The Power of the Prompt: Using AI to Support Effective Literacy Teaching
Clear, high-quality prompts make AI a useful teaching tool.
Explore how well-crafted prompts enable AI to support instructional planning, scaffolding, and differentiation to promote student success.
- Classroom Teachers K-8
AI tools can support planning, differentiation, and decision-making, but the quality of the response depends on the quality of your prompt. In this session, you will learn how to craft clear and specific prompts to generate useful support for planning, scaffolding, and student learning. You will analyze example prompts and design ready-to-use prompts aligned to your own classroom needs using your High-Quality Instructional Materials.
Topics Include:
- Understand why prompt quality matters when using AI for instruction
- Identify the key components of an effective AI prompt
- Learn how to revise vague or generic prompts into high-leverage instructional prompts
- Create and test custom prompts you can reuse for planning, scaffolding, and differentiation
Nikki Drury, Literacy Trainer
Nikki worked as a literacy coach and teacher in public school for many years before joining the Center for Literacy Teaching and Instructional Leadership as an Intermediate Trainer. She has experience as a primary and intermediate classroom teacher and literacy instructional coach at the intermediate level. Over the years, she has worked with students, educators, and administrators to improve literacy outcomes.
Linda Murphy, Associate Director, Literacy Programs
Linda has worked in school districts in New York in a variety of roles and settings. Prior to her joining the center at Lesley University, Linda held positions as a principal of an intermediate school, a Director of English Language Arts, Social Studies and Reading, a district trainer for Literacy Collaborative Intermediate, a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader and a classroom teacher. Linda holds licenses in Elementary Education and School District Administration.
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
You have until one week before the first day of this offering to cancel your registration. The cancellation deadline is Thursday, January 22, 2026 and you will be charged a $50 cancellation fee. If you request a cancellation after the deadline, you will not be issued a refund. Substitution requests are acceptable. Please email centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request.
Registration Deadline
The registration deadline is 5pm EST on January 28, 2026.
Requirements for Participation
After the training, you will receive a certificate of attendance for your participation. To receive a complete certificate, participation during the specified times is required. Additional work may be assigned to meet the professional development hours.
In-Person at Lesley University or Virtual Attendance
You may choose to attend this training in-person at Lesley University or virtually in real time. Should any of the conditions change and it is determined the training will be offered virtually only, you will be notified as soon as possible. We recommend you contact us before reserving travel and lodging.
If you choose to attend in-person, the training room will have Lesley University’s HyFlex Classroom Technology to support an engaging learning environment for in-person and virtual participants. If you have questions about in-person or virtual attendance, please email us at centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu.
Interested in professional learning at your school or district? Schedule a meeting with one of our faculty trainers.
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