In this post and episode, we’re exploring the Top 15+ AI Tools for Teachers that actually help you work smarter, not harder. These tools are designed to support lesson planning, differentiation, student engagement, and communication—so you can focus on what matters most: your students.
Teachers are juggling more than ever. While AI can be overwhelming at first glance, the right tools can help you save time, reduce burnout, and bring new energy to your classroom. In this episode, I cut through the noise and highlight teacher-facing tools you can trust.
This is Part 3 in the “Back-to-School with AI” Series! Catch up here.
Listen to this podcast episode:
This episode is sponsored by Solution Tree.
Instead of one-size-fits-all solutions, Solution Tree programs are tailored to each individual school’s needs, blending in-person and virtual coaching and guidance as well as literature and EdTech. All their methods are designed and delivered by real educators, who bring their experience to whatever challenges you and your school are facing. From raising student proficiency to improving behavioral intervention strategies, Solution Tree has been helping schools reach their potential for over 25 years. You can see success stories from schools around the country, or see what they can do for yours!
➡️ Visit SolutionTree.com/ShakeUpLearning to learn more
15+ AI Tools for Teachers
These are my top recommended platforms for saving time, customizing content, and streamlining your teaching workflow. These are listed in no particular order.
| Tool | Free or Paid | Why Try It? |
|---|---|---|
| MagicSchool.ai | Free + paid tiers | All-in-one teacher assistant for lessons, rubrics, IEPs, emails, and more |
| Google Gemini for Education | Free (Google Workspace for Ed) | Built into Classroom, Docs, Forms, Gmail, and more |
| Khanmigo | Free in many regions | AI tutor and teacher assistant rolled into one |
| Brisk Teaching | Free & paid | Chrome extension for leveling texts, scaffolds, feedback, and more |
| TeachAid | Free & paid | Free AI-powered lesson planner that generates full units, activities, and assessments customized to your standards and students. |
| Eduaide.ai | Free (15 gens/mo), Pro $5.99/mo | Creates games, organizers, questions, and lesson supports |
| ChatGPT | Free (GPT-3.5), GPT-4 paid | Better Q&A for students; deeper thinking prompts |
| Grammarly | Free & Pro | Grammar, tone, and feedback with academic integrity tools |
| Quizlet Q-Chat | Free & Plus ($34/year) | AI tutor built into flashcard sets—great for practice and study |
| Claude | Free & Paid | Powerful, natural language prompting—great for deeper learning projects |
| School AI | Free for Teachers | AI-powered student reflection spaces, journaling bots, and teacher-facing tools for classroom support |
| Education Copilot | Free trial + paid | Generates full lessons, PPTs, reports, and assessments |
| Curipod | Free + upgrades | Build an interactive slide deck from a single prompt in seconds |
| Parlay | Freemium | Creates discussion-based lessons from text or video |
| Quizizz / Wayground | Free + paid | Engaging quizzes and student tracking tied to standards |
| Canva AI / Magic Write | Free for Teachers | Design smarter—AI-powered slides, worksheets, and visuals |
| Diffit | Free & Pro | Instantly modifies text for grade level, format, and subject |
| NotebookLM | Free | Research tool powered by Gemini—summarize and synthesize multiple sources |
| Microsoft Copilot | Included in M365 for Education | Built into Word, PowerPoint, and Teams—summarizes, creates slides, and writes emails |
Google AI Tools
In the podcast episode, I go into a little more detail about what Google is doing to embed AI into your favorite Google tools. (Listen to the episode to get the full scoop!)
If you’d like a full episode dedicated to all the Google Gemini in Education things, please let me know!
Below are some resources and links that I mentioned about the Google rollout:
- AI in Google Docs
- Gemini in Google Classroom and here
- Google’s Generative AI for Educators Course
- AI for Education
New to AI? Start Here…
If you’re overwhelmed by options, start here:
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MagicSchool.ai – Great for nearly every teacher task.
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Google Gemini – Seamless AI built into tools you already use.
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Brisk Teaching – Easy-to-use Chrome extensions that works where you work!
These tools are especially helpful if you’re short on time (so… all of us, right?).
*Related: Back to School with AI: The Teacher’s Guide
PD + Resources to Go Deeper
Looking to get more from AI this year? Start here:
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📄 Grab the AI Prompt Cheat Sheets (elementary + secondary)
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🛍️ Check out the Back to School Sale on our ALL ACCESS Membership—save big before Sept. 6!
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📚 New! Join our Teacher Book Club (included in All Access). We’re starting with Uncommon Sense Teaching.
Choose What Works for YOU
You don’t have to master all 15 tools. You don’t even need to try them all at once. But the right one—used well—can save you hours every week and help you teach with more clarity, confidence, and creativity.
Let these Top 15+ AI Tools for Teachers serve your mission—not distract from it.
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