diff --git a/common-docs/teachertool/catalog-shared.json b/common-docs/teachertool/catalog-shared.json
index 883162e77ca0..af52b385028d 100644
--- a/common-docs/teachertool/catalog-shared.json
+++ b/common-docs/teachertool/catalog-shared.json
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
             "template": "${Block} used ${count} times",
             "description": "This block was used the specified number of times in your project.",
             "docPath": "/teachertool",
+            "tags": ["General"],
             "params": [
                 {
                     "name": "block",
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@
             "description": "The project contains at least the specified number of comments.",
             "docPath": "/teachertool",
             "maxCount": 1,
+            "tags": ["General"],
             "params": [
                 {
                     "name": "count",
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@
             "docPath": "/teachertool",
             "description": "The program uses at least this many loops of any kind (for, repeat, while, or for-of).",
             "maxCount": 1,
+            "tags": ["Code Elements"],
             "params": [
                 {
                     "name": "count",
@@ -59,6 +62,7 @@
             "docPath": "/teachertool",
             "description": "At least this many user-defined functions are created and called.",
             "maxCount": 1,
+            "tags": ["Code Elements"],
             "params": [
                 {
                     "name": "count",
@@ -75,6 +79,7 @@
             "docPath": "/teachertool",
             "description": "The program creates and uses at least this many user-defined variables.",
             "maxCount": 1,
+            "tags": ["Code Elements"],
             "params": [
                 {
                     "name": "count",
diff --git a/common-docs/teachertool/test/catalog-shared.json b/common-docs/teachertool/test/catalog-shared.json
index 73e98c28ce44..bd4db6dc9042 100644
--- a/common-docs/teachertool/test/catalog-shared.json
+++ b/common-docs/teachertool/test/catalog-shared.json
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
             "description": "Experimental: AI outputs may not be accurate. Use with caution and always review responses.",
             "docPath": "/teachertool",
             "maxCount": 10,
+            "tags": ["General"],
             "params": [
                 {
                     "name": "question",
diff --git a/common-docs/teachertool/validator-plans-shared.json b/common-docs/teachertool/validator-plans-shared.json
index ecfb58877648..681c7812ae04 100644
--- a/common-docs/teachertool/validator-plans-shared.json
+++ b/common-docs/teachertool/validator-plans-shared.json
@@ -86,38 +86,6 @@
                 }
             ]
         },
-        {
-            ".desc": "A variable's value is set",
-            "name": "variable_set",
-            "threshold": 1,
-            "checks": [
-                {
-                    "validator": "blocksExist",
-                    "blockCounts": [
-                        {
-                            "blockId": "variables_set",
-                            "count": 1
-                        }
-                    ]
-                }
-            ]
-        },
-        {
-            ".desc": "A variable's value is used",
-            "name": "variable_accessed",
-            "threshold": 1,
-            "checks": [
-                {
-                    "validator": "blocksExist",
-                    "blockCounts": [
-                        {
-                            "blockId": "variables_get",
-                            "count": 1
-                        }
-                    ]
-                }
-            ]
-        },
         {
             ".desc": "A parameter's value is used",
             "name": "parameter_variable_accessed",
@@ -301,6 +269,31 @@
                     "count": 0
                 }
             ]
+        },
+        {
+            ".desc": "Variable creation & usage validation, with optional name filtering",
+            "name": "variable_usage",
+            "threshold": 1,
+            "checks": [
+                {
+                    "validator": "variableUsage",
+                    "count": 0,
+                    "name": ""
+                }
+            ]
+        },
+        {
+            ".desc": "The zero number block is present.",
+            "name": "number_zero",
+            "threshold": 1,
+            "checks": [
+                {
+                    "validator": "blockFieldValueExists",
+                    "fieldType": "NUM",
+                    "fieldValue": 0,
+                    "blockType": "math_number"
+                }
+            ]
         }
     ]
 }