Andrew Duval

Layer enthusiast. Teaching middle-schoolers to write at and

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@ai This was pretty much Judith Harris’ conclusion in The Nurture Assumption (50% nature, 50% nurture, but the nurture isn’t parents, it’s peer group) (and parental “nurture” is basically expressed genetics)

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

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[Julie Novak @HTSNovak]

I’m constantly searching for innovating writing opportunities for 7th grade ELA students. They loved Frankenstories which offers writing prompts that are part collaborative, part competitive, and completely motivating. Wow, 7th graders have amazing writing skills!

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@HTSNovak Hey sorry I didn’t notice this before; I don’t go on X much anymore. But I love seeing classes playing FS; that applause during the winner reveal is the best. 😊 so glad you’re enjoying it. Find us on IG or TT if you ever want to get in touch!

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

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[Mrs. W 👩🏽‍🏫 @teaching_bliss]

@_Frankenstories for the win today!

If you teach ELA and you haven’t tried it yet…RUN! The kids loved it and I laughed so hard all day reading about how someone’s life was taken over by a parasitic brain slug. #teachingisbliss

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@teaching_bliss @_Frankenstories Hey sorry I only just noticed this; not active on X that much anymore. But I’m so glad you’re enjoying Frankenstories. And the brain slug prompt is a fun one. I made that to use with my own y7/8 class and we finally got to do it this week. FYI We’re more active on IG & TT!

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@JasonHellerman Hey Jason, do you still have the scripts for that human vs bot screenwriter test you did back in Oct? The one about the bodyguard and pop singer? I wanted to use that whole test in a teaching workshop about recognising AI writing, but the PDF links are dead.

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@_cturner @EliDukes_ @ben_m_somers Oh I work on a writing game you might like: https://t.co/7yYrsZqHl8 (best played co-op)

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

And you can find the originals plus more recent Halloween games from classes around the world here in the Frankenstories Hall of Fame: https://t.co/TnEn63ewjh

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

English teachers looking for spooky microfiction to read in class, I made a collection of some of my favourite Halloween Frankenstories.

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

You can read them for fun or use them as mentor texts and inspiration for your own class writing (noting that these stories were collaboratively improvised under time pressure and are presented as-is, typos and all).

Download the PDF here: https://t.co/MkPf5ZaIfg

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@Kourtne92612007 @_Frankenstories @CWChamps That’s so good to hear, Kourtney! We live for stories like this! 🫶

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@patio11 It’s one of the rare cases where the core game loop perfectly matches the skill you want kids to learn and then it offers a meaningful progression. (It’s telling they were never able to repeat the success how hard it is to find that match.)

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@TheRealEGS I think going to therapy is mostly about discovering that your unique personal struggles are in fact a sidebar in chapter 6 of a textbook somewhere

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@paulg I read Judith Harris’ The Nurture Assumption 20 years ago and still think about it often (parents have a big effect, just not in the way you might think)

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@sharplm Yes, true, but being too leery of it means you overlook the value it can provide in synthesising information from multiple sources to answer very niche queries. Needs contextual risk assessment, fact-checking, and hopefully citations as standard in future.

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@Austen @paulg ("It has Andy's signature, but it's in Milo's handwriting and written in first person (as in, 'I do not have to go to swimming lessons anymore'), so I'm checking if the letter is real, but you let Milo write it as a literacy exercise—or if Milo somehow, uh...")

[Andrew Duval @_AndrewDuval]

@Austen @paulg Of course, I sign. He departs, seemingly satisfied and impressed with my magic, while I pat myself on the back for excellent parenting.

Week later, my wife gets a call from his 1st grade teacher: "Just checking about this letter permanently excusing Milo from swimming."