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You're teaching a unit on "Community Helpers" to mixed-level ELL students (Beginner to Intermediate). How would you scaffold vocabulary and background knowledge? (LLM)

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You want to use a grade-level article, video or math problem with your class, such as the materials below. How would you scaffold it to be accessible to ELLs at different proficiency levels? (Simplify, sentence starters, guiding questions, visual organizer to support understanding) (LLM)

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Excerpt from "Middle School: Disruptions in Ecosystems" Unit from NGSS: https://www.nextgenscience.org/resources/middle-school-disruptions-ecosystems

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Create a detailed lesson plan for [subject] on [topic] for [grade level]. The lesson should include a clear objective, engaging activities, and an assessment. Incorporate at least two forms of differentiation, such as learning style accommodations (e.g., visual, auditory, kinesthetic) and student readiness levels (e.g., scaffolding for struggling learners and extension activities for advanced students). Ensure the lesson includes technology integration, student collaboration, and a reflective component. Format the response in a structured, easy-to-follow way. (LLM)

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Using Diffit, choose the BOOKS tab and search for a Title. Select a chapter, language, grade level, and standards alignment. Decide if you want printable pages or slides as your output. Then click GENERATE RESOURCES. From there, you can edit or download.

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The Water Cycle for Kids | Learn all about the water cycle

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Colorín Colorado is a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs). Colorín Colorado is an educational service of WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation's capital, and receives major funding from the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association.

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Choose your own adventure! What would you like to create? (Diffit, Brisk, LLM, MagicSchoolAI, Khanmigo, other)

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Top 3 MagicSchool AI Tools (standards unpack, rubric generator, email responder)

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Top 3 MagicSchool AI Tools (standards unpack, rubric generator, email responder)

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5:34 video

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How Canva can be used by teachers and students.

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1:48 video.

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MagicSchool.ai - AI for teachers - lesson planning and more!

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Join over a million teachers saving hours of time using the #1 AI Platform for Education, MagicSchool, to help lesson plan, differentiate, write assessments, write IEPs, communicate clearly, and more!

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How to Use Canva's AI Tools to Wow Your Classroom

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How to Use Canva's AI Tools to Wow Your Classroom

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Carly Daff(opens in a new tab or window)

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How to use Canva’s AI tools to wow your classroom

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AI is now an integral part of the teaching toolkit. Wow your classroom with these practical guides to Canva’s AI tools.

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15 Best lesson planning AI tools for teachers and free templates

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15 Best lesson planning AI tools for teachers and free templates

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Artificial intelligence can help you write lesson plans faster -- and give you new ideas you might not consider. Here are some tips and strategies you can use.

Planning lessons has always been a struggle for me.

When I have planned lessons for my high school Spanish classes, I've almost always over-thought them.

I would worry about engaging my students. Making my lessons relevant and interesting.

Some teachers just sit down and crank them out.

I, on the other hand, have undergone an existential crisis seemingly every time.

And it takes forever.

Help is on the way. It can help all of us in education -- the chronic over-thinkers (like me), the quick-draw fast planners, and all of us in between.

Artificial intelligence.

Part 1: 10 ways AI can help us plan lessons better and faster

Today's AI assistants have lots and lots of information in their data sets about what makes a quality lesson plan. And if you keep asking the assistant follow-up questions, you'll keep getting closer and closer to what you're looking for.

The result? Minutes of saved time.

If you save minutes over and over, you know what you get? Hours of saved time.

Compile enough hours of saved time over the course of a school year -- or a teaching career -- and it changes how we feel about our career -- and what we can do during it.

Let's save some time -- and get some creative ideas for lesson planning.

Here's how artificial intelligence can help.

AI for EDUCATORS

Learning Strategies, Teacher Efficiencies, and a Vision for an Artificial Intelligence Future by Matt Miller

Available NOW on AMAZON!

1. Ask ChatGPT for a lesson plan.

Yes, AI assistants like ChatGPT can write lesson plans! Of course, they're based on info published online and in books about lesson plans, so don't expect anything super innovative. But we're not coming to ChatGPT for innovative.

We're coming for a starting point. We're looking for a first draft.

Once we get that first draft, we're able to adjust it. Throw out the parts you don't like. Keep the ones you do. Adjust the whole thing based on what you know about your students, about your content, etc.

2. Ask Bing Image Creator to create a lesson hook.

Artificial intelligence image creators like Bing Image Creator will make just about anything you ask for. Create a custom image related to the topic you're planning to teach. Make it provocative. Make it surprising. Ask it what a historical character you're studying would look like as a child. Ask it for a rendering of a scene in a book you're reading. Sometimes, a surprising image -- or one that makes students think -- is enough to hook students into a lesson. You can also use other image creators like Midjourney ( midjourney.com) or DALL-E .

4. Ask Curipod for some interactive slides.

When you're introducing new material to students, sometimes it's helpful to have some slides with information, images, and even questions for discussion or to demonstrate comprehension. When we as humans create slides, we often use certain rules over and over -- or draw upon successful experiences from our past to create slides. Curipod ( curipod.com) asks for a topic and your content standards. Then it creates a set of interactive slides, complete with details, images, discussion questions, comprehension questions, and more. These slides can engage students in learning about new ideas and help them to understand.

5. Ask ChatGPT for common misconceptions or struggles.

Sometimes, half the battle in teaching isn't knowing how to present new ideas. It's knowing how to respond when students struggle. We often don't know exactly what students are struggling with -- and when we ask them, sometimes they can't quite articulate it. Ask an AI assistant like ChatGPT about common misconceptions or struggles that people have when learning about or trying to understand what you're teaching. You can ask it for solutions and/or come up with your own.

8. Get a YouTube video summary with the Glasp Chrome extension.

Glasp makes an extension for the Google Chrome browser called YouTube Summary with Chat GPT. Install the extension in your Google Chrome browser. When you have a YouTube video open, the extension will use ChatGPT to create a summary of the video. Use this for yourself to get an overview of the content of a video. Or create a summary for your students for review purposes or to give them a preview of what they're about to watch.

Part 2: A workflow: Breathe life into content standards

As educators collaboration can be energizing. It can boost our productivity and reignite the flame for creating great lessons that we had when we first began teaching. Bouncing ideas off of our colleagues and co-creating something that we can each take into our own classes and make our own.

