Finding time to create engaging materials while managing everything else can feel impossible. AI tools can give teachers back precious time while also making it easier to differentiate instruction and scaffold academic language for multilingual learners. I’ve been using three AI platforms regularly: Magic School AI, Khanmigo, and Eduaide AI. Here’s what makes each one valuable.
Magic School AI: An All-in-One Planning Tool
Magic School AI offers dozens of features, but I use three consistently: the worksheet generator, the multiple choice quiz creator, and the informational text builder. I typically create a short reading passage using the informational text feature, then use that same passage to generate a multiple-choice assessment. The informational text tool lets you adjust reading levels and vocabulary complexity, which makes it easy to create different versions that support students at various stages of language development. I copy both into a Schoology discussion thread so students can complete the work online and revisit it later.
Pro tip: Use the setting that requires students to post before seeing others’ responses to ensure they read the text first.
The lesson plan generator is another time-saver. Just input your grade level, topic, and any specific criteria. You can even upload previous lesson plans to update them quickly.
Khanmigo: Simplicity for AI Newcomers
Khanmigo offers similar capabilities to Magic School AI but with fewer features. If you’re new to AI tools, this streamlined interface prevents overwhelm. You get the core features teachers need without navigating dozens of options.
Eduaide AI: Visual Learning and Scaffolding Support
Eduaide AI excels at graphic organizers and scaffolding strategies. The graphic organizer feature offers templates for subjects like science and social studies, which is great for multilingual learners who benefit from visual support. The “lesson seed” feature creates comprehensive lesson plans (remember to include grade level). What really stands out is the prior knowledge and scaffolding feature. It identifies what students should know before you teach a concept AND suggests concrete scaffolding strategies. For example, when planning a lesson on Newton’s First Law, Eduaide suggested starting with a discussion about sports, then bridging to forces and inertia. This bridges students’ conversational language skills with the academic language demands of content like physics. According to researcher Jim Cummins, students develop conversational fluency (BICS) in 1-3 years, but academic language proficiency (CALP) takes 5-7 years or more.
Finding Your Fit
These tools help you create differentiated materials that meet students where they are in their language development journey. I often use them as a starting point and refine the materials to support my students better. Magic School AI works for comprehensive, multi-level resources. Khanmigo offers simplicity. Eduaide shines for scaffolding and visual organization. Most platforms offer free trials, so start with one that addresses your most pressing need and see how it fits your workflow.
Additional Classroom Resources
If you are looking for ready-to-use materials that support scaffolded reading and academic language development, I’ve created free classroom resources for teachers working with multilingual learners. They include short reading passages with comprehension questions and sentence stems designed to help students engage with content while developing academic language. You can explore these resources on my Teachers Pay Teachers page.
References:
Cummins, J. (2008). BICS and CALP: Empirical and theoretical status of the distinction. In B. Street & N. H. Hornberger (Eds.), Encyclopedia of language and education (2nd ed., Vol. 2, pp. 71-83). Springer.
Resources:
- Magic School AI: https://www.magicschool.ai
- Khanmigo: https://www.khanmigo.ai
- Eduaide AI: https://www.eduaide.ai