Article
Jessica Martz
7 min
Jul 14, 2025
Introduction
Being a teacher is tough, and having ADHD adds another layer of complexity to an already demanding job. As a high school English teacher with a small class load, I still found grading writing assignments to be my biggest challenge. Getting essays back to students on time and with actionable feedback seemed impossible without sacrificing evenings and weekends with family, friends, and my dog. ADHD made starting these non-preferred tasks feel insurmountable –even when I knew I needed to begin, my brain wouldn't cooperate. Once I did start, giving thoughtful feedback required reading each paper multiple times, making the process painfully slow.
I knew I had to find a better way. The constant cycle of stress and frustration wasn't just affecting my ability to return assignments promptly – it was taking a serious toll on my work-life balance and well-being. I wanted teaching to be sustainable: a career I could enjoy without feeling perpetually overwhelmed and burned out. My students deserved timely, quality feedback, but I also needed time for myself and my loved ones. I realized that without addressing this challenge, both my students and I would continue to suffer.
That's when I discovered EnlightenAI. As a 10th-grade English teacher in Pennsylvania, juggling lesson planning, classroom management, and endless stacks of essays, I felt that familiar dread after assigning another major writing project. While browsing an education forum, I came across a discussion about AI tools, and EnlightenAI caught my attention. Beyond its promise to streamline grading, it offered comprehensive features like worksheet creation, exemplar generation, and data-driven re-teaching materials. Here was a tool that could not only help with grading but also provide valuable insights to improve my instruction, exactly what I needed to break the cycle of burnout.
Classroom setup
I teach four 10th-grade English classes and one 11th-grade English class. My classes are divided into a 10th-grade honors class with 13 students, a 10th-grade college prep class with 12 students, a 10th-grade core class with 15 students, a 10th-grade co-taught class with 14 students, and an 11th-grade core class with 18 students. In my co-taught class, 55% of students have a non-specified learning disability and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). These students generally read and write several grades below grade level. Conversely, my honors students read and write well above grade level, creating diverse needs and abilities across my classes.
Integration of EnlightenAI
Initially, I used EnlightenAI primarily to assist with grading and to provide feedback on student writing. I employed the traditional AI feedback feature for this, but it’s not as simple as uploading responses and accepting AI-generated scores. EnlightenAI serves as a tool rather than an automated grader; for each assignment, I provide a rubric, specific instructions, and sometimes a sample response to guide the AI. Once students submit their work, I train the AI to interpret my grading criteria and offer constructive feedback. After reviewing all assignments, I release the grades and feedback for students to review.
In my co-taught class, where students often require additional support, I implemented EnlightenAI’s “immediate feedback” feature. This tool acts as an AI assistant, allowing students to submit their work and receive feedback similar to what they would get from me, enabling them to make real-time improvements before their final submission. Since September, I have been using EnlightenAI several times each week for shorter writing assignments.
Data collection process
To understand how EnlightenAI impacted my grading workflow, I used a few different methods to collect data. First, I thought back to my previous experiences grading writing assignments—how hard it was to get started, the procrastination that always crept in, and how much time each step of the process took. Then, I tracked those same things while using EnlightenAI this year to see how my efficiency and stress levels compared. I also gave my students a survey to find out how they felt about the feedback they received and whether they noticed any changes in how quickly I returned their work.
Data collection took place over a three-week period, during which students completed four writing assignments. Rubric scores and feedback were recorded after each assignment, which provided consistent data points for evaluating the impact of EnlightenAI on grading efficiency and feedback quality.
Key Findings
EnlightenAI has made grading so much more manageable for me, especially as a teacher with ADHD. The stress and procrastination that used to come with grading have significantly decreased. Looking at my past workflow compared to this year, the improvement is undeniable. For example, grading a set of 18 short writing responses used to take me around two hours because I’d spend so much time rereading each assignment to make sure my comments were meaningful and aligned with the rubric. With EnlightenAI, I finished the same task in just one hour—cutting my grading time in half. The tool’s ability to generate clear, actionable feedback that matches my rubric has been a game-changer. I no longer have to reread everything multiple times to feel confident about the feedback I’m giving.
In a survey I distributed to students, 86% said they felt the comments they received were more helpful compared to past assignments. One student noted, “The feedback was really specific.
It told me exactly what I did well and where I needed to improve, like fixing my transitions and adding more examples.” Another student in my co-taught class said, “It was easier to understand than before, and I could fix my mistakes before turning it in.” These responses show how EnlightenAI not only improved the timeliness of my feedback but also its usefulness in helping students revise and grow.
In the past, getting detailed feedback to students quickly was a huge struggle, and by the time I returned their work, the opportunity for meaningful improvement often felt lost. This year, with EnlightenAI, I’ve been able to release grades and comments within 72 hours for most assignments—a huge shift. One standout example was in my 10th-grade co-taught class, where over half the students have IEPs and are working below grade level. The immediate feedback feature made a noticeable difference. Students could see actionable suggestions and make meaningful revisions before submitting their final drafts, which led to an average 12% improvement in their rubric scores. Seeing them take ownership of their work and make real progress so quickly was incredibly rewarding.
One big change I noticed was how much sooner I started grading assignments. Before, I’d procrastinate for days, feeling completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work. However, with EnlightenAI, grading didn’t feel so daunting anymore, and I consistently started within 24 hours of collecting assignments. My students noticed the difference, too. In surveys, 91% said getting feedback faster made them feel more confident in their writing. I also saw how much they benefited from the comments. Across all skill levels, students made meaningful revisions, showing noticeable improvements in grammar, structure, and analysis.
The results so far have been really encouraging, but it’s worth noting that this study only covered shorter writing assignments over a three-week period. I haven’t had the chance to see how EnlightenAI handles longer, more complex essays yet. While the tool definitely cut down on grading time, I still needed to review and tweak some comments to address more nuanced issues, especially for my co-taught students with specific learning needs. Even with these limitations, the time saved and the boost in feedback quality make EnlightenAI an incredibly helpful tool for tackling grading challenges and improving student progress.
