How to Write Better AI Prompts: For School Psychologists, Special Education Teachers, and Every School-Based Professional

Why AI prompts fall short and how you can get better results.

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Why AI prompts fall short and how you can get better results

The First Step is Understanding What Prompting Means

Picture this: you're heading to a new coffee shop, and you type "coffee shop" into your GPS. What happens? You get a dozen results, most of which are nowhere near your destination. Frustrating, right? Now, imagine that you type in the exact address instead. Suddenly, your GPS maps out the quickest route, avoiding traffic and unnecessary detours. That's the power of clear instructions, and that's precisely what prompting is.

Prompting is simply how you tell the AI model what you need, much like providing clear directions to your GPS ensures you reach your exact destination efficiently.

If you're too vague, your GPS might get you to the general area, but it probably won't get you to the exact spot you need to be.

The more detail you give your GPS, the better it can guide you. You tell it the precise destination, and it calculates the best route, taking into account things like traffic and road closures.

Here's the TLDR about prompting... Prompting is like giving instructions to a super-smart but literal-minded friend. The clearer your instructions, the better the results.

In this article, I will share how you can communicate effectively with these AI models and, ironically enough, with people, too...

"AI is powerful, but let’s face it—sometimes prompts don’t deliver the results you’re looking for. Why?"

Why AI Prompts Fall Short and How This Article Will Help You Get Better Results

AI is powerful, but let’s face it—sometimes prompts don’t deliver the results you’re looking for. Why? Often, it’s because the instructions lack clarity, context, or specificity. Just like a GPS can’t map out a route without an address, an AI model can’t produce relevant output without clear guidance.

Here’s where this article comes in.

We’ll break down common reasons AI prompts fall short and provide actionable strategies to help you get better results.

By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll have the knowledge to:

• Write prompts that are specific, contextual, and tailored to your needs.

• Save time by cutting out vague or irrelevant outputs.

• Maintain control over the AI, ensuring it aligns with your professional standards.

Why You Should Learn How to Prompt AI

Understanding how to prompt AI effectively is becoming an essential skill for educators, especially for busy school psychologists, special education teachers, and other school-based professionals. At a minimum, grasping the basics of AI prompting can significantly enhance your efficiency and effectiveness in your role. While it may not seem immediately relevant, this skill will likely become increasingly important in the coming years.

Here's why learning how to prompt can make your work faster, easier, and more effective:

1. Get the Answers You Actually Need. Think of an LLM like a really eager, super-informed intern. It wants to help... It really does. But if you ask a vague question, you'll get a vague answer — or worse, irrelevant information. A precise prompt tells it exactly what you need, in what format, and with which details. The result? Useful, relevant information you can actually apply, like writing a behavior intervention plan without sifting through pages of unnecessary details.

2. Save Time — And Your Sanity You're busy with assessments, reports, and countless other demands. A good prompt can turn an hour of research into a few minutes of work. The AI model pulls the relevant data together so you can focus on what you do best: supporting students. A well-crafted prompt is the difference between spinning your wheels and making real progress.

3. Stay in Control of the AI AI is a tool, not a replacement for your expertise. Prompting keeps you in the driver’s seat. Instead of passively accepting whatever the AI spits out, you shape its output to match your professional standards. Think of it as collaborating with an intelligent research assistant—you're in charge, guiding the process to ensure accuracy and ethical alignment.

How to Get Started with Prompts

You're ready to get started prompting—and guess what? It's simpler than you think.

1. Start with a Clear Goal

Before you even touch the keyboard, ask yourself: What exactly do I want the AI to do for me? Do you need it to summarize an article? Generate some IEP goal ideas? Help you write an email to a parent? Knowing your objective is half the battle. Write it down if that helps.

2. Use Plain Language

Forget fancy jargon or technical terms. Just talk to the AI like you would talk to a colleague. For example, instead of saying, "Synthesize the salient points of the attached document," you could say, "Summarize the main points of this article in 3-5 sentences." It’s that easy!

3. Be Specific

This is where the GPS analogy really comes in. The more details you provide, the better the results. Let's say you want some ideas for a student's IEP. Instead of saying:

"Give me IEP goals for a student."

Try something like:

"Generate three measurable IEP goals for a 10-year-old student with a specific learning disability in reading comprehension who is currently reading at a second-grade level."

See the difference? The second prompt gives the AI much more to work with.

4. Tell it the Format You Want

Do you want a bulleted list? A paragraph? A table? Let the AI know! For example, you could add to the IEP goal prompt from above:

"...and format the goals as a numbered list."

5. Review and Refine

Think of your first prompt as a starting point. Read the AI's response carefully. Does it meet your needs? If not, tweak your prompt. Maybe you need to be more specific, add more context, or adjust the desired format. Don’t be afraid to experiment! You can try:

"Ok, now rewrite those goals to be more challenging."

It’s a Conversation

Think of prompting as a back-and-forth conversation with the AI. You provide instructions, it provides a response, and you refine your instructions until you get what you need. With a little practice, you'll be writing prompts like a pro and getting the most out of these powerful tools.

