Teaching in the Margins: Using AI to Protect What Matters Most

The most important moments in teaching don't happen in the lesson plan; they happen in the margins. These interactions build character, foster resilience and help students become thoughtful decision-makers, yet systems focused on measurable outcomes often overlook them. This poster presentation introduces Discern, Build, Send, a practical framework for intentionally prioritizing margin work and designing learning that develops critical thinking, persistence and real-world readiness. You will also explore how AI can support, not replace, this work by streamlining planning, generating differentiated materials, supporting feedback and offering visibility into student thinking, freeing more time for meaningful student interactions. Through real classroom examples and guided reflection, you will identify where margin work already lives in your practice and how to strengthen it. You will leave with a flexible framework for any lesson or unit, a ready-to-use margin moment strategy for the next day and one idea that uses AI to enhance student thinking and engagement.