Output Templates

Output Templates are reusable sets of formatting instructions that control how AI-generated content is structured. They let you define once how lessons or reports should be formatted, then apply that format consistently across generations.

Template Types

There are two types:

Lesson — controls how generated lesson plans are structured
Report — controls how progress reports are structured

Each template belongs to one type and can only be used with generators of that type.

Creating a Template

Go to Output Templates (accessible from the AI Generator page) and click Add Template. Fields:

Field	Purpose
Name	A short label (e.g. "30-Minute Hands-On", "Monthly Summary")
Type	Lesson or Report
Format Instructions	Free-text instructions appended to the end of the AI prompt

What to Write in Lesson Instructions

Templates pair with personas — the persona shapes the voice and pedagogy; the template shapes the structure and length. The Follow-Up / Reinforcement Lesson example below also assumes the AI can see prior lessons in the prompt, which it does — see Teaching Personas for how to direct the AI to use that context.

Lesson format instructions tell the AI how to structure and present the lesson plan. Think about:

Structure: What sections should the lesson include?
Length/duration: How long should the lesson take?
Activities: What types of activities do you want?
Assessment: Should comprehension checks be included?
Tone: Formal curriculum or casual exploration?

Examples

Structured 30-minute lesson:

Format as a 30-minute lesson with these sections:
- Materials needed (from the inventory list above)
- Warm-up (5 minutes)
- Main activity (15 minutes)
- Practice exercise (5 minutes)
- Cool-down / review (5 minutes)
Include 3 comprehension questions at the end.

Exploration-focused:

Generate a flexible exploration guide, not a rigid lesson plan.
Include 3-4 open-ended activities the learner can choose from.
Each activity should have a "go deeper" extension for engaged learners.
Keep the total content under 500 words.

Objectives-driven:

Start with 2-3 clear learning objectives.
Include a hands-on activity and a discussion prompt for each objective.
End with 5 short-answer questions to check understanding.
Output only the lesson content, no preamble.

Quick Skill Drill (10–15 min):

Format as a focused 10–15 minute micro-lesson on a single concept.
Structure:
- One-line learning target ("By the end, the learner will be able to ...")
- One short demonstration or worked example
- One practice activity (3–5 attempts)
- One quick check: a single question or task that confirms whether the
  target was hit

No warm-up, no review, no extension. Keep total content under 250 words.
Output only the lesson, no preamble.

Follow-Up / Reinforcement Lesson:

This is a follow-up lesson. Look at the "Achievements linked to prior
lessons" section above and pick the prior lesson that is most due for
reinforcement based on the persona's spaced-repetition guidance and the
"earliest recent achievement N days ago" timestamps.

Format the lesson as:
- Reference to the prior lesson by title, and a one-sentence reminder of
  what was covered then
- A short re-activation activity (5 minutes) that recalls the prior concept
  without re-teaching it
- A new application or variation that extends the concept in a fresh
  context — not a repeat of the original activity
- A check that demonstrates retention from the prior lesson AND grasp of
  the new variation

Be explicit about which prior lesson this builds on. If no prior lesson
is a good candidate for follow-up, say so and suggest waiting.

Output only the lesson, no preamble.

Strewing-Style Invitation (no formal lesson):

Do not generate a sit-down lesson. Instead, generate a "strewing" plan:
materials, books, games, or provocations to place in the learner's
environment so they encounter the learning opportunity on their own terms.

Structure:
- The underlying skill or concept being seeded (one sentence)
- 3–5 specific items or setups to strew, drawn from the inventory list
  above where possible
- Where in the home/space to place each item, and at what moment of the
  day or week (e.g. "on the kitchen table at breakfast")
- A short "noticing" guide for the teacher: what to look for as evidence
  the strewing landed, and what to do (or deliberately not do) if it does
- An optional next step if the learner shows sustained interest

Tone: conversational, low-pressure. The learner should never feel
"taught" by a strewing plan.

Output only the strewing plan, no preamble.

Project-Based Deep Dive (multi-session):

Format as a multi-session project spanning 3–5 sessions of 30–45 minutes
each. The project should culminate in a tangible artifact, performance,
or "reveal" the learner can share.

Structure:
- Project title and the driving question or challenge (one paragraph)
- The final artifact or outcome (what the learner will produce)
- Skills practiced across the project, mapped to the tags above
- Session-by-session breakdown, each with: goal for the session, main
  activity, materials needed (from the inventory list), and a checkpoint
  that confirms the learner is ready for the next session
- Suggested pacing (e.g. one session per day, or one per week)
- A "stuck or losing interest" branch: what to do if the project stalls

Output only the project plan, no preamble.

What to Write in Report Instructions

Report format instructions control how progress summaries are written. Think about:

Audience: Is this for you, a co-parent, or a formal record?
Tone: Encouraging and conversational, or formal and structured?
Focus: Emphasise growth, gaps, or both?
Length: Quick summary or detailed analysis?

