This practice guide from AI for Education and Student Achievement Partners presents practical strategies for K–12 educators to integrate generative AI (GenAI) in literacy classrooms. The guide begins with a framework of distinguishing between productive and counterproductive struggle in literacy learning, offering examples as they relate to core components in learning objectives for high-quality literacy content. The guide then explores how GenAI integration might look in alignment with this framework, with strategies for using tools to support and not replace teachers’ instructional strategies for productive struggle. Examples of GenAI’s role include generating differentiated text, providing visual and vocabulary supports, and supporting brainstorming. These strategies are presented alongside the roles of students and teachers. The guide discourages GenAI practices that offload cognitive lift, such as composing or rewriting drafts for students. This guide may serve as a useful resource for literacy educators to consider what GenAI use looks like in supporting students’ deeper literacy learning.