Over the past year, AI tools have moved from “interesting experiments” to everyday classroom supports. What once required paid subscriptions or technical expertise is now broadly accessible, faster, and far more capable than early versions of generative AI tools.
One of the biggest shifts has been the rise of custom tools. These are purpose-built tools (Gems in Gemini, GPTs in ChatGPT, and Artifacts in Claude) are created to do one job well. They can tutor students, help teachers plan lessons, or support AI literacy without requiring educators to start from scratch.
For schools and classrooms, this matters. Access is no longer the main barrier it once was. Educators can now use AI tools that are practical, adaptable, and aligned with real instructional needs.
In this article, we are sharing our top 10 custom-built, AI-powered tools for educators from 2025. These tools stand out because they actually save time, support learning, or help students build skills they’ll need beyond the classroom.
1. StorySketch
An evidence-based tool for creating social stories that support social understanding and emotional regulation. StorySketch follows established best practices, using first-person language, a balanced mix of descriptive and directive sentences, and age-appropriate wording to clarify expectations rather than attempt behavior change. Built-in text-to-speech narration helps support diverse learning needs.
2. AI Literacy Tutor
Designed to build foundational AI literacy, this GPT helps students and educators understand how AI works, where it can go wrong, and how to use it responsibly. It’s well suited for lessons on bias, ethics, and real-world AI applications.
3. Course Creator
A planning-focused GPT that helps educators design courses, units, or modules from the ground up. It can generate learning objectives, lesson sequences, assessments, and pacing guides aligned to specific grade levels or subject areas.
4. Break the Ice
A culture-building tool that quickly generates age-appropriate icebreakers, community-building activities, and reflection prompts. Ideal for the start of classes, advisory periods, or resetting classroom culture throughout the year.
5. Bully Buster
Supports educators in addressing bullying through prevention-focused activities, discussion prompts, and intervention ideas. It helps design lessons that promote empathy, accountability, and positive peer interactions.
6. Scholar GPT
A research assistant designed for academic work. It helps summarize scholarly articles, explain complex concepts, and support literature reviews while encouraging critical thinking rather than copy-and-paste answers.
7. Mr. Ranedeer
A tutoring-style GPT that adapts explanations to a learner’s level and pace. It’s especially effective for step-by-step guidance in subjects like math, science, and coding, offering hints and scaffolding instead of direct answers.
8. Fidelity Checklist Generator
Built for implementation support, this GPT creates clear fidelity checklists for programs, interventions, or instructional practices. It helps ensure consistency across classrooms, teams, or schools.
9. Learn2Prompt4Edu
A prompt-engineering tutor designed specifically for education. It teaches students and teachers how to write effective prompts, refine questions, and think critically about how they interact with AI tools.
10. Write for Me
A writing-focused assistant that helps draft, revise, and clarify text while preserving the author’s voice. Useful for lesson materials, emails, feedback, and long-form writing where clarity and tone matter.
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What’s become clear is that AI’s value in education isn’t about replacing teachers or automating learning. It’s about reducing friction. When used well, these tools give educators more space to focus on relationships, feedback, and instruction that actually moves students forward.
As AI systems continue to evolve, the most useful tools will be the ones that remain transparent, flexible, and grounded in sound educational practice. The GPTs and Artifacts highlighted here represent that direction. They aren’t flashy. They’re useful. And that’s exactly what classrooms need.
This article was originally published in the Empathy in Bytes newsletter on Substack.
AI in K-12 | NovaEdu 