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.