Sample Prompts in Action

Now that you have the basics down let’s look at some real-world examples of how you can use prompts in your daily work. These are just a starting point—the possibilities are endless!

1. Drafting Parent Emails

Instead of staring at a blank screen, let the AI help you draft that email.

Prompt: "Write a professional and friendly email to the parents of a 3rd-grade student named Alex, informing them that Alex has been struggling with reading in class and suggesting a meeting to discuss support strategies."

Why it works: It provides specific details (student’s grade and name, the issue, and the desired action) and sets the tone (professional and friendly).

2. Brainstorming IEP Accommodations

Get those creative juices flowing with some AI-powered suggestions.

Prompt: "Generate a list of five appropriate classroom accommodations for a 5th-grade student with ADHD who has difficulty staying focused during independent work."

Why it works: It clearly defines the student’s needs (ADHD, difficulty with focus) and the context (5th grade, independent work).

3. Summarizing Research Articles

Stay up-to-date on the latest research without spending hours reading lengthy articles.

Prompt: "Summarize the main findings of this research article on effective interventions for social anxiety in adolescents. Provide the summary in bullet points."

Why it works: It specifies the topic (social anxiety interventions for adolescents) and the desired format (bullet points).

4. Creating Behavior Intervention Ideas

Get quick ideas for behavior interventions.

Prompt: "Provide 3 ideas for a behavior intervention plan for a 1st-grade student who is having a hard time staying in his seat during class. The ideas should be positive and proactive."

Why it works: It clearly defines the student’s needs (staying in his seat) and the context (1st grade, during class).

Want to see even more examples? Head over to our use cases page for a more in-depth look at practical use cases and more sample prompts you can start using today.

Here Are 5 Tips for Achieving Better Results with AI Prompting

You've got the basics down, you've seen some examples, and now you're ready to really get the most out of AI.

Always Review and Edit: Remember, AI is a tool, not a replacement for your professional judgment.

Here are five tips to keep in mind to refine your prompts and get better results:

1. Provide Context: The more background information you give the AI, the better it can understand your request. Think about what details are relevant to your situation. For example, if you're asking for help with a student, include their grade level, any diagnoses or learning differences, and the specific challenges they're facing. The more the AI knows, the better it can help.

2. Specify the Desired Tone: Do you need the AI to be formal and professional? Empathetic and supportive? Clear and concise? Tell it! Adding a phrase like "in a supportive and encouraging tone" or "using a professional tone" can make a big difference in the output. You can even ask for outputs to be written "in the style of a highly experienced school psychologist."

3. Iterate and Experiment: Don't expect to get the perfect response on your first try. Think of it as a conversation. If the AI's initial response isn't quite right, try rephrasing your prompt, adding more details, or adjusting the tone. Experiment with different approaches to see what works best. You can even ask the AI to make changes to its first response.

4. Break Down Complex Tasks: If you have a really complex request, try breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps. For example, instead of asking for a full report all at once, you could start by asking for an outline, then ask for each section to be expanded. You are in control of how the information is produced.

5. Always Review and Edit: Remember, AI is a tool, not a replacement for your professional judgment. Always carefully review the AI's output, fact-check information, and edit as needed to ensure accuracy and appropriateness. Add your own expertise and insights to make the final product your own.

Helpful Video Tutorials

Prefer a quick demonstration? Check out our short guides on the School Psych AI YouTube channel. They cover basic prompts, structured prompts, and how to refine results. These videos are a great way to see prompting in action and get inspired for your own use. We have short guides on our School Psych AI YouTube channel covering basic prompts, structured prompts, and how to refine results. It’s a good way to see prompting in action before you try it yourself.

One More Resource: Our Prompt Playbook

For an expanded set of example prompts, sign up or log in to access our Prompt Playbook. It’s a guided library that walks you through the steps for various tasks—everything from basic report writing to advanced data analysis.

Every time you write a prompt, you're getting better at telling the model exactly what you need.

Final Thoughts

Think of yourself as having a new, high-tech GPS for your practice—it's not there to take over the driving but to help you find the best route to where you need to go.

This isn't about replacing what you do as a school psych. It is about using these models to reduce the tedious, time-consuming tasks so you can focus on the parts of the job you love.

Sure, just like when you first started using a GPS, there might be a few bumps along the road. You might need to re-enter a destination several times to get it just right. That's all part of the learning process.

Every time you write a prompt, you're getting better at telling the model exactly what you need. If you're using School Psych AI, you can save prompts that you find helpful.

The world of AI is constantly changing. But by staying curious and continuing to practice your prompting, you'll be able to keep up and find new ways to support your work. As I always say during my AI PDs and trainings, have an explorer mindset, stay curious, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need help. You've got this!

Written by Dr. Byron M. McClure. Follow School Psych AI across social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube, Tik Tok, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Check out our website to learn more about School Psych AI.