Five ways to get started using AI in the classroom
Getting started with AI can feel intimidating. There are so many tools, and it’s not always clear how they fit into day-to-day teaching. Most of us know AI can help draft an email, but that’s just scratching the surface. The good news is you don’t have to jump in all at once. Here are five simple, practical ways to start using AI in your classroom.
1. Text leveling
A quick entry point is using AI to adjust texts to your students’ reading levels. This is especially useful if you teach a wide range of abilities or want to make challenging material more accessible.
The simplest option is a chatbot like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Claude. Copy and paste the article or passage into the tool and try a prompt like: “Reword this article to a 5th grade reading level.”
In seconds, you’ll have a more accessible version for your students.
Another great option is Brisk, a Chrome extension that connects to your Google account. Brisk can relevel text from any website or Google platform (Docs, Slides, etc.), and the updated version is saved directly to your Drive.
2. Guided notes
AI is also useful or creating guided notes, which support students who need extra structure or are learning note-taking skills. Simply paste your lesson content into a chatbot and ask: “Turn this content into a guided notes handout with fill-in-the-blank sections for 7th grade students.”
You’ll get a draft in seconds. Review and make any final edits to ensure it matches your style and class needs.
3. Generating slides
Slide presentations are a classroom staple, and AI can cut prep time in half.
- Text only: If you already have your content and just need slide text, use a chatbot like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Claude. For example: “Convert my notes into text for a 7-slide presentation.”
- Design help: If you’re looking for visuals, try tools like Canva AI, SlideSpeak, SlidesAI, or SlidesGo. These tools can generate designs based on your prompt. For instance: “Create a presentation for an 8th grade science class introducing nuclear energy.”
4. Character learning
AI can bring creativity into lessons by taking on the voice of a historical figure, book character, or scientist. For example: “Pretend you are Galileo. Explain your discoveries to a middle school science class.”
Students enjoy the interactive feel of “chatting” with a character, and it helps bring abstract or distant figures to life. You can also have students create their own dialogues as part of a project or review activity.
If you want to assign character chatbots directly to your students, try MagicSchool or Brisk, both of which allow teachers to create custom chatbots and monitor engagement.
5. Sub plans
We’ve all been there, the last-minute scramble to pull together sub plans. AI can take some of that stress away.
Diffit, a tool built for teachers, can generate worksheets, guided notes, and sub plans in minutes. You can also use a chatbot by pasting your objectives or a short lesson description and asking something like: “Create a one-day substitute lesson plan for a 6th grade science class on ecosystems, including instructions and a simple activity.”
Within minutes, you’ll have a structured plan ready to review and send, with backup activities if needed.
Final thoughts
AI doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Starting with small tasks like text leveling, guided notes, or sub plans can give you a feel for how these tools fit into your workflow. The goal isn’t to replace your teaching but to save time on prep so you can focus on what matters most: your students.