Teacher-Facing Examples

These templates produce professional, analytical reports suitable for a teaching journal or portfolio.

Teacher — Daily Report:

Write a professional daily progress report for the teacher covering:

### Today's Achievements
- Summarise each achievement recorded today, grouped by subject/tag where possible
- Note the specific skills demonstrated or practiced

### Observations
- What went well — highlight moments of engagement, independence, or mastery
- What was challenging — note any areas where the learner struggled or needed extra support
- Any patterns or behaviours worth noting (focus, energy, mood if inferable from the data)

### Recommendations for Tomorrow
- Specific activities or areas to revisit based on today's work
- Any adjustments to approach or pacing

Use bullet points for the achievement summary and short analytical paragraphs for observations and recommendations. Be specific — reference actual achievements by name. Write in a professional, objective tone suitable for a teaching journal.

Output only the report itself, no preamble.

Teacher — Weekly Report:

Write a professional weekly progress report for the teacher covering:

### Week at a Glance
- Brief summary of the week's focus areas and total achievements recorded
- Days or sessions that stood out (positively or negatively)

### Achievement Breakdown
- Group achievements by subject area or tag
- For each group, summarise what was covered and the level of competency demonstrated

### Patterns and Trends
- Emerging strengths or consistent areas of confidence
- Recurring challenges or areas requiring reinforcement
- Changes in engagement, independence, or pace compared to previous context

### Forward Planning
- Suggested focus areas for the coming week
- Skills or topics ready to advance
- Areas that may benefit from a different approach or additional support

Use headings and bullet points for structure. Include analytical commentary in short paragraphs where appropriate. Reference specific achievements to support observations. Maintain a professional, data-informed tone.

Output only the report itself, no preamble.

Teacher — Monthly Report:

Write a professional monthly progress report for the teacher covering:

### Monthly Overview
- High-level summary of the month: total achievements, primary focus areas, and overall trajectory
- Notable milestones or breakthroughs reached during the month

### Progress by Subject Area
- Group achievements by tag/subject
- For each area, assess the learner's development: what they can now do that they couldn't at the start of the month
- Note competencies that are solidifying vs. those still emerging

### Developmental Observations
- Cognitive development: problem-solving, reasoning, retention
- Social and emotional indicators (if evident from the data)
- Learning habits: independence, persistence, curiosity, focus patterns
- How well the current approach aligns with the learner's stated learning style and strengths

### Areas for Development
- Skills or subjects that received less attention and may need prioritising
- Persistent challenges that may warrant a change in strategy
- Any gaps between the learner's strengths/weaknesses profile and observed performance

### Recommendations for Next Month
- Priority focus areas with rationale
- Suggested pacing or structural adjustments
- Resources or approaches to consider

Use headings and bullet points for data, with narrative paragraphs for analysis and recommendations. Reference specific achievements to ground observations in evidence. Write in a professional, reflective tone suitable for a monthly teaching review.

Output only the report itself, no preamble.

Teacher — Annual Report:

Write a professional annual progress report for the teacher covering:

### Year in Review
- Executive summary of the learner's year: where they started, where they are now, and the overall arc of their development
- Total achievements recorded and the breadth of subjects/skills covered

### Growth and Milestones
- The most significant areas of growth over the year
- Key milestones and breakthroughs, with approximate timing
- Skills or competencies that have become well-established

### Subject Area Analysis
- For each major tag/subject area, provide a narrative assessment of progress across the year
- Note which areas saw the most and least development
- Identify subjects where the learner showed particular aptitude or passion

### Developmental Profile
- How the learner has matured cognitively, socially, and emotionally (as evidenced by achievements)
- Evolution of learning habits: independence, persistence, engagement patterns
- How well the learner's actual development aligns with their documented strengths and areas for development

### Challenges and Adaptations
- Persistent challenges encountered over the year and how they were addressed
- Strategies that proved effective or ineffective
- Any areas where progress stalled and potential reasons

### Looking Ahead
- Recommended focus areas for the coming year
- Developmental goals based on the learner's trajectory
- Structural or methodological recommendations
- Skills that are ready for more advanced work

Write a substantive, evidence-based report. Use headings for structure, bullet points for key data, and narrative paragraphs for analysis and reflection. Reference specific achievements to illustrate points. This report should serve as a comprehensive annual record of the learner's educational development.

Output only the report itself, no preamble.

Learner-Facing Examples

These templates produce reports addressed directly to the child, with language adapted to their age (the learner's age is already included in the prompt context).

Learner — Daily Report:

Write a friendly daily report addressed directly to the learner about what they achieved today.

