AI and Reading Instruction

There are innovative, beautiful, personal ways that AI can deepen reading instruction-and most teachers simply need to be introduced to them. When willingness to explore AI combines with the urge to empower readers, remarkable things become possible. AI and Reading Instruction is a practical guide that shows you how. Drawing from years of classroom research and intensive professional development across grade-levels, Mary Ehrenworth and Philip Seyfried reveal what happens when teachers discover the opportunities hidden in moments of technological change: newcomers and multilingual learners participate fully in class discussions. Avid readers examine their thinking in exciting new ways. Teachers co-author learning tools and assessments that would have taken hours to create alone. Whether you're tech-phobic, tech-savvy but concerned about AI's impact on teaching, or simply curious about where to start, this book offers practical entry points and clear demonstrations. You'll learn to use large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini to rapidly generate learning tools and analyze reading data, and EdTech platforms like MagicSchool, SchoolAI, and Flint to create safe, contained chat rooms and simulations where students can interact with AI partners designed to your specifications. Inside, you'll find examples of research-based theoretical stances, practical tips, AI-student discussions, teacher-created chatbots, and co-created learning tools that show what this work looks like in practice. A companion website provides additional resources that will evolve as AI capabilities grow. At a moment when students need deeper reading comprehension and critical thinking skills, this book demonstrates how thoughtful AI integration increases accessibility and equity for every reader in your classroom.

Dr. Mary Ehrenworth co-led a think tank at Teachers College, Columbia University, for twenty years. She now runs Ehrenworth Literacy Innovations, working nationally and globally to empower teachers and students through critical literacies and collaborative inquiry. Mary is the author and co-author of many books and articles, including most recently, AI-Enhanced Literacy with Philip Seyfried, and Vocabulary Connections: A Structured Approach to Deepening Students' Academic and Expressive Language. Philip Seyfried is a literacy and digital literacy consultant, former middle school language arts teacher, and doctoral student at Teachers College, Columbia University, focusing on AI, criticality, and equity in literacy education. He now supports schools and districts nationally and internationally through workshops, professional development, and on-site consulting. Philip co-authored AI-Enhanced Literacy: Practical Steps for Deepening Reading and Writing Instruction (ASCD, 2025) with Mary Ehrenworth. His work helps teachers integrate AI in ways that increase accessibility while strengthening students' independent thinking and critical reading skills.

1. Getting Started with AI and EdTech AI 2. Maintaining Metacognition 3. Personalizing Reading Experiences and Reading Response 4. Breaking Down Barriers and Creating Access 5. AI as a Vocabulary Coach 6. Deepening Discussion and Interpretation 7. Deepening Criticality 8. Tracking Reader Development, Assessment, and Growth