Unfortunately, we rarely get the time we need to collaborate with our colleagues and if we do the topic is often set by an agenda created by admin. Those open brainstorming sessions where ideas fly and great content is created, shared and molded for our students are far and few between. If you are at a site where you do get to enjoy this type of collaboration and planning time with your colleagues then kudos to your admin! You're a lucky staff!

For the rest of us, lesson planning is an important but often lonely part of your job. Creating a lesson plan that aligns with state standards can be time-consuming and challenging.
Enter AI.
With the help of artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT we can brainstorm, bounce around ideas, rework lessons and get feedback on them.

Think of AI as your personal teaching assistant. It's like having that colleague next door who shares a great lesson with you to try with your class. Then after you try it, modifying it to fit your own class, you sit can reflect together and decide what worked and what didn't.
Here's how it can work:

Step 1: Create a lesson plan with ChatGPT
Identify the standard
Choose a standard from your state's curriculum that you want to address in your lesson. This could be a standard related to math, science, language arts, or social studies. You can copy the standard directly from your state website.
Input the standard into ChatGPT
Once you have identified the standard, input it into ChatGPT. You can do this by typing in the standard or copying and pasting it into the chatbot. ChatGPT will analyze the standard and generate a response that provides an overview of the key concepts and skills related to the standard.
Use the response to create a lesson plan
Using the response generated by ChatGPT, you can begin to create your lesson plan. Consider the key concepts and skills related to the standard and brainstorm activities and assessments that will address these areas.

1. Identify the key concepts and skills related to the standard. For example, if the standard is related to reading comprehension, the key concepts might include identifying the main idea, making inferences, and summarizing.

2. Consider how you can introduce these concepts to your students. Brainstorm activities that will engage your students and help them understand the material. For example, you might use a graphic organizer to help students identify the main idea of a text.

3. Think about how you can assess student understanding of the key concepts and skills. For example, you might have students write a summary of a text to assess their ability to summarize.

4. Consider how you can differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students. For example, you might provide additional support for struggling students or challenge advanced students with more complex texts.

5. Determine how you will integrate technology into your lesson plan to enhance student learning. For example, you might have students use a digital tool to create a visual representation of the main idea of a text.

Remember, the response generated by ChatGPT is just a starting point for your lesson plan. Use it as a guide as you create engaging and effective activities and assessments that align with the standard you've chosen.

Step 2: Use your teacher brain and expertise along with other tools (including AI) to refine and enhance the lesson plan

Once you have a rough draft of your lesson plan, refine it and make adjustments as needed. Consider the needs of your students and how you can differentiate instruction to meet their needs. Think about how you can incorporate technology, hands-on activities, and other strategies to engage students and enhance their learning.
Teacher Toolbox: AI Tools Teacher Toolbox: Templates Teacher Toolbox: Teaching Resources

Step 3: Identify a way to assess student learning

Assessing student learning is an important part of any lesson plan. This includes a quick check for understanding, a formative assessment, exit ticket or a summative assessment.
Teacher Toolbox - Assessment Tools
Consider how you can use ChatGPT or another AI tool to assess student understanding of the material. For example, you can have students ask ChatGPT questions related to the standard and review their responses to assess their understanding of the key concepts and skills.

Step 4: Review student work and give feedback

Consider asking ChatGPT or another AI tool for feedback on various aspects, such as grammar, spelling, and content. You can input a student response or a common response or mistake into ChatGPT and ask it for some feedback prompts.

Lesson Plan Examples

Lesson Example 1 - Elementary Reading
Note: Text was generated by ChatGPT (unless another AI tool was used and noted). "Write a lesson plan for the Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2 - Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text using the Madeline Hunter Lesson Design Framework" (Entered into ChatGPT) Bold text

Nonfiction texts on various topics (one per student or pair)

Graphic organizer for main idea and key details

Graphic organizer for summarizing

Writing materials

was added by me.

Students will be able to identify the main idea of a text and explain how key details support it.

Students will be able to summarize a text in their own words.

Materials:

Objectives:

Time

5 minutes

Anticipatory Set: Activate prior knowledge on the topic by asking students if they know what the main idea of a text is. Have them share their thoughts and ideas, and write them on the board
Share a video to support understanding How to find the main idea and supporting details from McGraw Hill

10 minutes

Direct Instruction: Define the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details. Show examples of how to identify the main idea and key details in a text.

20 minutes

Guided Practice: Pass out the nonfiction texts to the students or pairs. Instruct students to read the text and fill out the graphic organizer for main idea and key details. As they read, circulate around the room and assist students as necessary.

5 minutes

Check for Understanding: Have students share their main idea and key details with a partner or in a small group. Check for understanding by asking questions related to the text.

15 minutes

Independent Practice: Distribute the graphic organizer for summarizing. Instruct students to summarize the text in their own words. Encourage them to use the main idea and key details from their graphic organizer.

5 minutes

Closure: Have students share their summaries with a partner or in a small group. Then, ask them to share one thing they learned about the topic.

As a summative assessment, have students read a different nonfiction text and write a brief summary that includes the main idea and key details. You can use a rubric to assess their ability to identify the main idea and use key details to support it.

Differentiation: For students who need additional support, provide them with a simplified text or allow them to work with a partner. For students who need an extra challenge, provide them with a more complex text or have them summarize the text in a paragraph.

Lesson Example 2 - Middle School Science
Note: Text was generated by ChatGPT (unless another AI tool was used and noted). "Create a lesson plan for the standard "MS-PS1-1 Matter and its Interactions Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures." using the explore, explain, apply lesson plan framework" (Entered into ChatGPT) Bold text was added by me.

Lesson Plan - MS-PS1-1
Explore

Objective: Introduce the concept of atomic composition and provide students with an opportunity to explore and investigate the properties of matter.

Activity: Provide students with a variety of materials, such as sugar, salt, sand, and water. Ask them to explore and investigate the properties of each material. Guide them to make observations about the similarities and differences between the materials. Have students work in groups to create a chart or Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the materials based on their properties.

Explain

Objective: Introduce the concept of atomic composition and explain how it relates to the properties of matter.

