^{AI doesn’t know your students. It doesn’t know that half your class is obsessed with Taylor Swift or that two students need frequent movement breaks to stay engaged. It doesn’t remember what you taught last week or that your classroom has no projector. That’s where your expertise comes in.}

Start with your previous lesson plan or an AI-generated draft, then refine. You might:

• Replace generic examples with ones tailored to your students’ interests (change “train word problems” to “basketball stats”).

• Adjust the pacing—maybe a five-minute group discussion needs to be ten.

• Add your signature teaching moves: a warm-up riddle, a callback to last week’s activity, or a wrap-up journal reflection.

You can make these changes yourself—or ask the AI to do it. Just say, “Rewrite this word problem using a basketball theme,” or “Suggest five ways to make this lesson more interactive.” Think of AI like a flexible intern: the more context you give, the better it performs.

Personalizing AI output keeps your lessons aligned with your students’ needs and your teaching style. You’re not handing over control—you’re using a smart assistant to save time and boost creativity, while you stay firmly in the driver’s seat.

Next time you try AI for lesson planning, don’t stop at the draft. Make it yours.

Example Prompt

I teach 6th grade math, and I’m introducing ratios for the first time. I have 45 minutes for the lesson. My students are really into sports and Taylor Swift, and I’d love to use examples that reflect those interests.

I usually like to start with a short, funny story or a riddle to grab their attention. I want to include some kind of collaborative or movement-based activity because a few students really struggle to stay focused during long seated work.

Last week, we wrapped up a unit on multiplication and division, so I’d love for this lesson to connect back to that if possible. I don’t plan to grade this, but I want a quick formative check at the end to see who’s getting it.

Can you draft a lesson plan that includes:

• A brief attention-grabber at the start (story, riddle, or scenario)

• A hands-on or movement-based group activity

• Examples that reference sports or Taylor Swift

• A way to connect to last week’s multiplication/division work

• An exit ticket or simple formative assessment

Please aim for a 45-minute pacing and label each section of the lesson.

That’s it for this week.

P.S.

I would love to hear from you!

If there’s a specific challenge you’re facing or a question you have about using AI in the classroom, just reply to this email - I read every message.