AI Under the Hood: Opportunities and Limitations for Foundational Skills Instruction

About the Event

May 27, 2026, 8 p.m.

As artificial intelligence becomes more common in K–12 classrooms, many educators are asking a simple but important question: how do these tools actually work, and can they truly support reading instruction?

In this session, Viv Ramakrishnan, founder of Project Read AI, offers a clear and accessible introduction to AI, with a focus on the large language models behind tools like ChatGPT. You will build a practical understanding of how these systems generate responses, helping you better evaluate what they do well and where they fall short.

From there, we will connect this understanding directly to literacy instruction using Scarborough’s Reading Rope as our guide. Strand by strand, we will explore where AI shows real promise and where it currently has limitations, especially when it comes to foundational skills. When relevant, examples will be grounded in the IMSE scope and sequence to show how AI can complement the structured, systematic practices you already use.

You will leave with a clearer mental model of AI, a realistic view of its capabilities, and practical ideas for thoughtfully integrating these tools into Structured Literacy instruction.

Topic: Phonological Awareness, Reading, Writing
Grade: K-2, 3-5, 6+