When an assignment permits assistance, students need a clear way to describe it. The explanation can be brief and specific: what helped, which part of the work it affected, and what the student decided afterward.
Model the expected detail
Provide an example that matches the assignment. A student might describe using a dictionary for unfamiliar words, discussing an outline with a classmate, or asking an approved AI tool for a practice example. Different forms of help may have different boundaries.
Avoid asking students to guess how much disclosure is enough. Explain what the note is for and how it will be read.
Use it as a conversation
Ask a follow-up question about a decision the student made. What did they reject? How did they check the help? What can they explain independently now?
Keep the focus on the learning purpose and the stated rules. A useful assistance note should make the work easier to understand. It should also give students a workable habit for acknowledging contributions when they write or create beyond school.
