Lesson planning is one of the most time-consuming tasks teachers face. From designing engaging activities to ensuring lessons meet the needs of all learners, the process can quickly become overwhelming. But what if AI could help?

AI tools are transforming education by streamlining lesson planning, enhancing differentiation, and giving teachers more time to focus on student engagement. If you’ve ever wished you had an extra set of hands to create resources, adapt materials, or personalize instruction, AI might be the tool you need.

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Why Differentiate Lessons?

Not all students learn the same way, yet traditional lesson planning often follows a one-size-fits-all approach. Differentiation is the key to ensuring every student receives the support they need to succeed.

• Differentiating lesson plans allows teachers to:
• Adapt materials for different skill levels.
•  Provide multiple ways for students to engage with content.
• Scaffold instruction for students who need extra support.
• Challenge advanced learners with enrichment opportunities.

The challenge? Differentiation takes time. Creating modified versions of worksheets, adjusting explanations, and tailoring instruction for multiple learning styles can quickly add hours to your prep—unless you have the right tools to help.

How to Differentiate Lesson Plans with AI

AI can simplify differentiation by automating repetitive tasks and helping teachers create customized materials faster. Here are three practical ways AI can support lesson planning and differentiation.

1. Use AI to Generate and Customize Lesson Materials

Creating lesson materials from scratch can be time-consuming, but AI can help generate:

• Warm-up activities tailored to your lesson objectives.
• Practice problems at different difficulty levels.
• Word problems with real-world applications.

💡 Example: Ask AI to create a warm-up for an Algebra 1 lesson on linear equations, and within seconds, you’ll have a set of questions to choose from.

📌 Best practice: AI-generated materials should always be reviewed and tweaked to ensure they align with curriculum goals and classroom needs.

2. Use AI to Scaffold & Adapt for Diverse Learners

Every class has students with different needs, and AI can help you quickly modify content to meet those needs. Whether you need to simplify instructions, adjust reading levels, or present content in a different format, AI can make differentiation easier.

💡 Example:

• Ask AI to rephrase a word problem at an easier reading level.
• Use AI to modify lessons for visual, kinesthetic, or auditory learners.
• Create leveled practice sets—one for struggling learners, one at grade level, and one for advanced students.

📌 Quick Win: Tools like Diffit or Khanmigo can automatically create leveled questions and reading supports for different student needs.

3. Use AI for Immediate Feedback & Student Support

AI-powered tools can provide real-time feedback to students, acting as a learning coach rather than just giving answers. Instead of waiting for a teacher’s response, students can receive hints and step-by-step guidance while working through problems.

💡 Example: AI tools like Brisk, Snorkl, and Khanmigo provide immediate feedback, helping students stay engaged and correct mistakes in real-time.

📌 Best practice: Teach students how to use AI as a learning tool rather than a shortcut for answers.

Using the CRAFT Framework for AI Lesson Planning

To get the best AI-generated materials, it’s important to use clear and structured prompts. That’s where the CRAFT Prompting Framework comes in:

 C – Context: Provide background information (e.g., Algebra 1, differentiation focus).
R – Role: Define the AI’s role (e.g., “Act as a high school math teacher”).
A – Activity/Task: Specify what you need (e.g., “Create a scaffolded lesson”).
F – Format: Indicate the output (e.g., “Provide a warm-up, main lesson, and differentiated practice”).
T – Targets/Takeaways: Set instructional goals (e.g., “Students should be able to solve systems of equations using graphing, substitution, and elimination”).

📌 Example Prompt:
“You are a high school math teacher. Design a differentiated Algebra 1 lesson on solving systems of equations using graphing, substitution, and elimination. Incorporate visual aids and kinesthetic activities. Include a warm-up, a hands-on activity, and differentiated practice. End with a group task where students choose a method to solve a real-world problem and present their solution.”

The Key Takeaway: AI Makes Differentiation & Lesson Planning Easier

AI won’t replace teachers, but it can make lesson planning and differentiation faster and more efficient. By using AI-powered tools, teachers can free up time for student interaction, focus on engagement, and create better learning experiences without feeling overwhelmed.

🚀 Want to start using AI for lesson planning today? Download my AI Tools for Math Teachers Ultimate Cheat Sheet & Guide, where you’ll find:

• Ready-to-use AI prompts tailored for math instruction.
• Step-by-step guidance on using AI for differentiation.
• My CRAFT framework to help you generate better AI responses with less effort.

📩 Click here to download your free AI Tools for Math Teachers Ultimate Cheat Sheet & Guide now!

💬 How are you using AI for lesson planning? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear what’s working for you!

Until next time, keep experimenting, keep using tools that support student learning, and as always, keep it real.