Activity: Using the chart or Venn diagram created by the students in the Explore phase, lead a discussion on the atomic composition of the materials. Introduce the concept of atoms and molecules and explain how they contribute to the properties of matter. Use visual aids, such as models of atoms and molecules, to enhance students' understanding.

Apply

Objective: Apply the concept of atomic composition to simple molecules and extended structures.

Activity: Provide students with a simple molecule, such as H2O, and an extended structure, such as a diamond. Ask them to work in groups to develop a model that describes the atomic composition of each structure. Have them present their models to the class and lead a discussion on the similarities and differences between the two models.

Assessment

Objective: Evaluate students' ability to develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.

Assessment: Provide students with a new simple molecule and an extended structure. Ask them to work in groups to develop a model that describes the atomic composition of each structure. Have them present their models to the class and use a rubric to assess their ability to describe the atomic composition of the structures.

Extend

Objective: Allow students to extend their understanding of atomic composition and its applications.

Activity: Provide students with a real-world scenario, such as the design of a new material, and ask them to develop a model that describes the atomic composition of the material. Have them present their models to the class and lead a discussion on the applications of atomic composition in real-world scenarios.

Closure/Reflection

Objective: Allow students to reflect on what they learned and its relevance to the real world.

Activity: Have students write a reflection on what they learned about atomic composition and its applications in the real world. Have them share their reflections with the class and lead a discussion on how their understanding of atomic composition can be applied in their daily lives.

Lesson Example 3 - Middle/High School History

Lesson Planning Templates

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Lesson planning with AI: Save time and get ideas

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The exact skills you need

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We've custom-built IXL skills to reinforce each topic within your:

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Assessments

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Supporting ELL Instruction with AI: Ideas for Educators

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Supporting ELL Instruction with AI: Ideas for Educators

