Description
Reclaim your planning time and energize your math instruction with AI strategies that work for you
If you’re ready to feel energized about what AI can do for your teaching, this book is for you. Dr. Nicki Newton invites you to see AI not as a trend to survive, but as a powerful partner in your classroom. Dr. Nicki is here to show you that AI isn′t about replacing teachers; it′s about empowering them. This practical guide tackles the real-world challenges of grades 3–5 math instruction—like differentiating for neurodiverse learners or making fractions actually fun—and shows you how Generative AI can do the heavy lifting, giving you back the time to focus on what matters: building relationships with your students and fostering a love for math.
With her signature warmth and humor, Dr. Nicki delivers a guide packed with activity ideas, models, and practice opportunities for effectively prompting AI for what you need, including:
- A process for crafting fruitful AI prompts to quickly generate the exact thing you need for class the next day
- Actionable strategies and models for using AI to create tiered activities and culturally relevant word problems for all learners
- Clear guidance on the ethical and responsible use of AI, including how to navigate algorithmic bias and privacy concerns
- Interactive activities and reflective questions to help you practice every bit of what you′re learning right away, across AI platforms, for any early math content
This book will empower you to work smarter, not harder. You′ll learn how to use AI as your personal assistant, creating more engaging, personalized, and equitable learning experiences that will benefit every student in your classroom.
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter 1: AI 101: Not Just for Sci-Fi Anymore
What AI Is?.?.?.?and What It Definitely Isn’t
What Is ChatGPT?
Is It All Fun and Games? Some Sobering Second Thoughts
AI Myths Bustin’ Time
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk
Key Takeaways
Action Planning Questions
Individual Focus
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion
Actionable Next Steps
Chapter 2: Mastering the Basics: Prompting AI Effectively
What Is SCRIPT Prompting?
Practicing How to Specify
Model Round: Specify
Prompt Starters: Specify
Practice Round: Specify
Practicing Describing Context
Model Round: Context
Prompt Starters: Context
Practice Round: Context
Practicing Describing the Role
Model Round: Role
Prompt Starters: Role
Practice Round: Role
Practicing Iterating
Model Round: Iterating
Prompt Starters: Iterating
Practice Round: Iterating
Practicing Setting Parameters
Model Round: Parameters
Prompt Starters: Parameters
Practice Round: Parameters
Practicing Perfecting Tone
Model Round: Practicing Perfecting Tone
Prompt Starters: Tone
Practice Round: Tone
Putting the SCRIPT Together
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk
Key Takeaways
Action Planning Questions
Individual Focus
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion
Actionable Next Steps
Chapter 3: AI Tools That Won’t Make You Want to Throw Your Computer
Why AI Tools Matter in Grades 3–5 Math
Enhancement #1: Claude Sonnet 4 AI—Planning, Differentiation, and Prompt Support
Model Round: Claude Sonnet 4 AI
Practice Round: Try Claude Sonnet 4 AI
AI Enhancement #2: ChatGPT, Nano Banana, and Freepik for Generating Pictures and Creating Textual Content
Model Round: ChatGPT
Practice Round: Try ChatGPT or Nano Banana
AI Enhancement #3: Diffit AI—Seamless Math and Literacy Integration
Model Round: Diffit
Practice Round: Diffit AI
AI Enhancement #4: EduaideAI—Instant Interactive Lessons
Model Round: Eduaide.AI
Practice Round: Eduaide.AI
AI Enhancement #5: Canva—Custom Visuals, Games, and Resources
Model Round: Canva
Practice Round: Canva
“What’s Free?” vs. “Wait, I Have to Pay for That?”
