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AI exposure report

Will AI replace Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Some of your tasks will be automated. People who use AI will have the edge.

Task exposure to today's AI

34/100

Moderate exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 34% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate. The parts that stay human include: Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.; Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.; Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable
Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.AI already used 55%
Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.AI already used 40%
Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. 35%
Assign and grade class work and homework. 33%
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities. 23%
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students. 15%

+ 32 more tasks (48% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

  • Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
  • Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
  • Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.

AI tools to try

ChatGPT / Claude for lesson materialsAI quiz and feedback toolsPresentation and image generators

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

Materials and preparation

  • Lesson plans, tasks and differentiated materials with AI.
  • Quizzes and answer keys.
  • Check facts and age-appropriateness yourself.

Project

Use AI to build one full two-week unit with three differentiated versions of each worksheet plus a quiz and answer key, then fact-check every item yourself and log hours saved.

Phase 2

Feedback and assessment

  • Rubrics and feedback drafts with AI.
  • Spotting common mistakes across student work.
  • Rules for student AI use and academic honesty.

Project

Use AI to draft a rubric and feedback comments for one anonymized writing assignment set, list the 5 most common errors found, and publish a class AI-use and honesty rule sheet.

Phase 3

Teaching with AI

  • Teach students to use AI critically.
  • Assignments that work with AI, not against it.
  • Share materials and practice with colleagues.

Project

Design and teach three lessons where students fact-check AI answers against sources, then share the lesson pack and a 20-minute staff demo with at least 3 colleagues.
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