reading.
Provide parents with access to online resources and apps that can support their child’s reading development.
Create a reading-friendly environment in the school and home by providing comfortable seating and good lighting, as well as access to a variety of age-appropriate books.

In conclusion, Chat GPT shows potential to aid our teachers and bridge the gap between traditional teaching methods and evolving needs of modern learners.

In our next blog post, we will explore how Chat GPT can be used to improve foundational numeracy, another critical area of education that remains a challenge for many schools in India. Stay tuned for more insights on this exciting topic!

This article was written under the aegis of the Centre for Education Research in India (CERI). CERI, an initiative powered by Madhi Foundation, is a digital repository and think-tank catering to policymakers, practitioners, and academics in the education sector and the larger community, to catalyse reform in the education ecosystem in India.

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