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If you are wondering about how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools with English Language Learners (ELLs), you are in the right place! It’s a fast-evolving landscape filled with potential — and challenges to navigate. The good news is that there is a growing body of research, practice, and thoughtful guidance available with more resources being developed all the time. In this article, we’ve compiled key tips and practical applications based on current best practices and insights on ways to help you use AI tools effectively and ethically with ELLs. We also highlight some risks and challenges educators should understand.If you are brand new to AI or want a more general overview, we recommend reading our companion piece, AI in Schools: 6 Things Educators Need to Know by Christina Patterson, for a broader foundation before diving into implementation.Note: This article focuses on educator use of AI to support instruction.Survey: AI and ELLsWe are creating new resources about using AI in ELL instruction and want to hear from you!Please take a moment to complete our brief survey and share your feedback. Using AI with ELLsFor educators of ELLs, AI tools can offer targeted support to scaffold instruction, differentiate materials based on diverse learning needs, offer customized feedback to students, promote student engagement in all four language domains, and save valuable planning time.AI tools can support multilingual learners by:Saving teacher prep time and streamlining routine tasks: AI can help with tasks such as formatting lesson plans, generating worksheets, and grading multiple-choice quizzes, which can allow you to focus on student engagement and direct student interactions.Creating leveled, engaging, standards-aligned lesson plans: You can use AI to draft lesson outlines, quizzes, and even assessments, which you can then tweak to fit your teaching style and students. AI can also help spark fresh ideas for discussion prompts, engaging classroom activities, or interactive digital resources.Personalizing instruction based on language proficiency and learning needs: Personalized learning is a goal we all strive for, but differentiating instruction can be overwhelming. AI can analyze student performance and suggest modifications for different learning levels, whether you’re accommodating Newcomer ELLs, Long-Term ELLs, SIFE students who are striving readers, or ELLs with IEPs. Platforms like adaptive learning software use AI to tailor lessons to each student’s unique pace and ability. Offering accessible feedback, translation, and multimodal scaffolds: You can use AI to translate materials, simplify complex texts, generate scaffolded activities, and draft feedback.Here are some additional ideas, adapted from materials by Bernadette McHugh-Schreiber:Lesson PlanningScaffoldsAdministrative TasksAssessmentUnit plan/lesson planStandards-aligned activitiesIdentify key ideasComprehension questionsDiscussion startersProject ideasGroup work ideasIndependent practice ideasSimulations & role playsLocate & summarize researchModify/level textTranslate textText-to-speechSpeech-to-textEmails to colleagues/familyNewsletter articlesDraft IEP paperworkCaption videosProvide student feedbackAnalyze student responsesLetters of recommendationMeeting NotesAutomate quizzesFormative assessment ideasSummative assessmentTicket in/outELL Instruction IdeasHere are some additional practical ways that educators of ELLs can use AI tools to enhance instruction, differentiate learning experiences, and support student growth across the four language domains — reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The goal is to highlight how AI can help educators create more inclusive, engaging, and accessible lessons while also saving valuable planning time. While not an exhaustive list, the strategies shared here are meant to spark ideas and provide a starting point for integrating AI thoughtfully and effectively into your classroom practice.ReadingUse AI to rewrite texts at various Lexile levels.Create bilingual glossaries and vocabulary lists.Scaffold complex readings with summaries, visuals, and audio supports.Generate text sets on the same topic with simplified vocabulary or sentence structures.WritingCreating mentor texts (e.g., sample paragraphs) for editing practice, review, and evaluation.Create graphic organizers and outlines for essays.Offer sentence frames, word banks, and transition words.SpeakingProvide conversation prompts tailored to proficiency levels.Practice pronunciation using voice-to-text tools or reading scripts aloud.ListeningConvert written texts into speech using Microsoft’s Read Aloud or other TTS tools.Create listening comprehension questions and transcripts.Create videos or audio files for repeated listening.Lesson Planning & DifferentiationGenerate unit or lesson outlines, aligned to standards, with built-in scaffolds.Generate activity ideas, discussion prompts, and text summaries for building background knowledge.Adjust activities for multiple proficiency levels.Translate key instructions or texts for multilingual families.Assessment & FeedbackGenerate formative assessments like quizzes, exit tickets, or open-ended prompts.Create rubrics with AI assistance.Analyze student responses and tailor reteaching strategies.Note: For tips on how and when to use translation with ELLs, see this article on Clarifying the Roles of Translating, Interpreting, and Translanguaging from SupportEd.Spotlight on AI Tools for ELL InstructionThe AI tools highlighted in this section can be used to support and enhance instruction for English language learners in creative and time-saving ways. Each offers unique features that can help teachers differentiate lessons, scaffold content, and engage students across varying language proficiency levels. These tools can be used independently to meet specific instructional goals, or in combination as you grow more familiar with their capabilities to create more personalized and responsive learning experiences.Before using any AI tool, keep in mind the following tips: Check which ones are approved by your district. Some districts provide paid subscriptions, support, and training for specific platforms, which can make a big difference in how effectively and confidently you use them. Avoid entering any personally identifiable student information. Always follow your district’s technology and privacy policies.Keep in mind that most AI tools are created for general classroom use. You may find some that are ELL-specific, but most likely, your ELL expertise is needed to tailor it for your students.Finally, always review what AI creates — think of any AI-generated material as a first draft that will likely need changes.ToolStrengthsBest Use with ELLsCanvaCanva’s AI features help create engaging visuals, worksheets, infographics, and presentations.Develop visually rich materials with simplified text. Use templates to create vocabulary posters, sentence frames, and bilingual guides.DiffitAutomatically generates leveled reading passages, vocabulary lists, and comprehension questions around a topic.Quickly create scaffolded reading materials tailored to English proficiency. Ideal for building background knowledge and pre-reading activities.Khanmigo (by Khan Academy)A tutor-style interface that interacts with students to guide thinking and support independent learning.Encourage structured exploration of content in math, science, and language arts. Teachers can scaffold prompts or offer tailored support based on student interactions.LUDIAAn AI chatbot designed around Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles; focuses on accessibility, inclusivity, and student voice.Generate language scaffolds, sentence starters, visual prompts, and multimodal supports. Useful for discussion questions, reflection prompts, and adapted content for diverse learners. Great for differentiating instruction and promoting equity.Magic School AIOffers a broad menu of teacher tools including rubric generators, feedback assistants, vocabulary activities, and more.Generate engaging, standards-aligned lessons with embedded supports like sentence starters and visuals. Can also create translation support for home communication.Large Language Models (LLMs)Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude AI function as chatbots capable of generating text, answering questions, simplifying content, and supporting instructional planning. While they share many core features, each brings its own unique strengths depending on your specific needs. As you experiment with them, you’ll begin to notice what each tool does best. All of these tools have free versions; upgrading to a paid plan unlocks additional features such as longer responses, faster output, and access to newer capabilities.ToolStrengthsBest Use with ELLsChatGPTChatGPT excels at conversational tasks and creative writing; it is highly versatile and user-friendly for general classroom use.Various purposes: It performs highly in a wide range of tasks for content