Blog Posts

What Happens When AI Joins the Writing Classroom?

Technology is deeply woven into how we work, talk, and create, but in schools, it's not always obvious where it fits. Generative AI (GenAI), especially, has stirred up some serious questions: Is it cheating? Is it actually useful? Should we trust it with students? These are fair concerns. But to really dig into them, we've got to move beyond the headlines and start a more intentional conversation, including about writing. Because with the right approach, GenAI can actually help students become better writers.  

 

Why It’s Not About Replacing Writers 

One of the biggest concerns about AI in the classroom is that students will use it to skip the thinking part. And let’s be honest, some will. But good teaching can make space for AI to support the writing process without taking it over. When students use GenAI to brainstorm, test different ways to phrase something, or explore tone, writing becomes a creative, flexible process. Instead of freezing up at a blank page, they’re trying things out, making choices, and revising. That process is way more valuable than just getting it “perfect.”  

These examples of GenAI use line up with what we know about how students learn to write: 

  • They need direct instruction in strategies 
  • They learn from strong examples 
  • They grow when they get feedback and make choices 
  • And—this part’s often missed—they learn a lot through play 

 

What Students Gain When AI Becomes a Co-Writer 

One of the most surprising and exciting things about bringing AI into writing classrooms? Joy. Students light up when they see their writing come to life, when a sentence suddenly sounds sharper, cooler, or more like them. And when they compare their original version with what the AI suggested and what they ended up keeping, something powerful begins to happen: they start to find their voice.  

In that back-and-forth, they realize revision isn't a chore, it's an opportunity. They also start asking more thoughtful questions about their own work: What tone am I going for? Could I say this more clearly? Why does this version not quite work? That’s metacognition. That’s real learning. 

 

Teaching AI Use Ethically 

But none of this works without structure. You can’t just tell students to mess around with ChatGPT and hope for the best. Teachers have to set clear expectations—model responsible use of AI, establish classroom agreements, and include specific lessons on bias, accuracy, and originality. A simple but effective approach? The “Write, Prompt, Reflect” cycle: 

  • Start with your own sentence or paragraph 
  • Use GenAI to improve or expand it 
  • Reflect on what changed, what you kept, and what still feels most like your voice 

Over time, students build up a portfolio that shows how they’ve grown, with and without AI. And most importantly, they begin to see AI not as a shortcut, but as a tool that helps bring out their creativity, not replace it. 

 

Final Thought: The Equation That Works 

Science + Joy = Impact. That's the core idea behind bringing GenAI into the writing classroom. It's not about chasing the newest tech or following a trend. It's about connecting proven strategies — like feedback, modeling, and experimentation — with students to support learning. Used intentionally, GenAI can help teachers do more. It can give students new ways to explore. And maybe, just maybe, it can do these things while also adding some fun into the process. That's definitely worth trying.