Skills Before Tools
A K–12 AI Implementation Guide That Puts Learning First
The practical roadmap for introducing AI across grade levels, without sacrificing thinking, student ownership, or foundational skills.
"When we focus on skills before tools, AI becomes a support for learning instead of a shortcut around it."
What's inside:
Stop guessing when and how to introduce AI in your school.
Most AI guides jump straight to tools, policies, and access. But they skip the most critical question: How do we prepare students to use AI well while keeping learning at the center?
This free implementation guide gives you a clear, developmentally-grounded framework that prioritizes student thinking over technology adoption. You'll discover exactly which skills students need at each grade level before AI tools ever enter the picture.
What you get:
- A Skills-First Framework that shows when students are ready for AI interaction (and when they're not).
- 5 Core Throughline Skills that develop from K–12 and transfer directly to responsible AI use.
- Grade-Band Progressions (K–3, 4–6, 7–9, 10–12) with clear expectations for each stage.
- Practical "Skill in Action" examples showing what effective implementation looks like in real classrooms.
- Metacognitive prompts teachers can use immediately to build student reflection and ownership.