Scenario 1: 

The Reluctant Reader

You have a 9th-grade student with dyslexia and ADHD who refuses to engage with assigned reading materials. They struggle with decoding but love storytelling, history, and hands-on projects. The student is intelligent but frustrated with traditional text-based learning.

Your goal: Develop a strategy to increase their reading engagement and comprehension while maintaining their dignity and enthusiasm for learning.

Scenario 2: 

The Data Dilemma

Your school district has asked all special education teachers to provide monthly progress reports in a visually appealing and easy-to-read format for parents and administrators. The current system involves long, dense documents that few actually read.

Your goal: Design a way to streamline the reporting process while making the data meaningful and accessible to stakeholders.

Scenario 3: 

The IEP Meeting from Hell

You're preparing for an IEP meeting where the general education teacher and the parent are at odds. The parent feels their child isn't receiving enough support, while the teacher believes the student is doing fine. Emotions are running high, and you need to keep the meeting productive and focused on the student's success.

Your goal: Develop a strategy to de-escalate tension, present objective information, and guide the team toward a collaborative solution.

Scenario 4: 

The Professional Development Nightmare

Your administrator has asked you to lead a professional development session on differentiation, but your audience consists of veteran teachers who believe they’ve “heard it all before.” They’re disengaged, skeptical, and resistant to new approaches.

Your goal: Plan a session that re-engages these educators, challenges their thinking, and provides practical takeaways they’ll actually use.

Scenario 5: 

The Transition Trap

A 17-year-old student with autism is nearing graduation but lacks a clear post-school plan. They have strengths in art and technology but struggle with executive functioning and social skills. Their family is unsure of the next steps, and the student is overwhelmed by options.

Your goal: Create a framework that supports the student in identifying a meaningful postsecondary pathway while building the skills necessary for success.

Scenario 6: 

The Group Work Gauntlet

You have a group of students with a wide range of needs, including ADHD, autism, and anxiety, who struggle with collaborative work. Some dominate the conversation, others withdraw, and a few disengage entirely. The general education teacher insists that group work is an essential skill, but the current structure isn’t working for these students.

Your goal: Develop a way to make group work equitable, meaningful, and accessible for all students while building their collaboration skills in a way that respects their individual needs.

Scenario 7: 

The Paraprofessional Puzzle

You are working with a paraprofessional who is well-intentioned but struggles to support students in a way that fosters independence. They often provide too much assistance, making students reliant rather than empowered. You need to coach them effectively without making them feel criticized or undervalued.

Your goal: Create a strategy to help the paraprofessional shift their approach to promoting student autonomy while maintaining a strong collaborative relationship.

Scenario 8: 

The Behavior Breakthrough

You have a middle school student with emotional regulation challenges who frequently disrupts class. Traditional behavior plans haven’t worked, and punitive measures only escalate the situation. The student responds well to technology and creative expression but struggles with impulse control and social interactions.

Your goal: Design an approach that helps the student develop self-regulation skills while maintaining their dignity, keeping them engaged in learning, and minimizing classroom disruptions.

Step 1: 

Identify Your Goal

Ask yourself:

 What do I need help with?

Generating text (writing, summarizing, brainstorming, etc.) → 

Choose ChatGPT, Gemini, or NotebookLM

Creating visual content (graphics, worksheets, presentations, etc.) → 

Choose Canva

Structuring learning resources (interactive books, lesson plans, etc.) → 

Choose Book Creator

Finding AI-powered teaching resources (quizzes, lesson plans, IEP support) →

Choose Magic School AI

Step 2: 

Define Your Task Type

What kind of task do you need the AI to do?

Writing & Editing →  ChatGPT, Gemini, NotebookLM

Examples: “Rewrite this passage at a 5th-grade reading level.”

Visual Design →   Canva

Examples: “Create a graphic organizer for a reading lesson.”

Interactive Learning Materials →   Book Creator

Examples: “Design an interactive book for beginner-level math.”

Education-Specific AI Support →   Magic School AI

Examples: “Generate a behavior intervention plan for a 4th grader with ADHD.”

Step 3: 

Craft Your Prompt

Good prompts are clear, specific, and provide context.

Basic Formula:

Role: Who is the AI acting as? (“You are an instructional designer…”)

Task: What do you want it to do? (“Create a visual lesson plan…”)

Details: Any specific requirements? (“For middle school students, aligned with UDL principles…”)

Output Format: What should the result look like? (“A one-page summary with key points.”)

Example Prompts:

ChatGPT/Gemini: “You are a special education teacher. Draft a parent-friendly IEP goal for a student with executive functioning challenges.”

Canva: “Create a visually engaging social story about taking turns for kindergarteners.”

NotebookLM: “Summarize my notes on student engagement strategies into a professional development outline.”

Book Creator: “Design an interactive book to teach 3rd graders about fractions with real-world examples.”

Magic School AI: “Generate a standards-aligned lesson plan on self-advocacy for high school students with disabilities.”

Step 4: 

Refine & Iterate

If the output isn’t quite right, tweak the prompt:

Too vague? 

Add more detail.

Too complex? 

Simplify instructions.

Not what you expected? 

Clarify the desired format.

Example Refinement:

❌ “Create a lesson on growth mindset.”

✅ “Create a 30-minute lesson plan on growth mindset for 6th graders, including an engaging warm-up activity, a short discussion, and a reflection worksheet.”