creation. Its abundant features, including plugins and DALL-E 3 for image generation, are also attractive.GeminiGemini shines in multimodal interactions and Google ecosystem integration.Integration with Google products: It integrates powerfully with Google Search, Gmail, Docs, and other Google products. It also offers real-time access to information.PerplexityPerplexity is best for research and accurate information retrieval with citations, exceling in providing cited, real-time research,Research and citations: It displays the sources and provides accurate answers based on the latest web information. You can also search for academic papers or specific platforms.ClaudeAIClaude focuses on nuanced reasoning and detailed analysis, offering thoughtful, in-depth responses ideal for complex reasoning.Safety and ethics: It is equipped with ethical guidelines and safety measures, making it suitable for sensitive use cases such as education and mental health. The naturalness of the generated text is outstanding and its ongoing training keeps it up-to-date.AI in Action: Sample Activity Using DiffitTopic: The Water CycleVocabulary: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection, atmosphereSteps:Use Diffit to create three leveled versions of the same passage.Include vocabulary supports (glossary, images).Use auto-generated comprehension questions for each level and modify as needed.Export as Google Docs/Slides for individual or small-group tasks.Extend with Canva to create student posters on each stage of the cycle.In addition, you can try the following:Simplifying Complex Texts: AI can assist in making challenging texts more accessible to ELLs. Tools like Perplexity AI can generate simplified versions of complex articles, helping students grasp essential content without being overwhelmed by difficult language. ​Enhancing Writing Instruction: AI-generated mentor texts can serve as valuable models for student writing. Platforms such as MagicSchool AI can produce sample texts in various genres, providing students with clear examples to emulate in their writing assignments.Understanding AI Limitations and ConcernsAI has the potential to enhance teaching by automating certain tasks and streamlining workflow to optimize the instructional and learning process. However, we must also be aware of the limitations and risks. AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on, which means there could be biases and inaccuracies baked in without careful monitoring. AI systems, despite their power and potential, can perpetuate and even amplify existing biases if not developed and used responsibly. As educators, it’s crucial to understand these biases to ensure equitable learning experiences for all students.Types of AI BiasDemographic Bias: Occurs when AI systems perform differently for different demographic groups (facial recognition systems).Linguistic Bias: AI models trained primarily on one language or dialect may struggle with others, potentially disadvantaging non-native speakers or speakers of regional dialects.Interaction Bias: When AI systems learn from user interactions, they may reinforce existing patterns of behavior, potentially amplifying societal biases.Selection/Cultural Bias: If the data used to train an AI system isn’t representative of the entire population, the system may perform poorly for underrepresented groups or provide limited results within content generation.Additional ConsiderationsAs we integrate AI into education, it’s crucial to do so responsibly and ethically, particularly in regards to the following topics.Human OversightThis involves maintaining human oversight, ensuring equity, and continuously evaluating the impact of AI tools. AI is not a replacement for human teachers — educators play an invaluable role that cannot be replicated by machines, especially in the following:Question Accuracy: AI can make mistakes and offer incomplete information or use outdated information. Verify answers using reliable outside sources. Check for Biases: AI may be trained with data that includes biases, making output unfair. Verify that information is fair. Double check before sharing.The 80-20 Approach: See AI as a starting point to generate content. Use your expertise to modify, tweak, improve, and change based on the context and students. Student PrivacyStudent privacy is a major concern with AI analyzing personal data, so it is critical we put students at the center – maintaining safety, privacy and adhering to school guidelines. Educators who use AI apps and tools must adhere to their district’s AI and tech policies to ensure student safety as well as protect themselves from harm.Academic IntegrityWhile the tips in this article focus on teacher use of AI for instructional purposes, it’s also worth mentioning a few considerations that impact may ELLs in particular:ELLs may not be familiar with guidelines related to academic integrity, copying work from the internet, plagiarism, and group work. Ensure that students understand class and school policies, especially if they are regularly using tech tools in the classroom and home.Students may already be using AI tools, especially for translation purposes. If you have questions or concerns about how those tools are being used, start by learning more. Which tools are being used? How and why are they being used? Some educators have shared that students are looking for ways to support their success in learning English. Talk with students, families, colleagues, and administrators to identify some possible solutions, as well as to identify areas that may need additional support in the classroom.Some teachers of ELLs have reported that their students have been accused of using AI on work they completed independently without AI. Low expectations for ELLs may contribute to these conclusions being drawn on the part of other teachers and staff. This is another reason that clarifying policies collaboratively can be an important step in this addressing this issue.Keep in mind that your use of AI can potentially be a model for students; for older students, consider talking through how you are using AI, what’s working (or not), and modeling proper citations and independent work.For more information on risks and considerations, see: AI in Schools: 6 Things Educators Need to Know (Colorín Colorado)Commonsense Guardrails for Using Advanced Technology in Schools (AFT)Educator VoicesIn an article written for Edutopia, ELL expert Tan Huynh writes, “As we enter this space, move with caution and refrain from jumping at every AI offering. Watch, observe, take note, and move in tiny steps.“Final ThoughtsWe know there’s a lot to absorb in this article, so here are some key takeaways for reflection and ongoing practice.Key TakeawaysStart small. Begin with one tool or one task. Experiment with generating a writing prompt or simplifying a text. Build from there, and be ready to learn from trial and error.Verify everything. AI may “hallucinate” (generate wrong or biased info), so review is essential.Keep it human-centered. AI should support, not replace, the teacher’s role. Students need meaningful interactions and culturally affirming relationships.Respect privacy and policies. Don’t enter personally identifiable student data. Check district tech guidelines, and if your district doesn’t have any in place, speak with administrators about requesting a policy. (You can learn more from TeachAI’s resources on this topic.)Watch for bias. AI can reflect demographic, linguistic, or interaction bias if trained on non-diverse datasets. Always double-check outputs for fairness and cultural sensitivity.Use the 80-20 Rule. Let AI generate a first draft or idea. Use your professional expertise to modify and align to your context and students.Bring a healthy dose of skepticism. Just because a tool can do something doesn’t mean that it’s the right tool for you or your students.Network with other educators. Join educator communities to share ideas and resources.Using AI with Heart and IntentionAI can’t replace the heart of teaching — but it can amplify your impact. Used intentionally, these tools can extend your reach by supporting differentiated instruction, simplifying complex tasks, and elevating the voices of English learners. When guided by your expertise and a deep commitment to cultural and linguistic responsiveness, AI becomes more than just a time-saver; it becomes a catalyst for access to grade-level content, engagement, and language growth. By starting small and staying grounded in your instructional goals, you can explore AI’s potential while maintaining the human connection that lies at the core of great teaching. With heart and intention, you can harness AI to create more accessible, inclusive, and empowering learning experiences for every student.Recommended ResourcesUsing AI to Support Multilingual Students (Edutopia)How to Use Technology to Support ELLs in Your Classroom (Common Sense Media)What Teachers Should Know Before Using AI With English Learners (Education Week)A Teacher Makes the Case for Using AI With English Learners (Education Week)

