Let’s Get Started: Step-by-Step

1. Start Writing Help in an Ordinary Journal

1. Begin in an ordinary journal entry, with a note you have already written based on what you observed.

2. Make sure your own note clearly records the facts before you ask for help with the wording.

3. Choose the Help Me Write option to get a suggested wording for your note.

   

4. Read the suggestion carefully, comparing it to your original observation.

5. Check every added interpretation in the suggestion before you decide to use it.

   

6. If you are happy with the suggestion, use the Use option to place the reviewed wording into the journal editor.

7. Remember that creating or saving the journal entry itself is still a separate action after using Writing Help.

8. If you change your mind, use Undo to restore your original note so you can edit it yourself.

   

9. Know that even a short note can be enough; you do not need to add extra padding just to make it longer.

2. Use Writing Help for Simple Spelling Corrections

1. When your note is already meaningful but has spelling issues, open Writing Help from that note.

2. Review how the suggestion corrects the spelling without adding a new event or changing what happened.

   

3. Keep in mind that a meaningful note does not need extra wording added just for the sake of it.

   

3. Compare Suggestions with “Show Changes”

1. Open Writing Help on an existing note where you want to see exactly what has changed.

2. Use Show Changes to compare the suggested wording with your original text.

   

3. If you edit the original source note after getting a suggestion, understand that the old suggestion is now outdated.

4. Notice that Use is disabled until you prepare a fresh suggestion from the updated source.

   

5. Request a new suggestion, then read it again carefully against your updated note.

6. If you decide not to use the suggestion, choose Dismiss so your own note stays in place and unchanged.

   

7. Remember that nothing has been saved at this point; you still need to save the journal separately if you want it recorded.

4. Add Shared Class Description and Optional Highlights

1. Start from a multiple student journal where you are recording something that applies to the whole group.

2. Select the children for te shared journal and then use the class description field to supply shared background for the class.

3. Now personalize the share journal for individual students by selecting "Personalize for each child"

4. When you have a particular observation about one child, use the optional highlight field to record that child’s own actions.

5. Choose the option to prepare this child’s draft based on the shared note, without generating drafts for every child. Or you can multi select and prepare all drafts at the bottom. Once satisified, select Apply.

5. Use Writing Help in Weekly Plans

1. Open the planning area and start a new plan for your program.

2. Add an activity inside an existing routine where you want Writing Help with the description.

   

3. Use the activity description field to explain what is planned for the children.

4. Continue refining that activity description so it clearly matches what you intend to do.

5. Review the suggested description from Writing Help against the actual activity you intended.

   

6. When satisfied, use the suggestion so the description field is updated in the plan.

   

7. Remember that using the suggestion does not save the plan; saving is still a separate action.

   

8. Use the internal guidance field to write practical instructions for staff, separate from the child-facing activity description.

9. Keep the internal guidance focused on what educators need to know, not what is shown to families.

   

10. Check that the suggestion for internal guidance keeps your instructions accurate and does not add extra requirements.

    

11. Use and Undo work independently in this internal guidance field, so you can accept or reject the suggestion there as needed.

    

12. At this stage in the demonstration, the plan remains unsaved.

6. Use Writing Help in Lessons

1. Open the lesson area and start working on a lesson that has two separate writing fields.

2. Begin with the short lesson brief.

3. Review the suggested brief carefully to make sure it matches what you intend to teach.

   

4. If needed, use Undo to return the brief to its original wording.

   

5. Confirm that the brief has fully returned to your original text.

   

6. Move to the full lesson details, which use a rich text editor for more detailed instructions.

7. Read the suggested instructions closely for accuracy and clarity.

   

8. When you agree with the changes, use the suggestion so the detailed instructions in the editor are updated.

   

9. Remember that saving the lesson is still a separate step after using Writing Help.

   

10. You can use Undo to restore the original detailed instructions; in this demonstration, the lesson is left unsaved.

7. Use Writing Help for Individual Messages

1. Open the message area where you can send a new message to families or staff.

2. Open the message composer so you can begin a new message.

3. Choose the intended recipient for your message.

   

4. Write the message you want to communicate in your own words first.

5. Review the suggestion from Writing Help, checking that it keeps your meaning, fits the audience, and uses an appropriate tone.

   

6. When you are satisfied, use the suggestion so the composer text is updated.

   

7. Remember that using the suggestion does not send the message; sending is still a separate action.

8. If you want to go back to your original wording, use Undo to restore your own message.

   

9. In this demonstration, no message is sent.

9. Use Writing Help for Emails with Merge Fields

1. Open the email composer.

2. Start with the subject and message body written in your own words.

3. When you use Writing Help, check that the suggestion keeps the shortcut fields exactly as they were, along with your intended information.

   

4. If you are satisfied, use the suggestion so the email body in the editor is updated.

5. If you need to return to your original email text, use Undo to restore the original body and its merge fields.

   

6. Remember that sending the email is still a separate action; in this demonstration, no email is sent.

You’re all set! With these steps, you can let Writing Help support your wording while you stay firmly in control of every record, plan, and message.