AI for teachers: a practical getting started guide
James
Co-founder of Smash Your AI - 18 years in education, now helping businesses and individuals get real results from AI.
I spent 18 years in education. I know exactly how little free time teachers have. Between lesson planning, marking, reports, emails, meetings, and actually teaching, there is barely a minute left in the day.
That is exactly why AI is such a game-changer for the profession. Not because it replaces teachers. It absolutely does not. But because it can take hours of admin and preparation work and compress it into minutes.
I have run AI workshops for school staff and the reaction is always the same. Scepticism at the start, genuine excitement by the end. Once teachers see what AI can do for them in practice, they immediately see the potential.
This guide covers ten practical things you can start using AI for right now, with example prompts you can copy and paste. No technical knowledge required.
1. Lesson planning
This is the big one. AI can generate a full lesson plan in under a minute. It will not be perfect, and you will absolutely want to tweak it, but it gives you an excellent starting point instead of a blank page.
Example prompt:
"Create a one-hour lesson plan for a Year 9 class on the causes of World War One. Include a starter activity, main teaching content, a group activity, and a plenary. The class is mixed ability with some students on the SEN register who need scaffolded support. Include differentiation suggestions."
The more detail you give it about your class, the specification you are following, and your teaching style, the better the output. I always recommend telling it the exam board and year group at minimum.
2. Differentiation
Creating differentiated resources is one of the most time-consuming parts of teaching. AI makes it dramatically faster. You can take an existing resource and ask it to create multiple versions in seconds.
Example prompt:
"Here is a worksheet I have created for my top set Year 10 science class. [Paste worksheet content.] Create two additional versions: one for a middle ability group that simplifies the language and adds sentence starters, and one for lower ability students that includes word banks and partially completed answers."
This used to take me 30 to 45 minutes per resource. With AI, it takes about two minutes plus a quick review.
3. Marking and feedback
Let me be clear. AI should not replace your professional judgement when marking. But it can help you write feedback comments faster, especially for formative assessment where you are giving developmental feedback.
Example prompt:
"I am marking a GCSE English Language Paper 1 Question 5 response. The student has written a descriptive piece about a storm. They use some good vocabulary but their sentence structures are repetitive and they have not used paragraphs effectively. Write three specific, encouraging feedback comments that identify what they did well and give clear targets for improvement. Use student-friendly language suitable for a Year 10 student."
You still need to read the student's work yourself. But having AI draft the feedback comment saves you from writing the same developmental points over and over for 30 students.
4. Report writing
If there is one task that every teacher dreads, it is writing reports. Especially when you teach 200 students and need to write something individual for each one. AI will not write a fully personalised report without your input, but it can generate a solid first draft from bullet points.
Example prompt:
"Write a school report comment for a Year 8 student in computer science. Key points: strong understanding of computational thinking, excellent in practical programming tasks, needs to improve written explanations in theory work, always contributes well in class discussions. Keep it to 3-4 sentences, professional but warm. Use the student's name: Alex."
Some teachers I have worked with have cut their report writing time by 60% or more using this approach. The trick is to jot down three or four key points per student, then let AI turn those into polished sentences.
5. Email drafting
Teachers send a lot of emails. To parents, to colleagues, to senior leadership. Many of these are sensitive and need careful wording. AI is excellent at drafting professional, thoughtful emails quickly.
Example prompt:
"Draft a professional but empathetic email to a parent whose child has been consistently late to my lessons. This is the second time I am raising the issue. I want to be firm but not confrontational. I would like to suggest a meeting to discuss how we can work together. Sign off as Mr Smith, Head of Year 9."
This is especially useful for those tricky emails where you stare at the screen for ten minutes trying to find the right tone. AI gives you a starting point and you adjust from there.
6. Resource creation
Need a reading comprehension? A cloze exercise? A card sort? A set of revision flashcards? AI can create these in seconds.
Example prompt:
"Create a set of 15 revision flashcards for AQA GCSE Biology Topic 4: Bioenergetics. Each card should have a question on one side and a concise answer on the other. Include a mix of definition questions, process questions, and application questions. Make sure the content is accurate to the AQA specification."
Always check the accuracy of AI-generated subject content. I will come to that in more detail later. But as a time-saver for creating the structure and format of resources, it is hard to beat.
We run AI workshops for school staff
Our AI in a Day training is designed specifically for education. Your staff will leave with practical skills they can use the very next day. Half-day and full-day options available.
Find out more7. Quiz generation
Need a quick starter quiz? A set of multiple choice questions for revision? AI is incredibly fast at this.
Example prompt:
"Create a 10-question multiple choice quiz on the topic of fractions for a Year 7 maths class. Include 4 options for each question with one correct answer. Start with easier questions and increase difficulty. Include the answer key at the end."
You can also ask it to generate questions at specific difficulty levels, in specific formats (short answer, extended writing, true/false), or targeting specific misconceptions. The more specific you are, the more useful the output.
8. Parent communication
Beyond individual emails, AI can help you draft letters, newsletters, and communications that go out to whole year groups or the entire parent body.
Example prompt:
"Write a letter to Year 11 parents about the upcoming mock exams. Include key dates (mocks start 15 January, results issued 2 February), revision tips for students, information about the revision timetable on the school website, and encouragement. Keep the tone supportive and professional. The letter is from the Head of Year 11, Mrs Johnson."
9. CPD and professional development
AI can help with your own learning too. You can use it to summarise educational research papers, explain new pedagogical approaches, or help you prepare for interviews and professional conversations.
Example prompt:
"Summarise the key principles of Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction in plain English. For each principle, give me one practical example of how I could apply it in a secondary school computer science lesson."