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AI in Schools: 6 Things Educators Need to Know

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AI in Schools: 6 Things Educators Need to Know

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AI in Schools: 6 Things Educators Need to Know

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If you have questions about the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, you are not alone! As I deliver trainings about AI across my state and beyond, I hear lots of questions from educators, such as:What is AI?Why is it important for educators to engage in conversations about AI?How are educators using AI?What are some of the challenges and risks of using AI in school settings?Why do AI policies and regulations matter?How can we include educator, family, and student voices in conversations and decisions related to AI?This article addresses these questions and offers recommended resources created by educators and organizations doing thoughtful, valuable work about AI. Whether you are just getting started or are looking for resources to share with colleagues, you are in the right place. Let’s begin!Survey: AI and ELLsWe are creating new resources about using AI in ELL instruction and want to hear from you!Please take a moment to complete our brief survey and share your feedback. What is AI?So, what is AI, anyway? For many, the mention of AI recalls robots that think and feel like humans, futuristic sentient machines like those in movies such as Terminator and The Matrix. The reality is that AI is a tool, already in many apps and services you use every day. Alexa and Siri utilize AI. So do our smart watches, map apps, and security systems. Social media is a large user of AI — do you get targeted ads on your social media feeds? If so, AI is analyzing your searches, purchases, and how long you view content to then streamline the ads and content you see to your personal preferences. Netflix and other viewing platforms also use AI and generate recommended viewing lists by analyzing your data for that platform and finding similar content.AI doesn’t “think” — although it may seem like it does. It’s a technology that uses machines to do tasks typically accomplished by humans. What makes this possible is the ways that AI systems use statistical analysis on large data sets to make predictions.Predictive AI analyzes data to predict future outcomes. For example, a school can use predictive AI to forecast how students will perform on assessments and create plans proactively to address concerns and highlight successes.Generative AI, used by tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft CoPilot, creates new content, or output, in seconds. This content is informed by existing data, information, and content already online. In education, one way generative AI is being used is to create differentiated materials based on student needs and progress. The more generative AI is used, the more refined the generated content becomes, making it more personalized for users, including educators and students. And in turn, the creation of new content continues feeding and informing the content that will be created by generative AI in the future. There are also many education AI tools that focus on specific tasks for educators.Note: When using generative AI, it is critical to review what is created. You may be able to refine the product by modifying your prompts, but it is also essential to check for accuracy. (You don’t have to look far for examples of AI-generated errors, as seen in this BBC news story, Glue pizza and eat rocks: Google AI search errors go viral.)Learn moreLearn more from the following resources. For some brief videos and tutorials, we recommend Common Sense Media’s AI Literacy Lessons.AI Resource Collection (Colorín Colorado)AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 6-12 (Common Sense Media)AI for Educators: Free Professional Development Courses (Common Sense Media)Generative AI: Articles for Educators (Edutopia)Why Educators’ Voices MatterThis brave new world of AI can be intimidating and disconcerting. There are also a lot of questions about how to use AI safely and appropriately, or whether to use it at all. Yet as tempting as it may be to keep AI at a distance, our students need us to engage with these important conversations. Here’s why:Teaching digital literacyStudents need to learn the skills to navigate the digital world they are growing up in, such as media literacy skills, digital citizenship skills, and critical thinking skills.Preparing for the workplaces of the futureIncreasingly, AI tools are being included in workplaces and many schools. Today’s students will be expected to use AI tools in their own careers in the future. And educators themselves may also be increasingly asked to learn about and use AI.Advocating for more teacher trainingEducators need ongoing training around AI. The more familiar educators are with AI tools and their uses, the more input they can provide about the most relevant types of training in their work.Learning from our students and familiesMany students and families are already using AI tools in a variety of ways. There is a lot we can learn from them! And the more educators know about how AI is used outside of school, the more effective partnerships can be around harnessing its capabilities in constructive ways, while also establishing norms and guidelines for appropriate use.Supporting studentsFundamentally, it’s critical for educators to get comfortable with talking about the use of AI while also articulating our own essential roles in schools. AI is not a replacement for educators or support staff, and this message can not be overemphasized. It is especially important to talk through appropriate uses of AI as new uses are explored or adopted across districts.More than ever, students need caring, nurturing school communities in which educators:Build relationships with students through interaction and connectionProvide personalized learning and supportProvide human insight, understanding, and warmthTeach critical thinking skills, problem solving, communication, collaboration, ethics, creativity, and responsibilityLearning about AI is a way to bring clarity to this conversation, and keeping “humans in the loop” (U.S. Department of Education, 2023) is the best way to ensure that educational values and principles are prioritized in schools as the use of AI and technology continues to grow.How Districts and Educators Are Using AIHow is AI being used in classrooms and schools? Here are some of the most common uses:Teaching and learning Many educators are finding AI instructional tools to be comprehensive and helpful — with proper prompts! These tools are proving to be a great jumping-off point for lesson planning, assignment, and activity creation. Lesson planning: Generative AI can be used to create prompts and activities; to differentiate tasks and texts; to create specific images and other kinds of media; and to create a wide range of materials with tools such as lesson/unit plan generators, writing checkers, quiz generators, and rubric creators, among other features.Real time feedback and assessment: AI tools can provide quick feedback, which can help with instructional decision-making in the classroom. These tools can also incorporate more formative assessment into instruction. AI tools are being used to provide instant feedback on writing tasks, as well as to analyze the data from student assessments to provide teachers and students with strengths and areas for improvement.Personalized learning: AI analyzes learning patterns and adjusts pace, level of knowledge, and provides on-demand assistance. This can be particularly helpful for students who need additional supports. For example, AI tools can be used to level text as a form of differentiation. In addition, using AI tools can potentially free up time to provide more focused, personalized instruction for students.Administrative tasksUsing AI for administrative tasks can save time and offer a chance to “dip your toes in the AI pool.“Administrative assistance/automation of routine tasks: Generative AI can automate routine tasks such as data entry, report generation, and the writing of emails and newsletters, allowing educators to focus on more complex and nuanced work.Student accessibility and engagementLanguage access: AI tools can break down language barriers in a variety of settings, and many teachers of ELLs are trying out various AI tools to determine which functions best support instruction. (See more about using AI with English learners in our forthcoming article.)Accessibility: AI also provides new accessibility options for students with disabilities and students who may need additional support. For example, some educators are exploring the use of IEP resources including goal creation and behavior intervention generators, which they stress are a starting point for creating a first draft that they can customize with personalized input. (This is an area in which transparency with parents would be critical.)Student engagement: The interactive nature of AI engages students. AI tools also allow students to access experiences and explore curated resource collections that would be cost-prohibitive to attend in person. Educators are creating interactive multimedia lessons, as well as accessing museum collections and experiences that were previously only available in person, thereby fostering interest and engagement. AI tools can bring the experiences into the classroom, providing opportunities for exploration and discovery.In addition, AI is being introduced in arenas where the implications are more complex, such as tutoring, observing instruction, district “customer service,” and counseling. This is another reason why educators’ voices matter in decisions related to AI as new tools and possibilities emerge.AI in the Classroom: Challenges and RisksAs we begin to incorporate AI into classrooms and schools, we also need to understand the challenges and risks of AI. There are many concerns regarding AI that are giving professionals across all sectors, including education, pause. These include:Bias and Discrimination: AI systems can (and most likely will) perpetuate biases present in their training data, potentially leading to discriminatory outcomes. The AI tool is only as good as the data used to train the tool. For example, if the data set only includes examples of people from one gender or ethnicity, the tool does not know to include more diversity; the generated results will only reflect the data that was used for training. Educator Tammi Sisk shares an example in a Common Sense Media webinar on Chatgpt that reflects gender bias. She submitted a blog post to an AI tool for feedback under the student name “Alice.” She then submitted the same post under the name “Bob.” While the feedback was similar, there were notable