“Wait… did ChatGPT write this?”
That’s the question one of my high school students whispered as I passed back an eerily polished essay.
Whether we like it or not, AI has officially entered the chat—and the classroom. Man, did it smash its way into my classroom last year in the form of research papers, home learning assignments, and even those assignments that asked for student opinions. 🙂 I mean, really?
So, what does that mean for us? Is AI here to help? Hurt? Replace us?! (Breathe, teacher friend—it’s not.) Let’s explore how artificial intelligence is transforming education, and how we can use it without losing ourselves—or our students—in the process.
🔍 The Good: How AI Can Help Teachers
AI isn’t just about essay bots and grammar fixes—it’s evolving into a classroom assistant.
Here’s how it’s working for us:
- Lesson planning in a pinch: Need bell ringers? Exit tickets? Literary analysis questions for Of Mice and Men? Tools like ChatGPT, MagicSchool, and Curipod generate ideas and templates in seconds.
- Individualized learning: AI tools can adapt content for struggling readers, ESE students, or English Language Learners.
- Feedback faster: Some teachers are using AI to generate writing feedback drafts or rubric comments to save time.
Teacher example:
“I used ChatGPT to create three reading comprehension questions at different Lexile levels for the same article. My inclusion students were so much more engaged,” said Ms. Jensen, a middle school ELA teacher in Florida.
⚠️ The Bad: Where It Gets Tricky
AI’s presence also introduces some serious concerns.
- Plagiarism or poor learning?
Students can now outsource an entire essay in seconds—and some do. But it’s not always malicious. Some are just overwhelmed, burned out, or unsure of how to begin. - Equity issues:
Not all students have equal access to AI tools at home. Plus, some parents are uncomfortable with their child’s assignments being filtered through AI apps. - Skill gaps:
Relying too much on AI can stunt creativity, voice, and critical thinking—especially in writing-heavy subjects like English.
Student quote:
“It’s not that I wanted to cheat. I just couldn’t figure out how to start the essay and got stuck,” said Jordan, a 10th grader.
“So I typed in the prompt and copied the intro.”
🧠 The Gray Area: It’s All About How We Use It
AI isn’t inherently good or evil—it’s a tool. Just like calculators didn’t destroy math, AI won’t destroy writing, but we need to guide how it’s used.
Here are some ideas:
✅ TEACH AI LITERACY
- Show students how to evaluate AI responses.
- Ask them to edit, improve, or challenge an AI-generated paragraph.
✅ ASSIGNMENTS THAT CAN’T BE OUTSOURCED
- Ask for annotated thinking, drafts, audio reflections, or process journals.
- Build in checkpoints where students explain their choices.
✅ CONVERSATIONS OVER CONDEMNATION
- When a student uses AI, ask why. Use it as a teachable moment, not just a disciplinary one.
Parent quote:
“I didn’t even realize my daughter was using AI until her teacher brought it up. We had a great talk about integrity and effort—and it turned into a really honest moment for us,” shared Mrs. Baker, a parent of a high school junior.
🌟 Final Thought: AI Doesn’t Replace You—It Reinforces You
Let’s face it: there’s no substitute for a real, thinking, empathetic educator. But just like we teach students to use sources wisely, we can teach them to use AI ethically and thoughtfully too.
And maybe—just maybe—our jobs will get a little easier in the process.
Want some free editable AI Literacy Bell Ringers and Sentence Starters?
🎁 [CLICK HERE to get your free download + teaching tips!]
The Angry Teacher 
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