Important: The learner's age is shown above. Adjust your language, sentence length, and complexity to be age-appropriate:
- For ages 4–6: Use very simple words, short sentences, and lots of enthusiasm. Stick to 3–5 sentences total.
- For ages 7–9: Use clear, simple language with a bit more detail. Keep it to a few short paragraphs.
- For ages 10+: Write naturally but keep it warm and accessible.

Cover:
1. **What you did today** — mention each achievement in a way that feels personal and celebratory
2. **What was great** — pick out something specific they should feel proud of
3. **What's next** — one encouraging sentence about what they could try or look forward to tomorrow

Write as if you're talking directly to the child. Use their name. Be genuinely encouraging without being over-the-top. Use South African English spelling conventions.

Output only the report itself, no preamble.

Learner — Weekly Report:

Write a friendly weekly report addressed directly to the learner about their week.

Important: The learner's age is shown above. Adjust your language, sentence length, and complexity to be age-appropriate:
- For ages 4–6: Use very simple words, short exciting sentences, and celebratory language. Keep it short — no more than 6–8 sentences.
- For ages 7–9: Use clear language with a bit more reflection. A few short paragraphs.
- For ages 10+: Write naturally but keep it warm and encouraging.

Cover:
1. **Your week** — a fun summary of everything they worked on, mentioning highlights by name
2. **Star moments** — pick 2–3 achievements that were especially impressive or showed real effort
3. **You're getting better at...** — name a skill or area where you can see improvement
4. **Next week** — something exciting to look forward to or a friendly challenge

Write as if you're talking directly to the child. Use their name. Celebrate effort and progress, not just results. Use South African English spelling conventions.

Output only the report itself, no preamble.

Learner — Monthly Report:

Write a warm, encouraging monthly report addressed directly to the learner about their month.

Important: The learner's age is shown above. Adjust your language, sentence length, and complexity to be age-appropriate:
- For ages 4–6: Simple, cheerful language. Focus on fun memories and how much they've grown. Keep it to about 8–10 sentences.
- For ages 7–9: More reflective but still upbeat. Can include simple comparisons to show growth. A few paragraphs.
- For ages 10+: Thoughtful and encouraging. Can discuss progress more maturely.

Cover:
1. **Your month** — a warm overview of what the month looked like, the kinds of things they explored
2. **Look how far you've come** — highlight 2–3 areas where they've noticeably improved or grown, with specific examples
3. **Things you're really good at** — celebrate their strengths and what comes naturally to them
4. **Keep going with...** — gently encourage continued effort in areas that are still developing, framed positively
5. **Exciting things ahead** — something motivating about the month to come

Write as if you're talking directly to the child. Use their name. Make them feel proud of their progress. Use South African English spelling conventions.

Output only the report itself, no preamble.

Learner — Annual Report:

Write a celebratory annual report addressed directly to the learner about their year.

Important: The learner's age is shown above. Adjust your language, sentence length, and complexity to be age-appropriate:
- For ages 4–6: Simple, joyful language. Like telling them a happy story about their year. About 10–12 sentences.
- For ages 7–9: Reflective and celebratory. Can talk about growth in a way they'll understand. Several paragraphs.
- For ages 10+: Thoughtful, inspiring. Can discuss their journey more substantively.

Cover:
1. **What a year!** — an exciting opening that captures how much has happened
2. **Your biggest moments** — the stand-out achievements and milestones from across the year
3. **How you've grown** — specific ways they're different now from when the year started — skills they've built, things that used to be hard that are now easy
4. **What makes you special** — celebrate their unique strengths, interests, and the qualities that make them a great learner
5. **The year ahead** — an inspiring, forward-looking message about all the amazing things they'll do next year

Write as if you're talking directly to the child. Use their name. This is a big moment — make it feel special and meaningful. Reference specific achievements to make it personal, not generic. Use South African English spelling conventions.

Output only the report itself, no preamble.

Default Format Instructions

When no output template is selected, built-in defaults are used.

Lesson default:

Generate a complete, ready-to-use lesson. Start with a clear title as a markdown heading (# Title).
Include learning objectives, activities, and discussion questions.
Output only the lesson content, no preamble.

Report default (varies by period type, e.g. for a weekly report):

Write a clear, encouraging weekly progress report covering:
1. What was covered and learned
2. Notable achievements or breakthroughs
3. Areas of strength demonstrated
4. Areas to continue developing
5. Suggested focus for the coming week

Write in plain markdown. Be specific — reference actual achievements where relevant.
Output only the report itself, no preamble.

Using Templates

On-demand lessons: Select a template in the AI Generator configuration form.
Auto-scheduled lessons: Assign a template in the Auto Schedule tab for each learner.
Custom reports: Select a template in the report generation modal.
Auto-scheduled reports: Assign a template when creating or editing an auto-schedule. The template is copied to each report at creation time. If no template is set, the period-type default is used.