It’s 11:06 a.m., and I walk into my 6th grade classroom just as the bell rings. I pause for a second, just a beat, to take in the landscape of students in front of me. Twenty students sit in small groups around tables, waiting for the day’s project-based learning activity to begin. But what I see isn’t just a number.
Seven of these students are English language learners, still acquiring the skills to read, write, and speak in English. One student is autistic, learning how to pick up on social cues and build confidence in group work. Seven others have individualized education plans (IEPs) for learning disabilities ranging from dyslexia to ADHD. And I have just 40 minutes to teach them all, honor their accommodations, and make sure each one is engaged and supported.
It’s not an easy task, but it’s one I’ve embraced with the help of a powerful partner: artificial intelligence.
Each day, I ask myself: How do I make sure my multilingual learners not only grasp the material but grow in their English fluency? How do I structure activities so my autistic student feels safe and supported in group settings? How do I adapt lessons to meet the specific learning goals and accommodations for students with IEPs, without losing the interest of those working at grade level?
The answer isn’t to work harder, it’s to work smarter. AI tools have become essential to making that possible. They allow me to meet individual needs, even within the constraints of a 40-minute class period.
Take MagicSchool AI. With just a few prompts, I can generate differentiated versions of a reading passage, one tailored to my English learners with simplified vocabulary and embedded glossaries, another modified for students who need extra reading support, and a third version that challenges advanced learners. I can also generate quick-check comprehension questions on the fly, aligned to the same core concept.
Then there’s Diffit, which takes a single topic and produces multiple levels of reading resources with built-in supports. My students can explore the same content in a way that’s accessible to them, and they don’t have to feel singled out or left behind.
For my autistic student, I use AI to create simple social narratives that explain classroom expectations and routines in a visual, student-friendly way. It helps reduce anxiety and builds independence.
All of this used to take me hours. Now it takes minutes. That saved time goes directly back into what matters most: connecting with students, checking in individually, and building the relationships that drive meaningful learning.
The journey didn’t start with expertise. It started with curiosity. I began testing AI tools because I needed something, anything, to help me manage the growing demands of my classroom while still doing right by every student.
Over time, I’ve become not just a user of these tools but a vetter, a tester, and now, an advocate. As a Teach Plus Leading Edge fellow, I’ve had the opportunity to explore the responsible use of AI in K–12 education. I’ve shared tools with colleagues, led trainings, and continued to explore how AI can support, not replace, good teaching.
Now that I’ve seen what’s possible, I honestly can’t imagine teaching without it.
There’s a lot of fear around AI in education, and I understand it. But I believe we’re asking the wrong question. The issue isn’t whether AI will replace teachers, it won’t. The real question is: Will we equip teachers to harness AI in a way that helps them reach every student?
Because here’s what’s true: When AI is used thoughtfully, it becomes a bridge, not a barrier, to equity. It helps students with diverse needs access grade-level content. It allows multilingual learners to grow in both language and confidence. It empowers teachers to do what they came here to do: teach, connect, and inspire.
As I look around my classroom, I don’t see a tech revolution. I see students. I see complexity. I see need. And I see hope.
Because thanks to the right tools, and the right mindset, I’m no longer just keeping up. I’m moving forward. And so are my students.
Jaycie Homer is a sixth grade teacher leader, career and technical education department head and technology mentor at Sixth Grade Academy in Lovington. She is a 2025-2026 Teach Plus Leading Edge Fellow.
