Over the past few weeks, I've had AI generate 13 math lessons.

Teachers ARE using AI to generate lessons—whether we like it or not. So instead of pretending that's not happening, I decided to put AI to the test. Can it actually create good math lessons?

The short answer? Not really.

But the insights I gained from evaluating those 13 AI-generated lessons? Those apply to ANY math lesson—AI-generated or straight from your textbook.

In this episode, I share the 3 biggest things I learned:

Lesson #1: AI needs tons of detail in your prompt. I started with simple prompts like "Create a lesson for this standard" and got surface-level, procedural lessons. Even when I added more detail, AI still missed the mark. To get a truly good lesson, you'd need to give AI so much detail that you might as well write the lesson yourself.

Lesson #2: AI doesn't know learning progressions. This is the biggest problem. AI assumes the standard you give it is exactly what students are ready for RIGHT NOW. But standards are where students need to be at the END of the year. AI doesn't understand where students typically are at the beginning, what foundational concepts need to be in place first, or where YOUR specific students are in their learning journey.

Lesson #3: AI lessons are a starting point, not a finished product. Bottom line: I don't recommend using AI for lesson plans. But if you do, evaluate it with a critical eye and modify based on what you know about your students and the learning progression.

So what IS AI good for?

• Analyzing data to find patterns in coaching cycles or assessment data

• Generating differentiated materials as a starting point

• Drafting communication and handouts (that you then edit)

AI can handle mundane tasks so you have more time for the human work—coaching conversations, relationship-building, and instructional decision-making.

My YouTube Shorts series: I'm doing a series called "AI Made This Lesson, Let's Make It Better" where I show you—in under 2 minutes—how to improve AI-generated lessons. But here's the thing: those same modifications apply to textbook lessons too. Watch them all (even if they're not your grade level) because the advice applies everywhere.

Resources mentioned:

• YouTube Shorts playlist: "AI Made This Lesson"

• 2026 Virtual Math Summit sessions from Dr. Kristopher Childs and Dr. Nicki Newton

• Register free at VirtualMathSummit.com

AI isn't going away. So let's learn how to use it wisely.

Register at VirtualMathSummit.com to learn from experts about how to use AI in Education in the best ways.