Recommended AI Tools

Google Gemini

Overview

Google Gemini is Google’s multimodal AI system integrated across Google Workspace. It supports drafting, summarizing, idea generation, and day-to-day instructional efficiency.

Why use Gemini?

Works natively inside Google Workspace tools
Strong document summarization and ideation capabilities
Supports multimodal inputs (text, images, files)
Secure when used with school accounts

Training and Resources

Upcoming Trainings

February 6: Intro to Gemini, NotebookLM, and MagicSchool
March 6: Project Showcase w/ Gems and Notebooks

Five ways for teachers to use Gemini

1. Differentiating Reading Materials

Teachers often have a single article or text that is too complex for some students and too simple for others. Gemini can instantly rewrite text to match different reading levels while keeping the core information the same.

How to do it: Paste an article, historical source, or scientific explanation into Gemini.
Example Prompt: "Rewrite the text below about the Water Cycle for a 3rd-grade reading level. Then, rewrite the same text again for an 8th-grade reading level. Keep the key vocabulary terms (evaporation, condensation, precipitation) in both versions."

2. Generating Rubrics and Feedback Banks

Creating detailed rubrics from scratch is tedious. Gemini can generate professional rubrics formatted for immediate use and can even suggest constructive feedback comments for common student errors.

How to do it: Describe the assignment and the criteria you want to assess.
Example Prompt: "Create a grading rubric for a 9th-grade persuasive essay on climate change. It should be on a 4-point scale (Exceeds, Meets, Approaching, Below Standard). Include categories for: Thesis Statement, Use of Evidence, Organization, and Grammar. Put it in a table format."

3. Creating "Hooks" and Analogy-Based Explanations

Sometimes the hardest part of a lesson is getting students interested in the first 5 minutes. Gemini is excellent at brainstorming creative "hooks" or real-world analogies to explain abstract concepts.

How to do it: Ask for a metaphor or an opening activity for a specific topic.
Example Prompt: "I am teaching a lesson on 'cellular respiration' to bored teenagers. Give me 3 creative, real-world analogies to explain how cells get energy, avoiding the usual 'powerhouse of the cell' cliché. Also, suggest a 5-minute opening activity to get them moving."

4. Drafting Assessments and Quizzes

You can use Gemini to quickly generate checking-for-understanding questions based on your specific lecture notes or a text you are reading in class.

How to do it: Paste your lesson notes or a text passage into the chat.
Example Prompt: "Based on the notes I pasted below about the American Civil War, create a 5-question multiple-choice quiz and 2 short-answer critical thinking questions. Provide an answer key at the bottom."

5. Streamlining Parent & Admin Communication

Teachers spend hours drafting emails. Gemini can draft professional, empathetic, and clear emails for sensitive situations or general newsletters in seconds.

How to do it: Briefly list the facts you need to convey and the tone you want.
Example Prompt: "Draft a polite but firm email to a parent. Their child, Alex, has missed 3 homework assignments in a row and is at risk of failing the unit. Ask for a meeting next Tuesday at 3 PM or Thursday at 8 AM. Keep the tone supportive and focused on Alex's success."

Five ways for staff to use Gemini

1. Summarizing Survey Feedback (Principals & Admins)

School leaders often collect feedback via Google Forms from parents or staff but struggle to read through hundreds of open-ended responses. Gemini can analyze this qualitative data instantly.

The Task: Identifying common themes in a "School Climate" survey.
Example Prompt: "I am pasting 50 anonymous comments from parents about our drop-off procedure. Summarize the top 3 complaints and suggest 2 potential solutions based on the feedback."

2. Drafting School-Wide Bulletins (Office Managers)

Front office staff need to communicate information (dates, deadlines, closures) clearly and quickly. Gemini can turn a list of rough bullet points into a polished, friendly newsletter or Robocall script.

The Task: Writing the weekly "Sunday Night Update" script for the Principal.
Example Prompt: "Write a script for a 60-second automated phone call to parents. Include: No school Friday (Teacher Development), Pizza Day is Wednesday, and report cards go home Monday. Keep the tone energetic and positive."

3. Creating "How-To" Tech Guides (IT Support)

School IT staff answer the same questions repeatedly (e.g., "How do I connect to the projector?"). Gemini can write clear, step-by-step instructions for non-technical staff.

The Task: Writing a guide for new teachers on how to use the copier.
Example Prompt: "Write a step-by-step troubleshooting guide for teachers titled 'What to do if the Copier Jams.' Use simple language, bold the buttons they need to press, and keep it under 150 words so I can tape it to the wall."

4. Writing Grant Proposal Narratives (Department Heads)

Schools often rely on grants for new equipment or programs, but writing the "narrative" section is time-consuming. Gemini can draft compelling narratives if you provide the basic data.

The Task: Applying for a grant to get a new STEM lab.
Example Prompt: "I am applying for a $5,000 grant to buy 3D printers. Write a 2-paragraph 'Need Statement' explaining that our current students lack hands-on engineering experience and that 60% of our students are from low-income households."

5. Planning Logistics for Large Events (Activity Coordinators)

Organizing graduation, prom, or a pep rally involves managing countless moving parts. Gemini can act as a project manager, breaking down large events into weekly checklists.

The Task: Creating a timeline for the 8th-grade graduation ceremony.
Example Prompt: "I am organizing a graduation ceremony for June 15th. It is currently March 1st. Create a reverse timeline checklist of what needs to be done (booking chairs, printing diplomas, auditioning speakers, ordering flowers) week by week starting now."

