Episode Details

In this podcast episode, primary educator and entrepreneur Emily Garcia discusses the science of reading and the role of teachers versus AI in teaching children to read. While there is systemic and explicit phonics-based instruction that is necessary for effective reading instruction, there are also many factors that prevent AI from being able to fully replace teachers. Teachers provide multiple inputs and value in partner reading and are necessary for building a classroom community and managing the classroom. However, when applicable, teachers should use AI as a tool to enhance their teaching methods. The decision of when to use AI should be made during PLCs and based on what is working for the students.

This episode is brought to you by AILeader.info, where you can learn all about AI specifically in a place designed for educators through 3-minute masterclasses. 

• Science of reading
• Systemic and explicit phonics-based instruction.
• Just too many factors that prevent
• It is so highly technical
• AI cannot detect CVC and other
• Do we still need the teachers?
• Multiple input from having a teacher there.
• Value in partner reading
• Human standpoint: How do we attack this word?
• The scope and sequence are over 100 pages.
• AI cannot comprehend yet all that has to be done.
• Illustrations, clip art, and more.
• Teachers are amazing, and we’ll never be able to replace teachers with AI or a bot.
• instant gratification vs. instant feedback.
• Incredibly difficult to teach phonics.
• Teachers have to be there for the class to run smoothly.
• With no teacher, there’s no community.
• Classroom management vs. classroom community.
• You don’t have to be as great at teaching methods if you are great at building community.
• When applicable, teachers should absolutely be using AI.
• Teachers have to decide when it is appropriate.
• This feels a lot like technology in the 90s and 2000s.
• How to determine when AI should be used or not used? During PLCs, it’s about the conversation and how people are using AI and what is working.

About Emily Garcia

Emily Garcia is a primary educator, a passionate advocate for quality education, and a visionary entrepreneur. With her unwavering commitment to revolutionalize the educational landscape, Emily has made a significant impact by founding Education to the Core, an organization that has served over 500,000 classrooms worldwide.

Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL, and Renaissance Learning:

As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonst