How a NYC English Teacher Crafts More Engaging Lessons and Saves Time with AI

Nineteen years into my teaching career, I still love the surprises that come with the job. Originally, I envisioned teaching literature and all these great novels, but I've realized it’s about that and so much more – it’s about teaching kids how to express themselves and understand the impact of their words. The big thing I’m thinking about is how to set up kids with experiences that prepare them for the world beyond where we are now.

I’ve been looking at AI through that lens: How does this open up communication and learning in different ways? Last spring, my school had a professional development day coming up, and I was looking for something hands-on. For me, learning is about experimenting. Google’s Generative AI for Educators course, a manageable two-hour commitment, seemed like the perfect fit.

My entry point into using Gemini was for any idea I have, can I make it better, expand on this, or get another perspective? Over time, my understanding of AI has evolved. It’s become a tool for brainstorming, refining, and even checking the tone of my feedback. It’s a huge time-saver with drafting emails. I’ll give Gemini the key points, and it generates three tailored versions for parents, students, and Google Classroom, saving me around 80% of the usual time. For unit planning and lesson planning, it cuts closer to 20%.

The real value lies in getting out of my own tunnel vision and overcoming writer's block. Being able to have those conversations back and forth with Gemini is so helpful.

For example, I’ll tell Gemini the book we’re focusing on and ask for three lessons on historical context, plus a field trip idea. It provides a potential scope and sequence, which helps me get started.

The shift in how I use AI has been profound. It's no longer about the broad strokes of curriculum design; it’s about those minute-to-minute classroom interactions and how students engage with the material.

I’ve seen a real split in perspectives among educators with how people respond to AI. Some people will focus on catching AI use; others, like me, will ask, ‘how can I use it?’ It’s not until people have actually had time with the tools that we can get into these more nuanced conversations.

My current focus is on how AI can become a natural part of our lives and how we can build a shared understanding of its power and potential because ultimately, it's about preparing our students for a future where AI is woven into the fabric of their daily lives. We need to equip them not just with knowledge, but with the critical thinking skills and adaptability to navigate the world of today and tomorrow.