Heading back to school can be tough after a summer of carefree mornings and sun-filled days! Suddenly, you’re back to early wake-ups, schedules and bells, lesson plans, and afterschool meetings. As you start prepping for the first days back, consider leaning on a behind-the-scenes helper, a handy teacher’s assistant powered by AI.
Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Canva’s AI add-ons can make your classroom prep a whole lot easier. Not only can AI help you plan activities, differentiate materials, and write emails, it can also do the heavy lifting when it comes to setting up your classroom and analyzing assessment data. The time you save gives you more energy for getting to know your students and families, connecting with other educators, and personalizing learning. Take a look at our favorite ways to use AI for a low stress start to the school year.
1. Create an Interest Inventory
Getting to know your students early in the school year builds the trust and connection that are the foundation for any learning community. An Interest Inventory is a great way to learn about your students, but sorting through the data can be time-consuming, so why not ask AI for assistance?
First, copy the students’ responses (no names) into your favorite chat platform like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Then, use the following prompt to elicit ideas for connecting your classroom routines and curriculum with student interests:
“Summarize these student responses and identify common themes. Then suggest 3 ways I can build on these interests in my classroom.”
You might also ask follow-up questions like:
- How can I align our autobiography project with student interests?
- Suggest icebreakers that reflect these responses.
- How can I group students based on shared interests or goals?
2. Infuse Class Material with Creativity
A good classroom theme or dose of school spirit can set the tone for a fun school year! Let AI weave your theme or school mascot into your documents without spending hours creating and formatting. Try uploading your class syllabus, family newsletter, or other student materials to ChatGPT or Gemini, then use this prompt:
“Rewrite this with a friendly, welcoming tone that incorporates an adventure theme and references our school mascot, the Hawks.” or “Adjust this newsletter to reflect a space theme and include fun section headings that match.”
You might also use AI to reformat:
- Class Norms and Rules
- Daily Schedule
- Welcome Letter or Slides
- Weekly Newsletter or Student Behavior Reports
- Caregiver/Family Communications
3. Design a Custom Class Logo
In addition to a theme, try using AI to design a special logo just for your classroom! Whether you use it on newsletters, digital slides, or as a door sign, a custom logo gives your classroom its own “brand.” And thanks to AI image generators, you don’t need design skills to make it happen.
Start with an AI image generator like Canva’s Magic Media, Adobe Creative Cloud Express, or ChatGPT. Next, enter a prompt like this:
“Create a colorful cartoon-style logo featuring a rocket ship and four diverse students working together. Include the words ‘Room 203 Explorers’ in bold, playful font.” or “Design a circular badge-style logo with a lion wearing glasses and holding a book. Include the text ‘Ms. Rivera’s Reading Den.’”
Include students in the process by allowing them to vote on a winning image or even craft the text prompt with you!
4. Tailor Your Morning Check-ins
A morning check-in routine is a great way to take the temperature of your class, promote social-emotional awareness, and have a little fun, but coming up with questions can be time-consuming. With AI, you can craft fresh, personalized check-ins that reflect the interests and personalities of your students.
Begin by feeding your student inventory data (names omitted) into ChatGPT or Google Gemini.
Then, use a prompt like the ones below to generate a list of check-in questions:
“Create 20 morning check-in questions for a 3rd-grade class that loves animals and superheroes. Mix emotional check-ins with fun ‘would you rather’ style questions.” or “Give me daily SEL check-in questions for middle schoolers who are into gaming and music. Keep the tone relaxed and supportive.”
Be sure to ask for a variety of question types, like:
- Emoji-based mood scales (“Pick the emoji that matches your morning”)
- Reflective prompts (“What’s something you’re proud of from yesterday?”)
- Fun social icebreakers (“If you were a snack today, what would you be and why?”)
- Self-awareness boosters (“What kind of support do you need today?”)
5. Summarize Assessment Data
The beginning of the year can be filled with surveys, inventories, diagnostics, and pre-assessments. Instead of spending time sorting through all the data, let AI assist.
First, gather student data (without names or identifiers). This could be their scores from a pretest, student writing samples, or responses to open-ended math problems.
Ask AI to summarize patterns or trends, with a prompt like:
“Here are diagnostic reading responses from my 6th graders. What skills seem strong? What skills may need support?” or “Summarize this math data and group students into high, medium, and low proficiency for place value concepts.”
Once you’ve got a summary, follow up with a prompt to guide your instruction:
- What are some instructional strategies I could use for students struggling with…
- Suggest differentiated small group activities based on the grouping you provided.
- How can I build on students’ strengths in this skill area?
As you get ready to welcome a new group of students this Fall, remember you don’t have to do it all! AI tools can help you work smarter and leave you more time to create joy, connect with your students, and focus on what you love about teaching.
About the Author
Marcee Harris is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and Sociology, as well as an M.A. Ed. in Education. Marcee specializes in curriculum development, maintaining and updating our course catalog, and partners with her Teaching Channel teammates to ensure customer success. Marcee is our resident expert for everything related to EdTech and the Science of Reading.
Fun Fact: Marcee used to be a professional cheerleader!