NotebookLM

Overview

NotebookLM is Google's AI research and synthesis tool. It produces high-quality summaries, identifies themes, compares documents, and supports deep reading workflows using only the sources you upload.

Why use NotebookLM?

Source-grounded responses reduce hallucination risk
Excellent document synthesis and comparison
Ideal for curriculum review, committee work, and research
Notebook-based document organization

Training and Resources

Upcoming Trainings

February 6: Intro to Gemini, NotebookLM, and MagicSchool
March 6: Project Showcase w/ Gems and Notebooks

Five ways to use NotebookLM

1. The "Commuter" Revision Podcast

NotebookLM has a feature called "Audio Overview" that converts uploaded text into a realistic, banter-style podcast between two AI hosts. This is a game-changer for auditory learners or students with long bus rides.

The Task: Creating an engaging review tool from a dry textbook chapter.
How to do it: Upload a PDF of the textbook chapter and your lecture slides. Click "Generate" on the Audio Overview.
The Result: You get a 10-15 minute downloadable audio file where two voices discuss the main concepts of your lesson, use analogies, and joke around, effectively "teaching" the material to the student via headphones.

2. The "Document vs. Document" Historian

Standard chatbots can hallucinate facts. NotebookLM sticks strictly to the sources you give it, making it perfect for comparing conflicting historical accounts or primary sources without outside noise.

The Task: Analyzing three different newspaper accounts of the same historical event.
How to do it: Upload three PDFs: one article from a Northern newspaper (1860), one from a Southern newspaper (1860), and one from a British newspaper (1860).
The Prompt: "Using only these three sources, create a table comparing how each one describes the 'cause' of the conflict. Cite the specific document for each point."

3. The "Socratic" Study Buddy

Because NotebookLM "knows" your specific class materials, students can use it as a tutor that won't give them answers from an advanced college curriculum they haven't learned yet—it stays within the scope of your class.

The Task: A student preparing for a test based only on your lecture notes.
How to do it: The teacher shares a "View Only" notebook containing the unit's slide decks and readings.
Student Prompt: "Quiz me on the 'Cell Cycle' based only on the 'Week 4 Slides' provided. Ask me one question at a time, and don't give me the answer until I try. If I'm wrong, give me a hint from the slides."

4. The Curriculum Alignment Audit

Teachers often worry that their lesson plans might drift away from official state standards. NotebookLM can cross-reference your lesson plans against a standards PDF instantly.

The Task: Checking if your "Unit 3" covers all required state standards.
How to do it: Upload your "Unit 3 Lesson Plan" document and the "State Science Standards" PDF.
The Prompt: "Look at my Unit 3 plan. Which specific standards from the State Standards PDF are missing or not adequately covered in this unit? Be specific."

5. Targeted "glossaries" for Complex Texts

When reading difficult literature (like Shakespeare or a dense scientific paper), students often struggle with specific vocabulary in context. NotebookLM can generate a reading guide that travels alongside the text.

The Task: Helping students read Frankenstein.
How to do it: Upload the full text of Chapter 5.
The Prompt: "Create a glossary of the top 15 most difficult words in this chapter. Next to the definition, provide the sentence from the text where it appears, and explain what it means in that specific context."

MagicSchool AI

Overview

MagicSchool AI includes more than 60 educator-focused tools supporting lesson planning, differentiation, assessment design, communication, and routine administrative tasks.

Why use MagicSchool AI?

Designed specifically for educators
Offers structured, classroom-ready templates
Saves significant planning and admin time
Promotes equitable and inclusive instructional practices

Training and Resources

Upcoming Trainings

February 6: Intro to Gemini, NotebookLM, and MagicSchool
February 27: MagicSchool w/ DESE, OG, and LFA

Five Ways to use MagicSchool

1. Generating Standards-Aligned Lesson Plans

Quickly produce a lesson with objectives, activities, checks for understanding, and exit tickets tailored to a grade level and standard.

The Task: Designing a complete lesson flow for elementary math.
Example Prompt: "Create a 45‑minute 5th‑grade math lesson on fractions that includes the objective, CCSS alignment, warm-up, guided practice with manipulatives, an exit ticket, and differentiated scaffolds."

2. Creating Printable Assessments and Worksheets

Make quizzes, exit slips, and practice sheets (with answer keys when requested) formatted for easy printing or digital distribution.

The Task: Preparing a unit test for high school math.
Example Prompt: "Generate a 10-item mixed‑practice quiz for a 9th‑grade algebra unit (linear equations and systems) plus a separate answer key for the teacher."

3. Designing Classroom Visuals and Diagrams

Produce clear charts, coordinate grids, process diagrams, and labeled visuals to support instruction and student practice.

The Task: Creating visual aids for graphing exercises.
Example Prompt: "Create a blank coordinate grid image for students to plot and label points, plus a teacher version with plotted solutions for projection."

4. Differentiating Instruction Materials

Produce tiered tasks, simplified texts, extension challenges, and scaffolds for multilingual learners or students with IEPs.

The Task: Adapting a history text for diverse reading levels.
Example Prompt: "Write three reading passages on the same historical event at low, on‑grade, and advanced reading levels. Include question sets tailored to each level."

5. Planning Formative Assessment Cycles

Set up quick formative checks, short pre/post assessments, and data‑tracking templates to monitor student progress and inform instruction.

The Task: Mapping out checks for understanding over a two-week period.
Example Prompt: "Design a two‑week formative assessment schedule with quick daily exit tickets, a mid‑unit checkpoint, rubrics for scoring, and a simple data tracker to group students for targeted instruction."

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