Free and Fabulous
Worth Paying For (If You Can Swing It)
Not Worth It (IMHO)
Key Considerations
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk
Key Takeaways
Action Planning Questions
Individual Reflection
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion
Actionable Next Steps
Chapter 4: Collaborative Lesson Planning: AI as Your Co-Planner
Why Lesson Planning Matters
AI Enhancement #1: Lesson Planning in Seconds
Model Round: Lesson Planning
Practice Round: Lesson Planning
AI Enhancement #2: Instant Workstations
Model Round: Instant Workstations
Practice Round: Instant Workstations
AI Enhancement #3: Questioning That Sparks Math Talk
Model Round: Questioning
Model Round: Deeper Questioning
Practice Round: Deeper Questioning
AI Enhancement #4: Planning for Multilingual Learners
Model Round: Questioning for Multilingual Learners
Practice Round: Questioning for Multilingual Learners
AI Enhancement #5: Brain Breaks With a Purpose
Model Round: Brain Breaks
Practice Round: Brain Breaks
Reflect, Remix, Repeat
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk
Key Takeaways
Action Planning Questions
Individual Focus
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion
Actionable Next Steps
Chapter 5: Transforming Place Value Instruction With AI Tools
AI Enhancement #1: Place–Value Palace for Adding Fluently Within 1,000
Model Round: Place–Value Palace
Practice Round: Place–Value Palace
AI Enhancement #2: Telling Interactive Pizza Stories to Teach Multiplication
Model Round: Telling Interactive Pizza Stories to Teach Multiplication
Practice Round: Telling Interactive Pizza Stories to Teach Multiplication
AI Enhancement #3: Division Detective for Finding Whole-Number Quotients
Model Round: Division Detective
Practice Round: Division Detective
AI Enhancement #4: Auction House Game for Practicing Rounding
Model Round: Auction House
Practice Round: Auction House
AI Enhancement #5 Decimal Olympics for Comparing Decimals
Model Round: Decimal Olympics
Practice Round: Decimal Olympics
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk
Key Takeaways
Action Planning Questions
Individual Reflection
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion
Actionable Next Steps
Chapter 6: Fractions, Fun and AI Magic
Why Fractions Matter in Grades 3–5
AI Enhancement #1: Math Skits to See Equivalent Fractions as the Same Whole
Model Round: Math Skits
Practice Round: Math Skits
AI Enhancement #2: Thinking Energizers for Comparing Fractions
Model Round: Thinking Energizers
Practice Round: Thinking Energizers
AI Enhancement #3: Riddles to Make It Make Sense
Model Round: Riddles
Practice Round: Riddles
AI Enhancement #4: Visual Flashcards for Working With Fractions
Model Round: Visual Flash Cards
Practice Round: Visual Flashcards
AI Enhancement #5: Fraction Detectives on the Number Line
Model Round: Fraction Detectives
Practice Round: Fraction Detectives
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk
Key Takeaways
Action Planning Questions
Individual Reflection
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion
Actionable Next Steps
Chapter 7: Measurement Mastery With an AI Edge
Why Measurement Matters in Grades 3–5
Enhancement #1: Story Scenarios to Teach Elapsed Time
Model Round: Story Scenarios
Practice Round: Story Scenarios
AI Enhancement #2: AI-Generated Riddles for Teaching Measurement
Model Round: AI-Generated Riddles
Practice Round: AI-Generated Riddles
AI Enhancement #3: Puzzles With Pizzazz for Conversions Within Systems
Model Round: Puzzles With Pizzazz
Practice Round: Puzzles with Pizzaz
AI Enhancement #4: Hands-On Learning to Bring Volume to Life
The Case for Hands-On Chaos
Model Round: Hands-On Measurement
Practice Round: Hands-On Measurement
AI Enhancement #5: Detective Activities for Learning Angles
Model Round: Detective Activities
Practice Round: Detective Activities
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk
Key Takeaways
Action Planning Questions
Individual Reflection
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion
Actionable Next Steps
Chapter 8: Ethical AI Use
Privacy Is Dead (and AI Killed It)
Protecting Student Voice and Privacy
Recognizing and Addressing AI Bias
Helping Students Think Critically About AI
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk
Key Takeaways
Action Planning Questions
Individual Reflection
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion
Actionable Next Steps
Chapter 9: You’re Now the AI Whisperer
Celebrate Your AI Wins—Even the Tiny Ones
Confidence Comes With Clicks
What AI Can’t Replace
Stay Current (Without Losing Your Mind)
Create Your Personal AI Next Steps Plan
Find Your People
Explaining AI to Your Colleagues
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk
Key Takeaways
Action Planning Questions
Individual Focus
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion
Actionable Next Steps
References
Index
