Guide to Integrating Generative AI for Deeper Literacy Learning
An initial exploration of how to harness generative AI's (GenAI) power to enhance, not replace, the cognitive lift and meaningful learning in K-12 literacy classrooms.
Developed in collaboration with Student Achievement Partners , this document explores practical strategies for using AI to support students’ productive struggle while maintaining the essential cognitive work that drives learning. With an understanding that both the technology and its educational applications are rapidly evolving, we offer these insights as a conversation starter and support as educators continue to wrestle with how GenAI can serve instructional needs and how content and pedagogy intersect with this evolving technology.
Key Highlights:
Framework for distinguishing productive vs. counterproductive struggle in literacy classrooms
Practical strategies for using AI to enhance student engagement without replacing critical thinking
Detailed use cases across foundational skills, knowledge building, and writing instruction
Elementary-specific guidance emphasizing teacher-led AI implementation
Comprehensive rubrics and examples for effective classroom integration
Key Principles for GenAI Integration
Tools should support, not circumvent, productive struggle for students.
Integration should enhance, not replace, proven instructional practices.
Usage should align with students’ developmental readiness and literacy goals.
GenAI should augment educators’ pedagogical expertise, content knowledge, and knowledge of students.
A way to consider meaningful use of GenAI that supports student learning is to move away from activity and technology-driven tasks, and instead focus on student learning. Ask:
What are students learning through this task?
Where is productive struggle essential to student learning?
Where might GenAI benefit learners or learning outcomes? Where could it mitigate counterproductive struggle?
Strategies for Using GenAI to Support Deeper Literacy Learning
Detailed in the guide are examples of effective and ineffective applications of GenAI, including:
Best practices for enhancing cognitive lift: Instructional moves and student practice opportunities that support productive struggle.
Practices to avoid that offload cognitive lift: Instructional moves and student practice that reduce or replace opportunities for meaningful challenge and engagement.
Worked chatbot transcripts that illustrate these practices.
Highlighted student use cases. Examples that assume direct student use are targeted to middle and high school students with parental permission.
What makes this guide unique:
Built on evidence-based literacy instruction principles
Focuses on maintaining student cognitive engagement
Provides concrete examples of both effective and ineffective AI implementation
Emphasizes responsible AI adoption aligned with developmental stages
Looking Ahead
As AI tools and their applications in education continue to evolve, this resource will grow and adapt based on emerging research and classroom experience. We invite educators to share their experiences implementing these strategies, provide feedback on what's working, and contribute insights about the impact on student learning. Your classroom expertise will help shape future versions of this resource and deepen our collective understanding of effective AI integration in literacy instruction.
Please reach out to us with your observations and suggestions here.
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