10. SEN support
AI can help you adapt materials for students with specific needs much faster. Whether it is simplifying language, creating visual aids, or generating social stories, it can save the SENCO and class teachers significant time.
Example prompt:
"I have a student with dyslexia in my Year 8 English class. Rewrite the following passage using shorter sentences, simpler vocabulary, and clear paragraph breaks. Keep the same meaning and key content but make it more accessible. [Paste original text.]"
Which AI tools are best for teachers?
You do not need to spend any money. Here are three completely free tools that every teacher should know about.
ChatGPT (free)
The best all-rounder. Good at everything from lesson planning to resource creation to email drafting. Go to chat.openai.com and sign up. You will be using it within two minutes.
Gemini in Google Workspace
If your school uses Google Workspace for Education, you may already have access to Gemini built into Docs, Sheets, and Gmail. Check with your IT department. This is incredibly useful because it works right where you already are.
NotebookLM (by Google)
A brilliant free tool that lets you upload documents and then ask questions about them. Upload a specification, a textbook chapter, or exam papers, and it will help you create resources based on that specific content. Read our full NotebookLM guide for more detail.
An AI tutor built specifically for GCSE and A Level
This is something I am particularly proud of. We built Smash Your Revision, a free AI-powered revision tutor designed specifically for UK students and teachers.
Unlike generic AI tools, Smash Your Revision is trained on actual exam board specifications. Students select their subject and exam board (OCR, AQA, or Edexcel), and the AI tutor helps them revise topic by topic, with exam-style question practice and mark scheme feedback built in.
What makes it different from just using ChatGPT:
- Specification-aligned content. Every response is tied to the actual spec points students need to know. No irrelevant tangents.
- Exam question practice. Students can practise exam-style questions and get feedback based on real mark schemes, including exam technique guidance.
- Progress tracking by spec point. Students (and teachers) can see exactly which areas of the specification have been covered and where the gaps are.
- Teacher mode. Teachers get tools for lesson planning, resource creation, task differentiation, and class management, all aligned to the specification.
It currently covers Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, English Literature, and English Language at GCSE level. And it is completely free to use.
I built it because I kept seeing students using ChatGPT for revision and getting generic, sometimes inaccurate answers that were not aligned to their exam board. A Year 11 student revising for AQA Biology does not need a general explanation of photosynthesis. They need the specific detail that AQA will test them on, in the format their exam will use. That is what Smash Your Revision delivers.
If you are a teacher, I would encourage you to try it yourself at smashyourrevision.com and consider recommending it to your students. It works particularly well as a homework or independent revision tool alongside your classroom teaching.
Privacy and safeguarding
This is important, so please read this section carefully.
Do not put student names, personal data, or any identifiable information into AI tools. Use generic names or descriptions instead. "A Year 9 student who is struggling with algebra" is fine. "John Smith in 9B who has an EHCP" is not.
Most AI tools process your inputs on external servers and may use them for training. Your school's data protection policy almost certainly prohibits sharing student data with third-party services without proper agreements in place.
Some practical rules to follow:
- Never enter real student names. Use placeholder names or initials.
- Never paste in confidential information from IEPs, EHCPs, or safeguarding records.
- Check your school's AI policy before using any tools. If there is not one yet, suggest creating one.
- If your school has a data processing agreement with Google Workspace, Gemini within that ecosystem may be the safest option.
When I run workshops for schools, privacy is always the first thing we cover. It is non-negotiable. AI is incredibly useful, but not at the expense of student safety.
But is this not cheating?
I get this question in every single workshop. And I understand the concern. If we tell students not to use AI to do their homework, is it hypocritical for teachers to use AI for their work?
No. And here is why.
The reason we want students to do their own work is because the process of doing it is how they learn. A student who gets AI to write their essay has not learned how to write an essay.
But a teacher who uses AI to draft a parent letter has not skipped any learning. They already know how to write a letter. They are just doing it faster so they have more time for the things that actually matter, like planning engaging lessons and supporting their students.
AI is a productivity tool for teachers, not a shortcut around professional expertise. You still need to check everything it produces. You still need to apply your professional judgement. You still need to know your students, your subject, and your curriculum. AI just takes some of the time-consuming admin off your plate.
Think of it like a calculator. We do not let Year 7 students use calculators in a mental maths test because we want them to learn the skill. But we absolutely expect adults to use calculators for their tax returns. The tool is the same. The context is different.
One important warning: always check the facts
AI can and does get things wrong. I once used AI to generate exam revision content and it confidently cited a specification point that did not exist. It looked completely plausible. If I had not checked, students would have been revising something that was never going to come up.
Always verify subject-specific content against the specification or textbook. AI is excellent at generating structure, format, and language. But it can hallucinate facts, especially in niche subject areas. Use it as a starting point, not a final authority.
For more on this, read our guide on how to tell when AI is wrong.
Where to start
If you have read this far and you are thinking "okay, I want to try this", here is what I suggest.
- Go to chat.openai.com and create a free account. It takes two minutes.
- Pick one task from this article. Just one. Maybe drafting a parent email or creating a quiz.
- Copy one of the example prompts above, adapt it for your subject and year group, and try it.
- See what comes out. Edit it. Refine it. Get a feel for what AI can do.
- Try one new task per week. Within a month, you will have AI working for you across multiple areas.
The teachers who get the most from AI are not tech experts. They are the ones who start small, stay consistent, and gradually build it into their workflow. You do not need to revolutionise your practice overnight. Just save yourself 20 minutes this week. Then next week, save 20 more.
If your school would like a structured introduction to AI for your staff, get in touch. We run practical, hands-on workshops where teachers work on their own real tasks, not generic examples. It is the fastest way to get your whole team up to speed.