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AI in the Math Classroom, Grades 3-5
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AI in the Math Classroom, Grades 3-5
25 Enhancements to Make the Tech Work for You!



March 2026 | 272 pages | Corwin

Reclaim your planning time and energize your math instruction with AI strategies that work for you

If you’re ready to feel energized about what AI can do for your teaching, this book is for you. Dr. Nicki Newton invites you to see AI not as a trend to survive, but as a powerful partner in your classroom. Dr. Nicki is here to show you that AI isn't about replacing teachers; it's about empowering them. This practical guide tackles the real-world challenges of grades 3–5 math instruction—like differentiating for neurodiverse learners or making fractions actually fun—and shows you how Generative AI can do the heavy lifting, giving you back the time to focus on what matters: building relationships with your students and fostering a love for math.

With her signature warmth and humor, Dr. Nicki delivers a guide packed with activity ideas, models, and practice opportunities for effectively prompting 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 word problems 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.

 
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: Practicing Perfecting 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 Grades 3–5 Math

 
Enhancement #1: Claude Sonnet 4 AI—Planning, Differentiation, and Prompt Support

 
Model Round: Claude Sonnet 4 AI

 
Practice Round: Try Claude Sonnet 4 AI

 
AI Enhancement #2: ChatGPT, Nano Banana, and Freepik for Generating Pictures and Creating Textual Content

 
Model Round: ChatGPT

 
Practice Round: Try ChatGPT or Nano Banana

 
AI Enhancement #3: Diffit AI—Seamless Math and Literacy Integration

 
Model Round: Diffit

 
Practice Round: Diffit AI

 
AI Enhancement #4: EduaideAI—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

 
Model Round: Deeper Questioning

 
Practice Round: Deeper Questioning

 
AI Enhancement #4: Planning for Multilingual Learners

 
Model Round: Questioning for Multilingual Learners

 
Practice Round: Questioning 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: Transforming Place Value Instruction With AI Tools
AI Enhancement #1: Place–Value Palace for Adding Fluently Within 1,000

 
Model Round: Place–Value Palace

 
Practice Round: Place–Value Palace

 
AI Enhancement #2: Telling Interactive Pizza Stories to Teach Multiplication

 
Model Round: Telling Interactive Pizza Stories to Teach Multiplication

 
Practice Round: Telling Interactive Pizza Stories to Teach Multiplication

 
AI Enhancement #3: Division Detective for Finding Whole-Number Quotients

 
Model Round: Division Detective

 
Practice Round: Division Detective

 
AI Enhancement #4: Auction House Game for Practicing Rounding

 
Model Round: Auction House

 
Practice Round: Auction House

 
AI Enhancement #5 Decimal Olympics for Comparing Decimals

 
Model Round: Decimal Olympics

 
Practice Round: Decimal Olympics

 
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk

 
Key Takeaways

 
Action Planning Questions

 
Individual Reflection

 
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion

 
Actionable Next Steps

 
 
Chapter 6: Fractions, Fun and AI Magic
Why Fractions Matter in Grades 3–5

 
AI Enhancement #1: Math Skits to See Equivalent Fractions as the Same Whole

 
Model Round: Math Skits

 
Practice Round: Math Skits

 
AI Enhancement #2: Thinking Energizers for Comparing Fractions

 
Model Round: Thinking Energizers

 
Practice Round: Thinking Energizers

 
AI Enhancement #3: Riddles to Make It Make Sense

 
Model Round: Riddles

 
Practice Round: Riddles

 
AI Enhancement #4: Visual Flashcards for Working With Fractions

 
Model Round: Visual Flash Cards

 
Practice Round: Visual Flashcards

 
AI Enhancement #5: Fraction Detectives on the Number Line

 
Model Round: Fraction Detectives

 
Practice Round: Fraction Detectives

 
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk

 
Key Takeaways

 
Action Planning Questions

 
Individual Reflection

 
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Discussion

 
Actionable Next Steps

 
 
Chapter 7: Measurement Mastery With an AI Edge
Why Measurement Matters in Grades 3–5

 
Enhancement #1: Story Scenarios to Teach Elapsed Time

 
Model Round: Story Scenarios

 
Practice Round: Story Scenarios

 
AI Enhancement #2: AI-Generated Riddles for Teaching Measurement

 
Model Round: AI-Generated Riddles

 
Practice Round: AI-Generated Riddles

 
AI Enhancement #3: Puzzles With Pizzazz for Conversions Within Systems

 
Model Round: Puzzles With Pizzazz

 
Practice Round: Puzzles with Pizzaz

 
AI Enhancement #4: Hands-On Learning to Bring Volume to Life

 
The Case for Hands-On Chaos

 
Model Round: Hands-On Measurement

 
Practice Round: Hands-On Measurement

 
AI Enhancement #5: Detective Activities for Learning Angles

 
Model Round: Detective Activities

 
Practice Round: Detective Activities

 
End-of-Chapter Pep Talk

 
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

AI in the Math Classroom, Grades 3–5 is a teacher-friendly, practical guide that shows how generative AI can streamline planning, differentiate
instruction, and spark more engaging mathematics teaching and learning. Dr. Nicki Newton’s warm, supportive voice makes the tool approachable, ethical, and immediately usable!

John SanGiovanni
Howard County (MD) Public School System
Ellicott City, MD

Finally, a resource that makes teachers’ work easier! This book offers sample prompts to make AI your secret weapon to do everything from
planning more rigorous lessons to outlining support for multilingual learners, increasing accessibility for neurodiverse learners, enhancing cultural relevance, and more. Even if tech is not your thing, this book is for you!

Alison J. Mello
North Attleboro, MA

Dr. Nicki has created an essential guide that provides educators with step-by- step actions for using AI to increase student engagement and learning in mathematics! She defines and demystifies AI, models effective prompt generation, and offers practical strategies for using AI to deepen our
students’ thinking while addressing the complexities and ethical considerations of AI. A truly valuable resource for today’s mathematics educators!

Janet Nuzzie
Pasadena, TX

AI in the Math Classroom, Grades 3–5 is a timely and essential read. Education has been slow to adapt to change, often remaining disconnected
from both research and the real world. With clarity and purpose, Dr. Nicki Newton bridges that gap, showing educators how to thoughtfully use AI to strengthen practice, save time, and stay current.

TJ Jemison
TJ Math Consulting
Wilton Manors, FL

Packed with mind-blowing examples, AI in the Math Classroom is a must-read for grades 3–5 math educators! Dr. Nicki Newton offers
a practical and comprehensive guide to using AI as a thought partner for planning lessons, routines, and assessments that meet diverse student
needs while saving educators hours of time. We are truly fortunate to have her leading the way in this AI revolution!

Ann Elise Record
Ann Elise Record Consulting LLC
Manchester, NH

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