Putting AI to Work in Disciplinary Literacy: Shifting Mindsets and Guiding Classroom Instruction

Can generative AI support--not supplant--students’ reading, writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills? In this practical, literacy-centered guide, Rachel Karchmer-Klein shows how AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot can be integrated into grades 6-12 instruction without compromising academic rigor or student voice. Grounded in the principles of disciplinary literacy, the book helps teachers shift their mindsets, explore ethical dilemmas, and design content-rich lessons that keep student thinking at the center. With ready-to-use lesson plans, classroom vignettes, Try It Out activities, discussion prompts, and reproducible planning forms that can also be downloaded and printed, this resource empowers educators to reimagine learning in the age of AI.

Rachel Karchmer-Klein, PhD, is Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Delaware, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy and educational technology. A former elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist, her research investigates the intersection of literacy, digital tools, and instructional design. Dr. Karchmer-Klein explores how educators can create learning experiences that leverage technological affordances to support reading, writing, and critical thinking. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals on such topics as online teacher education, multimodal literacy, and technology-integrated instruction. Dr. Karchmer-Klein’s work is grounded in the belief that solid instruction--not technology--is the key to effective digital learning, and she aims to prepare educators to teach thoughtfully and adaptively in an increasingly connected world.