AI in Teaching: Reclaiming your Weekends

by Tracee Keough

Reclaiming Your Weekends: AI in Teaching

I’ve been in the classroom for 17 years. I’ve survived the transition to Common Core, the shift to 1-to-1 iPads, and the whirlwind of hybrid learning. I’ve taught the wiggly, wonderful world of 2nd grade and navigated the high-drama hallways of middle school.

If there is one thing I know to my core, it’s this: We are tired.

Every year, the "to-do" list gets longer, but the clock stays the same. When I first heard about AI, I’ll admit I shrugged my shoulders. I thought, “Great, one more tech tool I’m supposed to master while I’m still trying to unjam the copier.” But then I actually tried it. And for the first time in nearly two decades, I found a tool that didn't ask for more of my time—it actually gave some back. I’m writing this because I want you to have your weekends back, too.

1. Defeating the "Blank Page" Fatigue

Whether it's a newsletter for 4th-grade parents or a complex lab intro for 8th graders, the hardest part is the start. After a full day of "Teacher Brain," sometimes the words just won't come.

• Parent Communication: We’ve all spent 20 minutes "massaging" an email so it doesn't sound too harsh. Now, I just type: "Help me write a kind but firm email to a parent about their child missing three assignments. Mention I'm here to help." It gives me a draft in five seconds, and I just tweak a sentence or two.
• Lesson Hooks: When my energy is low, I ask AI: "I’m teaching long division tomorrow and my 5th graders are bored. Give me three silly 'hooks' involving a pizza party." * The "First Draft" Rule: I’ve learned to let AI be my "intern." It does the grunt work of the first draft, and I use my years of experience to make it actually work for my kids.

2. Differentiation That Doesn't Take All Night

In my early years, differentiating meant staying late at the school copier, manually simplifying texts for my struggling readers. It was exhausting.

Now, tools like Brisk or Gemini are my best friends.

• The Leveler: I can take a high-level article about the Civil War and ask: "Rewrite this for a 4th-grade reading level, but keep the key vocabulary." Boom. Done.
• Instant Scaffolding: For my middle schoolers who struggle to start an essay, I ask the AI to: "Generate three different sentence starters for a persuasive paragraph about school uniforms."
• ELL Support: I can instantly create a vocabulary list with definitions in both English and Spanish for my newcomers, ensuring they aren't left behind while I’m working with another group.

3. Creating Assessments in a Snap

Let’s be honest: writing rubrics and quizzes is the least "inspirational" part of our job.

• The 2-Minute Rubric: Last week, I needed a rubric for a middle school podcast project. I told the AI the three things I wanted to grade (content, audio quality, and teamwork), and it built a beautiful 4-point table for me.
• Quiz Magic: I can paste a story we just read in class and ask: "Give me five multiple-choice questions that check for reading comprehension, plus an answer key." * Exemplars: My students always do better when they see a "perfect" version of an assignment. I’ll ask the AI to write a "Grade A" example of a lab report so I can show the class exactly what I’m looking for.

A Note from Your Coach

Look, I’m not saying we should let robots teach our kids. They could never replace the way you know exactly which student needs a high-five or which one needs a quiet word of encouragement. That’s the "heart" work, and AI can't do that.

But as someone who has been in the trenches with you for 17 years, I see how much you give. AI can't replace you, but it can replace the time you spend on paperwork. Think of it as a way to clear the "busy work" off your plate so you can be the mentor, leader, and inspiration your students need without being completely burnt out.

The "Sanity" Challenge

I want to challenge you this week: Don’t try to be an AI expert. Just pick one thing that usually drains your battery—maybe it's that Friday newsletter, a set of vocabulary sentences, or a rubric you’ve been dreading—and let AI draft it for you.

We’ve given so much of ourselves to our classrooms over the years. It’s okay to let a little tech help us save our sanity. You’ve earned it.