Key points:
- Digital resources should offer language accessibility and academic rigor
- Supporting delayed readers: Strategies for success
- Science teachers, math teachers, history teachers–we’re all reading teachers
- For more news on edtech and literacy, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching hub
In today’s rapidly changing digital landscape, with an overload of educational technology tools, there’s something to be said for legacy platforms that not only stand the test of time but continue to evolve in ways that meet the shifting needs of our students and educators.
For my district, that enduring solution has been World Book. When I think back to the impact of World Book, my first memories aren’t from the classroom, but from my grandmother’s living room. She insisted on having the latest World Book Encyclopedia set every year, instilling in me a love of reading and inquiry. That early access to knowledge helped shape who I am today, and I carry that legacy into my work leading library services and digital learning for more than 30,500 students in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Equity, access, and the power of informational text
Irving ISD is a proudly diverse district. Roughly 75 percent of our students come from Spanish-speaking households, more than 85 percent are economically disadvantaged, and over half are emergent bilinguals. In a landscape where English proficiency and reading levels vary widely, it’s essential that we provide high-quality, credible resources that offer both language accessibility and academic rigor.
World Book’s digital platform delivers just that. Its multi-level text options allow students to engage with the same information at varying reading levels–an absolute game-changer for inclusive learning. The platform’s language translation tools, embedded accessibility features, and rich visual supports ensure students can learn at their own pace, in their own way, and still meet the high academic standards we uphold across the district.
But accessibility alone isn’t enough. In today’s world, where misinformation is rampant and digital literacy is more important than ever, students must also develop the critical thinking skills to evaluate sources and identify truth. Our librarians teach information literacy and digital citizenship as core parts of our library program. World Book’s vetted, expert-authored content provides a model of reliability and credibility that educators and students can trust.
Making literacy seamless, not separate
One of the most impactful shifts I’ve seen in recent years is the growing understanding that literacy is not confined to English Language Arts (ELA). In fact, every teacher is a reading teacher.
That’s why World Book’s cross-curricular capabilities are essential. Science, social studies, and even math teachers can access informational texts aligned to Texas standards directly through the platform’s educator tools. These tools make it easy for teachers to locate relevant articles and materials during their planning process, cutting down on prep time while strengthening instruction. Students, in turn, build literacy skills in context, rather than treating reading as an isolated subject.
With the adoption of the new Bluebonnet Elementary RLA and math curriculum, our team created companion guides that link World Book and other premium resources to each unit’s nonfiction content. These integrations support background knowledge, academic vocabulary, and student engagement–all of which help close persistent literacy gaps.
From pre-K to PD: Building habits of access
Building what I call “habits of access” starts early. Whether it’s tracing letters with the “Fun with Words” feature in World Book’s Early Learning portal or exploring animals and ecosystems in the elementary grades, our youngest learners are developing a muscle memory for where to go when they’re curious.
Our librarians reinforce these habits weekly. Even with recent budget cuts that reduced our team from 36 to 19 librarians–each now serving two campuses–they continue to make every minute count. World Book’s intuitive interface and clear navigation make it a go-to tool for short, high-impact sessions. As one librarian put it, “Just follow the apple.”
We extend these habits to our educators, too. Each year, through our professional learning partnership, we introduce over 160 new teachers to the suite of digital tools. World Book consistently receives praise and positive feedback, particularly when we demonstrate how seamlessly it aligns with curriculum and standards.
Proving value through use
In a time when districts are scrutinizing edtech tools more than ever, reducing duplicative platforms, and cutting costs, World Book has survived and thrived in Irving ISD. Why? Because our usage data proves its value.
World Book consistently ranks among our most accessed premium resources. That data allows us to advocate confidently for continued investment with stakeholders and decision-makers. The fact that World Book supports 24/7, simultaneous access to high-interest eBooks–identical to those in our physical libraries–is another reason it remains indispensable, particularly for summer reading and independent learning.
This summer, for instance, we’re launching a district-wide challenge through Beanstack to track reading minutes. Students will be encouraged to log every moment spent reading, whether from a physical book or a World Book article. This reinforces our message that all reading matters and that learning never stops.
Advice for district leaders: Keep resources at the forefront
If I could offer one piece of advice to other district leaders, it’s this: Premium digital resources only deliver value if they’re visible. That’s why I’ve rebranded our tools from “library resources” to “premium resources”–to ensure every teacher sees them as their own, not just something to be used in the library.
Keep your resources at the forefront of conversations. Integrate them into curriculum planning. Showcase them during professional development. Most importantly, they should be modelled for early and frequent use.
In an era of constant change, where new tools emerge daily and attention spans are short, there’s immense value in legacy platforms that continue to evolve. Century-old resources, like World Book, succeed and stay relevant because they balance trusted content with modern features that meet students where they are. They empower educators to reach every learner, regardless of language, background, or ability, and help build the foundation all students need to become confident readers, curious researchers, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners.
Now more than ever, education leaders must prioritize effective, reliable, and accessible solutions that support learning across all subjects and for every student. The future depends on it.