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Only a third of eighth graders read at grade level, a problem that requires immediate action. Schools must make literacy a schoolwide focus if they want to effectively combat the literacy gap.

Throughout the edLeader Panel “Middle School Literacy: A Schoolwide Strategy, Not Just a Subject,” Tom Evans, World Book’s VP of Editorial, talked with Rebecca Earnshaw, World Book Senior Director of Digital Products, Mikayla Lee, experienced educator and World Book Curriculum Designer, and Dr. Kip Glazer, school principal, author, speaker, and technology consultant, about where students are struggling, how to support them, using digital tools, and responsible AI usage.

Literacy Affects All Subjects

Literacy is not just an ELA skill. It’s students’ abilities to understand, discuss, and analyze information—skills needed in all classes. Those skills are developed in the elementary grades and become critical in middle and high school. Building them takes repetition and is crucial to successful engagement across subjects.

Literacy breakdowns appear in all subjects, especially math. Literacy skills include analyzing and decoding information, which is crucial to understanding math, science, and social studies. If students in earlier grade levels aren’t given challenging texts that allow them to engage in productive struggle, they don’t grow. As they move up in grades, content becomes more complex, and they struggle to access it. Reading more nonfiction can help, but teachers often lack time or resources for that. As a result, students lack foundational skills and struggle across multiple content areas.

For this reason, literacy must be a schoolwide priority, meaning leadership needs a clear vision and definitions that faculty can buy into. There are many research-based strategies available, but leaders need to commit to one instead of chasing trends. Teachers must be given the time and resources to bring literacy into the classroom. Encouraging student discourse helps them interact with and understand the text, but teachers require leadership’s support to be empowered to facilitate discourse. When students can have academic discussions, they’re more likely to become invested in curricula.

Teachers Need Support—Tools Can Help

Teachers have massive workloads, so they need tools and resources to incorporate literacy into their classes without adding more work. Some AI tools can help, though AI isn’t a cure-all and requires a thoughtful approach. Give teachers time and tools for comprehension checks, such as quick exit or entrance tickets, or text-based discussions.

Digital tools like AI can support student comprehension, but leaders must ensure that the tools are appropriate and safe. They must ensure there’s accountability for AI-generated content, and erect a framework that enhances teaching and learning while protecting privacy. It’s important for teachers to discuss how to safely use AI, both among themselves and with students, to ensure that tools are being used properly and carefully. AI tools should scaffold learning and ease teachers’ workloads. They need transparency regarding data usage and curriculum alignment, as well as ways to verify content.

Teachers can best teach students to use AI by modeling responsible use, such as demonstrating how to get good results from a chatbot and confirming that the bot is safe to use. Show students how to use AI to get feedback on assignments. Ensure students show mastery by demonstrating skills, not just producing results. Otherwise, they’ll see little reason not to just use AI to do the work for them.

Lead by Example

Leaders wanting to advocate for schoolwide literacy strategies should demonstrate a willingness to learn. They need to show students and staff that they’re willing to ask questions and demonstrate skills. Additionally, they need clear, strategic goals and concrete steps to reach them, and they must provide teachers with the support and resources to reach those goals. Students need more time reading, and teachers need support to give that to them.

Teachers understand the challenge they’re facing and are willing to put the work in. Students are also finding solutions and, in some instances, are even helping develop policies around literacy and AI usage. When everyone has the support they need, schools can close the literacy gap and develop a generation of informed thinkers prepared for the future.

Learn more about this edWeb broadcast, Middle School Literacy: A Schoolwide Strategy, Not Just a Subject, sponsored by ClassMate by World Book.

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Empowering Struggling Readers is a free professional learning community that provides educators, administrators, special educators, curriculum leaders, and librarians a place to collaborate on how to turn struggling readers into thriving students.

ClassMate by World Book provides trusted literacy-driven learning across subjects to bridge the gap between content access and meaningful learning. The platform builds knowledge with literacy supports that use trusted content and responsible AI to strengthen understanding in every classroom. Learn more at classmate.worldbook.com.

Article by Jon Scanlon, based on this edLeader Panel