differences, including an emphasis on the emotional dimensions of Alice’s response, in contrast with praise of Bob’s analytical strengths.Privacy Concerns: Generative AI requires large datasets, which may include sensitive personal information. When a person inputs personal information into an AI tool or other online source, that information becomes part of the data an AI tool uses to generate new material. Ensuring privacy and compliance with regulations is critical. New York’s Education Law 2d, California’s Privacy Rights Act, and Colorado’s Privacy Act are some ways states are providing additional privacy protections to residents.Security Risks: Many employees handle sensitive information. AI systems could be targeted by cyberattacks, leading to data breaches or manipulation of information. AI is also being used to create data breaches and collect sensitive information on internet users.Job Displacement: As AI takes over increasing complex tasks, there is a risk that some sector jobs could be displaced, requiring a shift in workforce skills. Jobs such as call center technicians are already seeing positions replaced with chatbots. And although some jobs may be displaced, new jobs such as AI engineers and AI solutions analysts will be created as well, according to CNET (Lacy, 2024). At the same time, it’s important to recognize that many jobs are incorporating the use of AI, and so candidates who are familiar with AI will have a competitive edge.Intellectual Property and Copyright Infringement: The content generated by generative AI can resemble other peoples’ work. The nature of how generative AI gathers information creates questions about who owns AI-generated content and the copyright issues surrounding the information it culls to create new content. Universities are building their own AI tools to overcome the ethical and equity issues with the use of AI. These proprietary tools are also a way to protect intellectual property. (Some AI tools, such as Perplexity, also indicate sources and citations for their content.)Accessibility: There are a number of questions related to digital equity. Do students have access to the devices, tools, and internet connections needed to use AI? This issue was highlighted by the digital access issues of the COVID-19 pandemic. And do all students have opportunities to learn how to use these tools? (If not, how will this disadvantage be compounded over time in their future education and careers?) In addition, many AI tools are subscription-based, which also creates digital equity issues. There is also the question of access to AI training for educators. According to a 2024 research brief from RAND, “Urban districts were the least likely to deliver such training.“Hallucinations: AI can perceive patterns or objects that are nonexistent, creating inaccurate outputs. Due to the nature of generated AI, the false information is presented as truth and is very convincing.Fraud and Cyberbullying: Fraud scams have increased with the use of AI (e.g., account takeover attacks and password scams) and are becoming more sophisticated and difficult to detect. AI-powered tools have also made it easier to target people online, creating convincing fake content such as altered voice recordings and pictures — another reason why media literacy is such an essential skill for students to learn.Academic IntegrityIn addition, one of the biggest challenges of generative AI is academic integrity. Both students and educators are concerned about this issue; research featured by TeachAI indicates that many students want clear guidelines about the use of AI. In addition, some educators have reported that their students, including ELLs, have been accused of using AI tools to create work that they in fact created themselves. These challenges indicate a clear need for discussions regarding ethical use of AI, setting expectations for students, and clear explanations about school policies about AI. In addition, students will benefit from a deeper understanding of what constitutes plagiarism and the possible consequences, especially if they don’t know what plagiarism is. (See more in this article from eCampusNews.)At the same time, there are important questions about what the use of AI means for students’ skill development and critical thinking, particularly in the areas of writing, research, and project planning. Educators in middle and high school are grappling with students’ regular use of these tools, even though schools may not yet have formal AI policies or guidance in place yet.AI detection tools have also become an area of interest for educators. There are many AI detection tools available to identify AI-generated content. Educators are using these tools to check student work with mixed success, however. Many of these tools cannot keep up with increasingly sophisticated generated material and the ever-improving nature of AI tools, which can make it difficult to use them consistently for student work. Running student work through AI detection tools can also add to teachers’ already full plates, taking time away from the tasks that most benefit students.The Role of AI Policies and RegulationsIn order to address the many questions and concerns related to this fast-moving technology, the U.S. Department of Education has developed an AI toolkit that addresses inclusion of AI in classrooms, along with releasing the National Educational Technology Plan in February, 2024. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is holding discussions to develop federal standards for responsible AI systems, creating a framework similar to the European Union’s AI Act. Additionally, the American Federation of Teachers has released “Common Sense Guardrails for Using Advanced Technology in Schools,” a resource created by educators with the aim of providing guidelines for minimizing the harm associated with AI while maximizing the benefits.Much of the work around AI regulation and compliance is happening at the state level. Although each state has approached the question of AI regulation differently, the 2024 legislative session showed that AI is on the forefront of legislators’ minds. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, “at least forty-five states…introduced bills, and thirty-one states…adopted resolutions or enacted legislation” (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2024). Twelve of those states have enacted laws that authorize government bodies and organizations to expand AI expertise, particularly around potential impacts and submit policy recommendations for AI in relation to employment, healthcare, education, and elections, while other states have already specifically targeted discriminatory AI in hiring practices, protecting data privacy, and manipulative media and deep fakes (Brennan Center for Justice, 2023).School district AI policies vary widely, much like states. Some districts such as Gwynnette County Georgia’s Seckinger School District have embraced AI fully, creating an AI-themed elementary, middle, and high school to prepare students for the future. Other districts have done little to address AI use with employees or students through policy or guidance, waiting perhaps for state and federal guidance first. The RAND research brief cited above notes that 60 percent of districts planned to offer AI training by the end of the 2023–2024 school year.Engaging Educator, Family, and Student VoicesAs districts begin discussing AI policies and incorporation into classrooms, educators, families, and students must all be part of the conversation. As a district leader notes in a 2024 report on AI from the Wallace Foundation, “It’s going to take humans staying in the loop, being part of the development, and being very thoughtful and engaged to make sure that AI is used in a way that’s beneficial.“Some steps that educators can take on behalf of creating a collaborative conversation include:Looking for opportunities to actively engage with school leadership in discussing AI — the potential uses, ethics, professional development, and specific tools to be used in classrooms — and advocating for those opportunities if they are not yet availableIncluding a diverse range of voices and roles on district technology committees, including educators who work with different ages and diverse student populationsAdvocating for ongoing professional learning and training around AIEngaging with students and families, either through technology or other channels, to learn from them about how they are using AI, as well as to address their questions and concernsInviting the school-wide community into the conversation ensures that diverse voices are heard and keeps the narrative focused on best practices, responsible use, and keeping human connection at the forefrontThe more educators’ and families’ voices are included in these conversations, the more input educators and families can have on how these tools are used and even developed.What Teachers, Students, and Families Need to Use AI SuccessfullyAs AI permeates classrooms, teachers, students, and families need guardrails that maximize AI’s educational possibilities while providing protection from potential harm. Some key recommendations follow:First and foremost, educators need upskilling to understand the positives, negatives, and ethical questions that come with using AI tools.Educators must be able to learn how to harness AI’s potential to effectively teach and help students navigate the world of AI.Becoming familiar with the many toolkits, webinars, and tools that are available, as well as specific training in best practices and practical implementation, will help educators take the reins of AI more successfully.Families need information and transparency regarding the use of AI in their child’s education, including privacy protections that are in place.Students and families also need guidance in understanding the ethics and concerns surrounding AI and how to use this tool responsibly.District administration must emphasize the appropriate use of AI and advocate for responsible use, while centering educators’ essential roles in providing personalized instruction and support for students.There is no denying that AI’s impact on our society and in education will be transformative, and it is here to stay. With thoughtful implementation and ongoing dialogue, schools can channel AI’s potential while reducing its risks and affirming the vital work that educators do in our school communities every day.About the AuthorChristina Patterson is an Assistant in Research and Educational Services at New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), where she specializes in technology, math, science, STEM, and AI. With a deep passion for education, she brings 27 years of experience as a Special Education teacher to her role. Outside of work, Christina enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, and spending time with her family.

