About the Book
Transform your math instruction and reclaim your planning time by harnessing the power of generative AI
As a middle school math teacher, you’re already balancing a vast array of math content, while trying to navigate the ups and downs of adolescence. You need time to build relationships, drill down into the math, and support students at different levels of readiness. You do not need to spend your weekends drowning in lesson prep. In this teacher-friendly playbook, Dr. Nicki Newton shows you how to use AI to streamline time-consuming lesson planning, differentiate tasks, and design culturally relevant activities, all while keeping your pedagogical expertise firmly in the driver′s seat.
With her signature warmth and humor, Dr. Nicki delivers a guide packed with lesson ideas, models, and practice opportunities to learn how to effectively prompt 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 experiences 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: 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 Middle School Math
AI Enhancement #1: Claude Sonnet 4 AI—Planning, Differentiation, and Prompt Support
Model Round: Claude Sonnet 4 AI
Practice Round: Claude Sonnet 4 AI
AI Enhancement #2: ChatGPT, Gemini Pro, and Freepik—Picture Generators Plus Textual Content Creation
Model Round: ChatGPT and Freepik
Practice Round: ChatGPT and Freepik
AI Enhancement #3: Diffit AI—Seamless Math and Literacy Integration
Model Round: Diffit
Practice Round: Diffit
AI Enhancement #4: Eduaide.ai—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
Practice Round: Questioning
AI Enhancement #4: Planning for Multilingual Learners
Model Round: Planning for Multilingual Learners
Practice Round: Planning 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: Integers, Investigation, and AI Innovation
Why Integers Matter in Grades 6–8
AI Enhancement #1: AI-Generated Real-World Integer Scenarios
Model Round: Real-World Scenarios
Practice Round: Real-World Scenarios
AI Enhancement #2: AI-Generated Visual Models
Model Round: Visual Models
Practice Round: Visual Models
AI Enhancement #3: AI-Generated Integer Riddles
Model Round: Integer Riddles
Practice Round: Integer Riddles
AI Enhancement #4: AI-Generated Detective Mystery Comparison Activities
Model Round: Detective Mysteries
Practice Round: Detective Mysteries
AI Enhancement #5: AI-Generated Escape Room Adventures
Model Round: Escape Room
Practice Round: Escape Room
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk
Key Takeaways
Action Planning Questions
Individual Reflection
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion
Actionable Next Steps
CHAPTER 6: Equations, Expressions, and Algebra Adventures With AI
Why Algebra Matters in Grades 6–8
AI Enhancement #1: Equivalence Museum Gallery Exhibits
Model Round: Equivalence Museum Gallery Exhibits
Practice Round: Equivalence Museum Gallery Exhibits
AI Enhancement #2: Engaging Explorations
Model Round: Engaging Explorations
Practice Round: Engaging Explorations
AI Enhancement #3: Real-World Scenarios and Visuals
Model Round: Real-World Scenarios and Visuals
Practice Round: Real-World Scenarios and Visuals
AI Enhancement #4: Soap Operas and Telenovelas
Model Round: Soap Operas and Telenovelas
Practice Round: Soap Operas and Telenovelas
AI Enhancement #5: Detective School
Model Round: Detective School
Practice Round: Detective School
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk
Key Takeaways
Action Planning Questions
Individual Reflection
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion
Actionable Next Steps
CHAPTER 7: Making Sense of Rational and Irrational Numbers With AI
Why Fractions Matter in Grades 6–8
AI Enhancement #1: Story Contexts for Fraction Division
Model Round: Story Contexts
Practice Round: Story Contexts
AI Enhancement #2: AI-Created Scenarios for Modeling
Positive and Negative Fractions
Model Round: Modeling Positive and Negative Fractions
Practice Round: Modeling Positive and Negative Fractions
AI Enhancement #3: Tiering Problems for Complex Fractions
Model Round: Tiering Problems
Practice Round: Tiering Problems
AI Enhancement #4: Varying Mathematical Models to Explore Rational and Irrational Numbers
Model Round: Exploring Rational and Irrational Numbers
Practice Round: Exploring Rational and Irrational Numbers
AI Enhancement #5: Tiered Reasoning Tasks That Explore Square Roots
Model Round: Tiered Reasoning Tasks
Practice Round: Tiered Reasoning Tasks
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
About the Author :
Dr. Nicki Newton is an education consultant who works with schools and districts around the country and Canada on k-8 math curriculum. She has taught elementary school, middle school, and graduate school. Dr Nicki has a Master’s of Education and a Doctorate of Education from the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University specializing in Teacher Education and Curriculum Development. She is greatly interested in teaching and learning practices around the world and has researched education in Denmark, Guatemala and India. She has written over 45 math books and is excited to be part of the team of writers for the McGraw-Hill new series, Reveal Math. Her latest books include Accelerating K-8 Math Instruction (Teachers College Press, 2023), A Teacher’s Guide to Math Workshop (Newton, Mello & Nuzzie; Heinemann 2023) High Dosage Tutoring in Math & ELA (Newton & Ruyter w/Jemison; Routledge, in press) and Math Workshop Plus (Newton & Mello; Corwin, 2025). She is an avid pinner, Tik Toker, blogger, and tweeter. Learn more about bringing Dr. Nicki Newton to your school or district at www.drnickinewton.com
Review :
Many educators are curious about AI but are unsure about how to use it in ways that truly support learning. AI in the Math Classroom cuts through the noise with clear frameworks, practical examples, and thoughtful guidance. It helps teachers save time, deepen student thinking, and use AI as a tool that strengthens, not replaces, great teaching.
Dr. Nicki Newton masterfully positions AI as an ‘Instructional Copilot’ to surface the beautiful logic of student thinking. By utilizing the SCRIPT protocol, educators can move beyond rote and procedural mathematics to foster deep mathematical identity and ontological belonging. This book is a profound roadmap for the middle-grades practitioner, ensuring technology serves as the connective tissue for culturally responsive, high-impact pedagogy.
Amidst all the hopes and fears about AI and the intense confusion about how best to incorporate this new tool into teaching, along comes Nicki Newton’s positive, insightful, and immediately helpful AI in the Math Classroom. We are gifted a cornucopia of practical suggestions, valuable how-tos, and a wide range of useful answers to the most common questions about using AI tools to make our teaching lives easier and our instruction stronger.
AI in the Math Classroom is a practical, warm, and genuinely useful guide for middle school math teachers navigating AI. Dr. Nicki makes the overwhelming feel manageable and gives teachers concrete strategies they can try immediately. Running quietly beneath every chapter is a truth worth naming: your professional knowledge is what makes the tool worth using.
Dr. Nicki has outdone herself! This book brilliantly showcases how teachers can leverage AI as their partner to upgrade lessons and differentiate, without adding to teachers’ plates! The examples are phenomenal, and inclusion of specific prompts is genius and removes the guesswork! Teachers will love how her instructions are clear and easy to follow. I have no doubt this book will help them do more in less time.
