From: TCEA and Educators Technology  (click here for full list of AI tools to try) 

1. NotebookLM

If you haven’t tried NotebookLM yet, I really think you should. It’s like having a research assistant right inside your notes. You upload your teaching materials, lesson plans, PDFs, docs, and then ask it questions about them or have it summarize, generate outlines, or even quiz questions. It’s especially helpful when you’re juggling multiple units or prepping for new content. It helps you keep things coherent without having to reread everything ten times.

2. Otter AI

For those of you who sit through long meetings or record lectures, Otter AI is a game-changer. It transcribes everything in real time and even identifies speakers. You can go back, highlight, comment, and pull quotes without relistening to hours of audio.

3. ChatGPT / Claude

I use these two almost daily. Whether you’re drafting emails, creating comprehension questions, writing rubrics, or just trying to brainstorm creative tasks, ChatGPT and Claude are incredibly helpful. You just need to give them the right prompt and they’ll give you something you can build on. I argue that they’re not here to replace our thinking but to speed up all the tasks that keep us from focusing on actual teaching.

4. MagicSchool

MagicSchool is built for educators, so it speaks our language. You can generate IEP goals, write parent letters, build scaffolds, and even create lesson plans in minutes. What I like about it is that it’s specific to school needs, not some generic AI tool that needs tons of context. You pick the task, type in your subject and grade, and it gets to work.

5. Canva

For those of you who think you’re not “design people,” Canva proves you wrong. It’s my go-to for slides, posters, worksheets, newsletters you name it. And now with AI features like Magic Write and Magic Design, it’s even easier to go from idea to visual without wasting hours tweaking fonts and colors. It’s simple, intuitive, and honestly a lifesaver when you’re short on prep time.