ChatGPT Prompts for English Teachers: 12 Prompts to Copy

The best ChatGPT prompts for English teachers give the model your text, your rubric, and your students' level, then ask for one classroom ready thing: feedback patterns, a mini lesson, reading questions, or ESL supports. Paste anonymized student writing, never names, and check every comment before students see it. Below are 12 copy-paste prompts for ELA and ESL classrooms, plus a flagship prompt that turns a stack of essays into feedback and a lesson for tomorrow.

Replace every [bracket] with your own class details. Follow your school's rules on student data and AI tools.

Prompts for writing feedback

1. Patterns across a class set

Here are anonymized excerpts from [number] student essays on [task]: [excerpts]. Using this rubric: [rubric], list the three most common strengths and problems, which students show each, and a short quote for each.

2. Comment bank from a rubric

Write 10 short feedback comments for [grade] students on [rubric row]. Each comment names one specific move, is written to the student, and ends with a next step.

3. Revision checklist

Turn this rubric: [rubric] into a student revision checklist of 6 yes or no questions written for [grade] readers.

Prompts for lessons and reading

4. Mini lesson on one skill

Plan a [minutes] minute mini lesson for [grade] on [skill, for example explaining a quotation]. Include a learning target in student language, a fresh model paragraph about [text], a we do activity, and a you do task.

5. Reading questions at three levels

Write discussion questions for [chapters] of [text]: 3 literal, 3 inferential, and 2 evaluative. Add the page or scene each question points to, and a sample strong answer for one of each.

6. Close reading of a passage

Here is a passage from [text]: [passage]. Plan a close reading in three rounds: what it says, how it says it, and why it matters, with one question per round and words students should notice.

7. Vocabulary in context

Choose 8 tier two words from this passage: [passage]. For each, give a student friendly definition, the sentence from the text, and a new example sentence about everyday life.

Prompts for English learners

8. Sentence frames by level

Write sentence frames for this task: [task] at three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced English proficiency. Add a word bank of 8 words from the task.

9. Adapted text

Rewrite this passage: [passage] for intermediate English learners. Keep the meaning and key vocabulary, and shorten long sentences. Then list the words I should pre teach.

10. Speaking practice

Create 6 pair speaking prompts about [topic] for [level] English learners, each with a question, a sentence starter, and a follow up question.

Prompts for planning and families

11. Unit calendar

Plan a [number] week unit on [text or genre] for [grade] with [minutes] minute classes. Show each week's reading, writing focus, one formative check, and the final task.

12. Parent email

Write a short, warm email to families about our [unit]. Explain what students are reading, the writing task due [date], and one way families can help at home. Keep it under 150 words.

Turn a stack of essays into tomorrow's lesson

The English Teacher Prompt: Essay Feedback and a Mini Lesson combines prompts 1, 2, 4, and 8. You paste your grade and unit, the writing task, your rubric, anonymized samples, your English learner levels, lesson time, and the revision goal. It returns a pattern table, two teaching priorities, a 15 minute mini lesson with a fresh model paragraph, ELL supports, a comment bank, and an exit ticket. The example works through grade 9 paragraphs on Of Mice and Men.

Teaching adult English learners? Pair these with the Adult ESL Speaking Rubric and Prompt Cards.

Tips for English teachers using ChatGPT

• Remove student names and details before you paste any writing.
• Give the rubric. Feedback without it drifts toward generic praise.
• Check quotes and page references against your copy of the text.
• Use ChatGPT for drafts of comments and lessons, and keep the grading decisions yours.

Related prompts and guides

See more classroom prompts in ChatGPT Prompts for Math Teachers and ChatGPT Prompts for Special Education Teachers, or plan a full course with ChatGPT Prompts for Instructional Design. Find more in the Education prompts hub, browse all prompts, or share a prompt that works in your classroom.