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Colorín Colorado is a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs). Colorín Colorado is an educational service of WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation's capital, and receives major funding from our founding partner, the AFT, and the National Education Association.

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We are creating new resources about using AI in ELL instruction and want to hear from you! Please take a moment to complete our brief survey and share your feedback. These new materials will be featured in Colorín Colorado's AI Resource Collection for Educators.

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Web survey powered by SurveyMonkey.com. Create your own online survey now with SurveyMonkey's expert certified FREE templates.

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Meet Khanmigo: Khan Academy’s AI-powered teaching assistant & tutor

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Khanmigo, built by nonprofit Khan Academy, is a top-rated AI for education. Save time on prep, tackle homework challenges, and get personalized tutoring.

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Large Language Model Prompts for Educators

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Large Language Model Prompts for Educators

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Claude

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The better your Claude prompts, the better your outputs. Here are 7 prompts for language learning.

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ReadWorks | Award-Winning, EdTech Nonprofit Organization

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ReadWorks is an edtech nonprofit organization that is committed to helping to solve America’s reading comprehension crisis.

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Snorkl | Voice-enabled Assignments Powered by AI

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With Snorkl, students record and share their reasoning then receive instant AI-powered feedback to drive deep and meaningful learning.

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Create a rubric. (LLM, Brisk or MagicSchoolAI)

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Use the following student writing sample and rubric and ask AI to grade it with reasoning. (LLM)

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7th grade student sample work on Globalization

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Upload a student work sample (and rubric) for feedback then create next-step activities. (LLM or Brisk)

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Create a custom tool or GPT that you can reuse to grade student work and provide feedback. (LLM or MagicSchoolAI)

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Writing Epitaphs for major deceased characters in Hamlet.

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Writing Epitaphs for major deceased characters in Hamlet.

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Using this lesson plan, scaffold brainstorming the major deceased characters in the play Hamlet (Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Laertes, and Polonius) and writing their epitaphs for WIDA Level I and Level II ELLs.

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Hamlet Epitaph Lesson_ ELL Scaffolding for WIDA Levels I-II ChatGPT

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Set up your classroom, without IT

You can quickly and easily set up your classroom in Quill by inputting student names or providing students with a unique code. If you use Google Classroom or Clever, you can automatically set up your classroom with one click.

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Quill.org | Interactive Writing and Grammar

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Quill provides free writing and grammar activities for middle and high school students.

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Hamlet Epitaph Lesson_ ELL Scaffolding for WIDA Levels I-II

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Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White - I. Before Breakfast

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One or two AI tools I want to work more with in the coming year and how I will use them…

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One or two AI tools I want to work more with in the coming year and how I will use them…

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I want to use Brisk to save time in giving writing feedback to my third graders as well as translate for any ELL learners.

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I really love BRISK and would love to learn more use it to support the teachers in saving them time on grading long essays

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I'd like to practice using Diffit and Claude to create lessons/units with scaffolds

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Biggest challenge I want AI to help with and why…

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Biggest challenge I want AI to help with and why…

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Professional Learning and more training for teachers to use it successfully in the classrooms

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By signing up, I agree to Brisk’s Terms of Use and Privacy Notice.

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How can I successfully choose the best AI tool that will most serve my students since there are so many

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AFT AI Symposium Participant Resource Booklet

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ELL Strategy Library from Colorín Colorado

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Video: A warm welcome for immigrant families in the front office

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Video: A warm welcome for immigrant families in the front office

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A warm welcome for immigrant families in the front office

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Medley Learning is a new tool that is still in development. Learn more about Medley and connect with the team if you'd like to be involved in piloting the tool!

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Medley is a browser extension for student devices that automatically adds scaffolds to texts based on each student’s English proficiency level, strategically leveraging their home language.

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SchoolAI gives educators the time, data, and tools to design a better, more personalized classroom experience. Free for teachers. Create. Personalize. Engage.

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Write a newsletter for the parents of my 4th grade students welcoming the families back to school and explaining that we will support students who speak languages other than English at home.

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Using AI Tools to Support ELLs AFT - slides

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One AI tool I want to work more with is Diffit to scaffold texts for student s

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I'm excited to explore some new tools such as Brisk, and also re-explore Diffit which has added some new elements such as the ability to search for a book and create resources based off of the text provided. I'm also interested in analyzing student work through AI, and creating personalized worksheets based off of the students' needs.

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These tools are updating so rapidly, that I would like to explore some that I initially played with, but moved on from. Diffit for example having copies of the book Esperanza Rising and the Color of My Words opens up new opportunites that weren't possible within the platform before. - Rick

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I really want to explore using Brisk it! more to provide students with writing feedback.

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I'm excited by Brisk and Diffit both. They look really cool and helpful. Just learning about ways to prompt a tool like Gemini to create helpful tools for ELLs is also exciting. I hadn't thought about asking it to create a glossary for me, which is a great way to help students access texts of all sorts without simply translating the entire thing.

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How can we communicate most effectively with parents of our students, giving them customized information about how the student is doing

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How can we communicate most effectively with parents of our students, giving them customized information about how the student is doing

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What is sample language to put in the syllabus regarding the use of AI?

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It was great learning about Brisk and Diffit

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I have been wanting to use claude more, but sometimes it feels that it loads slower thatn other AI tools. I also want to use Diffit more often because I am a spanish teacher.

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What data is there around effectiveness for these tools before devoting resources to their use?

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I am interested in learning more about Diffit! Thank you so much for all of the incredible resources to explore. 

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I am interested in learning more about Diffit! Thank you so much for all of the incredible resources to explore. 