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AI for teachers: adapt one lesson for three reading levels

Create differentiated reading material and a first draft of an assessment rubric, then check the facts and make the final decisions yourself.

Practice this skill
Read first: Write an AI request that gives you a useful draft
Estimated time
About 10 min
Contents
  1. Prepare Monday’s differentiated assignment tonight
  2. Try it for the first time in about ten minutes
  3. Use the same approach to prepare assessment and feedback
  4. Check before using the text
  5. Once you know the basics

Prepare Monday’s differentiated assignment tonight

It is Sunday evening, and tomorrow you have a fifth-grade environmental studies lesson. The topic is pollinators, but reading skills vary widely across the class: some students read longer texts with ease, while others need a shorter, clearer version to access the same content. AI can turn one text into three reading levels in a few minutes.

Today’s goal

Adapt one topic for three reading levels and create a first draft of an assessment rubric.

Try it for the first time in about ten minutes

  1. 1

    Choose a topic and write a short fact base

    Choose a topic the whole class is studying at the same time—in this case, pollinators. Write a few sentences of basic information that you want all levels to be based on. This helps prevent AI from inventing new facts.

  2. 2

    Ask for three reading levels

    Ask AI to write the same content in three versions: for a reader who needs support, a typical reader, and a fluent reader. Ask for a few comprehension questions for each version.

  3. 3

    Check the facts and vocabulary yourself

    Read each version. Make sure all three teach the same thing and that the vocabulary suits readers at that level in your class.

  4. 4

    Ask for one change in the same conversation

    If one level is not quite right, ask for a refinement in the same conversation instead of starting over.

Pollinators at three reading levels

Act as an assistant to a fifth-grade environmental studies teacher. Here is background information about pollinators: “Pollinators such as honeybees, bumblebees and butterflies move pollen from one flower to another. Many plants need pollination to produce seeds or fruit. A significant share of the crops people grow benefit from insect pollination. The loss of pollinators’ habitats threatens the survival of many species.” Write three reading comprehension texts based on this information. Keep the core content the same, but use three reading levels: 1) a reader who needs support, with short sentences and simple vocabulary, about 60 words; 2) a typical reader, about 100 words; 3) a fluent reader, about 150 words, including one cause-and-effect relationship. After each version, write three comprehension questions about that version. Do not add facts that are not above. Clearly label each reading level.

Compatible with: AI assistant

Follow-up: make the supported version even clearer

Make the version for a reader who needs support even clearer without changing the topic. Use shorter sentences, replace difficult words with simpler ones, and keep it to no more than 45 words. Preserve all the original facts and all three questions.

Compatible with: AI assistant

Use the same approach to prepare assessment and feedback

Once the first draft works, you can use the same approach to prepare an assessment: AI creates a rough draft, and you adapt it to your group and assignment.

First draft of an assessment rubric

Act as an assistant to a fifth-grade teacher. The students are making a small poster about one pollinator species, such as a honeybee, bumblebee or butterfly. Draft a four-part assessment rubric for fifth graders, covering content, use of sources, clarity and individual contribution. Briefly describe what good work at this grade level looks like for each criterion. Do not assign numerical grades or compare students with one another. This rubric is a starting point for the teacher to adapt, not something to hand out as is.

Compatible with: AI assistant

Turn a vague request into precise differentiation

A common request:

Make this easier.

Try asking this instead:

Rewrite the text below for a reader who needs support: use short sentences, simple vocabulary and no more than 50 words. Keep all the original facts and add no new ones. Text: “Pollinators move pollen from one flower to another. Many plants need pollination to produce seeds or fruit. The loss of pollinators’ habitats threatens the survival of many species.”

Reading level, length and the rule against adding facts show AI what the differentiated version should look like.

Check before using the text

  1. Do all three levels teach the same core idea?
  2. Do the vocabulary and length suit your particular students, not just the grade level in general?
  3. Is every claim based on your original fact base rather than new information added by AI?
  4. Does the assessment rubric feel fair and achievable for this group?

Keep student information and assessment decisions in your hands

When you adapt this approach for your class, do not give AI a real student’s name or other identifying information. Use fictional material, as this guide does. The final assessment decision is always yours, even if AI creates the first draft of a rubric.

Once you know the basics

Once you are familiar with this approach, ask AI to draft an initial outline for a new lesson: a goal, three stages and one question to check understanding at the end. Adapt the outline to your group, schedule and curriculum before using it in a real lesson.

Free practice on this website

Ask for the same material at three reading levels

Write your own request first. The hint and assessment criteria appear only after you try or select “I don’t know yet.” In both rounds, use only information in the source material.

Your answers stay only in this browser tab. They are not sent to AI Licenses’ servers or analytics. Use fictional material in the exercise; do not enter a real student’s name or other identifying information.

Question 1/2

Question 1/2

Write a request asking AI to create three reading passages from the lift material below. Keep the content the same but use three reading levels: a reader who needs support, a typical reader and a fluent reader. Specify a word count for each level.

Use the practice activity in your own AI service (optional)

Draft first, check it, then send

In this exercise, AI does not decide for you. It helps you make a first draft, which you read, correct and approve yourself before using.

Everyday communication and quick check · about 5 min

Choose a scenario

How the request is built

Goal
Write a clear caregiver message about a fictional trip
Information
The trip details are included in the request
Format
No more than 100 words; end with a call to action
Tone
Friendly but professional

Act as an assistant to a sixth-grade teacher. Write a message to caregivers about a fictional class trip to a nearby forest next Friday. The trip starts in the schoolyard at 9 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. Students need weather-appropriate outdoor clothing, their own snacks and a water bottle. No separate registration is needed, but a caregiver must tell the teacher if a student cannot attend. Write in a friendly but professional tone, in no more than 100 words, and end with a clear call to action. Do not invent any other details about the event.

Ready to try it with your own assistant?

Copy the request first. ChatGPT opens in a new tab, and this exercise will be waiting here.

Open ChatGPT (opens in a new tab)

Before using the result: The trip and physics lesson details are fictional, so you can copy the request as written. Still read the result and check the details yourself before sending a message home or using the questions in class.

Practice this skill with AI →

Publication details and sources

Published:
August 13, 2026
Sources checked:
September 4, 2026

Sources

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