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Today’s Deep Dive: Swipe left on dishonest EdTech

Reading Rainbow: ChatGPT Teen Mode’s red flags + a few green ones 

From Our Desk: The Subject Tour 2026

Watch of the Week: From the courtroom to the classroom

Would You Rather: Choose your own tech adventure

“Intuitive” means “there's a 45-minute long training video.”

“Teacher-centered” means “a teacher was in one of the stock photos.”

ChatGPT’s ‘Teen Mode’ fails its own pop quiz: Common Sense Media ran about 4,000 tests on ChatGPT’s new Teen Mode. It was slow to alert parents about dangerous chats and still acted like a best friend with a favorite color. OpenAI disputes the tests. But its “study mode” kept offering to just show kids the answer, which makes it less of a tutor and more of “cool” teacher.

Book challenges mostly skip the PTA: PEN America counted 11,982 school book bans last year, the most since it started counting in 2021. Only 4% of challenges came from parents alone, while 40% started with school boards or district offices. Most parents are still just thrilled their kid checked out a book at all.

AI wants the scantron’s job: One testing expert says AI can grade faster and swap bubble sheets for real back-and-forth talks that show how kids think. The No. 2 pencil has asked for privacy during this difficult time.

The adult every kid needs on their team: Harvard researchers say kids handle hard times better when they have an adult they trust. One idea is to have teachers list the students they’re close with, then pair an adult with every kid nobody named. It’s picking teams in gym class, except every kid gets picked.

Shocking study finds money works: Only 13 states pay teachers extra to work in hard-to-staff schools, a new report found. Hawaii pays special ed teachers a $10,000 bonus, and open jobs dropped by 35%. This news will shock exactly zero teachers.

Giving students more feelings than “mid”: Little kids can play “Feelings Detective” by reading emotions from picture book art. Older students can write their own definitions for feelings words. Bonus points if it finally retires “I’m fine,” the most tired phrase in America after “per my last email.”

Google Forms has entered its caring era: One high school teacher uses quick Google Forms surveys to check the class mood. She’ll even push back a test if students say they aren’t ready. It’s the rare school survey someone actually reads, which already beats the yearly staff climate survey.

Fieldwork Fridays beat Worksheet Fridays: Two middle school science teachers take class outside every Friday. In one walk, 460 steps cover 4.6 billion years of Earth’s history. Kids also measure an alligator’s nest with string, which is easily the safest way to meet one.

We’re all moved into our new Austin office! Take a peek at the Subject life here.

We call Austin and LA home, but we love traveling around the country to connect with educators. See highlights from a few recent stops here.

Speaking of hitting the road…

Write the lawsuit: Civics and business students draft the complaint against Acme. Every rocket skate becomes an exhibit, and every exhibit needs a claim and evidence that would survive John Cena.

The physics of the pause: Wile E. hangs in midair until he looks down. Students calculate how long a fall from a mesa actually takes and prove gravity has never once waited to be noticed.

The honest Acme catalog: Students write glowing product copy for the Dehydrated Boulder, then write its warning label. Grade whichever one makes you laugh harder.

Talk to the customer: Students redesign one Acme product after interviewing the only person who has ever used it. Wild concept, asking the user.

Closing arguments: Half the room defends Acme and the other half represents the coyote. The Road Runner takes the stand as a hostile witness who only says "beep beep."