HMH Assist works best when your prompts are clear, specific, and connected to instructional intent. Think of your prompt as instructions to a co-teacher. You'll need context and details to help produce accurate, ready-to-use results.
Best Practices for Prompting HMH Assist
1. Provide Clear Context
When prompting HMH Assist, include your role, grade level, student needs, and instructional purpose. If the resource you're working with doesn’t specify a grade level, grade band, or standard, simply add that information to your prompt so HMH Assist can adjust rigor, text complexity, and alignment appropriately.
Examples:
I am an 8th grade ELA teacher. Please shorten this lesson to 20 minutes and focus on [skill] using the appropriate TEKS alignment.
This material does not list a grade level. Please revise it for 4th grade and include relevant CCSS alignment.
I am a 5th grade math teacher. Create a warm-up that reviews [concept] for students who are approaching grade level.
For the Lesson Plan Generator, consider completing the Student Readiness Check for the lesson before prompting HMH Assist. Reflecting on students’ background knowledge and skills can help you provide clearer input, which allows HMH Assist to tailor instructional guidance and differentiation more effectively.
2. Use Step-by-Step Instructions
Breaking your request into specific tasks helps Assist structure the response.
Examples:
First, identify key vocabulary words. Then provide Spanish cognates and simple definitions.
Create three components: a quick review, guided practice aligned to the TEKS, and an exit ticket.
3. Explicitly State Standards and Skills
Name the exact standards, skills, or instructional focus areas you want addressed. Whether you reference state standards (e.g., CCSS, NGSS, state-specific frameworks), international curricula, multilingual learner frameworks, or other required guidelines, being explicit leads to more accurate results.
Examples:
Adjust this activity to support the TELPAS domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Revise this formative assessment to reflect evidence-based reading practices emphasized by TEA.
List the applicable Florida B.E.S.T. Standards for each portion of this lesson.
Adjust this activity to support the WIDA language domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
4. Be Specific About Desired Changes
Direct, targeted instructions lead to more precise revisions.
Examples:
Add three comprehension questions after the section labeled “[X].”
Adjust the assessment to align with the TEKS on author’s purpose for 4th grade.
Rewrite paragraph one using Tier 2 vocabulary and bold each Tier 2 word.
Include a glossary with all Tier 3 terms and student-friendly definitions.
Revise paragraph four to match TELPAS proficiency expectations.
5. Consider Curriculum, Standards, and Student Needs
Sharing additional instructional context helps Assist better match your framework and student population. This might include:
Alignment to district- or state-adopted curricula (e.g., Bluebonnet, Building Better Classrooms)
Standards and assessment expectations (e.g., NYSESLAT, TEKS, STAAR-style rigor, TELPAS language supports)
Student learning profiles (e.g., multilingual learners, reading levels, accommodations)
Examples
Using my Bluebonnet-aligned materials, create a STAAR-like passage with evidence-based questions focusing on inferencing.
Adapt this lesson for intermediate-level English learners using the NYSESLAT Performance Levels as a guide.
Example: How to Use HMH Assist to Scaffold a Generated Text
Below is an example of how a teacher might continue working with HMH Assist after the Text Generator produces an initial version of a passage.
Desired Outcome: | Enter into HMH Assist: |
Translate Vocabulary | Insert [language] translation after each tier 2 or 3 word or after each academic word. |
Simplify Complex Sentences
| Add short, simpler English sentences after complex ones. |
Explain Cultural or Figurative Language | Add brief [language] explanations for idioms, figurative phrases or cultural references. |
Add Reflection Prompts
| Insert [language] guiding questions or prompts after each paragraph. |
Chunk and Format Text | Break paragraphs into 3-4 sentence sections. Add line breaks or bullets/numbers for clarity. |
Highlight and Define Key Words | Bold challenging or academic words. Provide cognates for key vocabulary words in [language]. |