Riverside Learning - Student Writing in the Age of AI

In an era when artificial intelligence can generate a polished paragraph in seconds, how do we ensure that students continue to develop—and confidently use—their own authentic voices?

This professional learning session is designed for educators serving students in Grades 5–12 and will explore practical ways to strengthen student writing, thinking, and ownership in the age of AI. Participants will examine how classroom writing experiences can move beyond simply producing a finished product and instead create meaningful opportunities for students to think deeply, develop ideas, make connections, and communicate what they genuinely believe and understand.

Participants will explore strategies for helping students find and use their own authentic voices when responding to both literary and informational texts. The session will focus on designing writing experiences that make student thinking visible while building confidence, independence, and engagement as writers.

Participants will leave with practical, classroom-ready strategies for creating writing and learning opportunities that:

Foster authentic student voice and ownership
Help students develop and communicate their own ideas
Encourage deeper thinking about literary and informational texts
Build confidence and independence as writers
Create meaningful opportunities for students to draft, revise, reflect, and strengthen their thinking
Help teachers navigate the opportunities and challenges AI presents for student writing

The goal isn't simply to help students write without AI. It is to help students become writers and thinkers whose ideas, reasoning, experiences, and voices remain at the center of the learning process.

Audience: ELA and History/Social Studies Teachers in Grades 5-12

Investment: $950 for FULL District Access

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Lisa Kaminski

Lisa Kaminski brings more than 30 years of experience in public education, with extensive expertise in literacy, instructional leadership, curriculum development, evidence-based writing, and professional learning. Most recently, she served as Director of Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development for Westport Community Schools, where she led district-wide curriculum, instruction, and professional learning initiatives.

Lisa’s career has included roles as a district administrator, literacy coach, department coordinator, teacher-leader, and ELA educator. Her professional learning expertise includes evidence-based writing instruction, text-based writing, close reading, document-based teaching and learning, project-based learning, literature circles, the Science of Reading, Universal Design for Learning, and student-centered instructional practices.

Why Lisa for Student Writing in the Age of AI?

Lisa brings a particularly strong connection to this workshop through her extensive experience helping educators develop students’ ability to read closely, think critically, use evidence, and communicate their ideas through writing. Her background in evidence-based writing and text-based instruction provides a strong foundation for helping educators consider what authentic student writing should look like in a world where AI can increasingly generate written products for students.

In this session, Lisa will help educators in Grades 5–12 think beyond simply asking, “How do we prevent students from using AI?” Instead, participants will explore how to design writing experiences that require students to think, question, analyze, make connections, develop original ideas, and communicate in their own authentic voices.

Drawing on decades of classroom and instructional leadership experience, Lisa will connect the enduring principles of strong writing instruction with the realities of today's AI-enabled classrooms—giving educators practical, immediately applicable strategies for protecting and strengthening student thinking, voice, and ownership of writing.