Myth buster: Kami is only used by certain grades

Welcome to the second ‘myth buster’ article in our brand-new series. Today, we’re looking at a persistent misconception: that Kami is only useful for certain age groups or grade levels.

At first glance, it’s easy to see why some people might think that. A tool known for PDF annotation might seem more suited to high schoolers filling out worksheets or preparing for assessments. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that Kami is used from kindergarten all the way through to senior year—and for good reason.

In this Q&A, Paul Savage (a.k.a. “Savvy”), Senior Product Marketing Manager at Kami, sits down with Laurel Kirchhoff, a Senior Customer Manager based in the US, to explore why Kami isn’t just grade-specific—it’s grade-agnostic.

Savvy:
Laurel, let’s dive in. Why is it a myth that Kami is only used by specific grades?

Laurel Kirchhoff:
It’s a huge myth, Savvy – and one we’re always happy to bust. Kami’s tools are intentionally designed to scale across the entire K–12 spectrum. In early grades, Kami supports emerging readers and writers with accessibility tools like Read Aloud, Voice Typing, and drawing-based annotation. Amongst other things, middle school students benefit from collaborative tools and flexible expression formats – think audio comments, video reflections, or interactive whiteboards. And for high schoolers, Kami becomes an indispensable tool for organizing assignments, conducting assessments, or practicing content-rich tasks with multimedia and AI-powered support.

There’s no grade Kami doesn’t serve. It’s a platform that grows with the learner, covering UDL, PBL and so much more.

Savvy:
So, what does that look like in a K–2 classroom versus, say, a high school science class?

Laurel:
Great example. In a K–2 classroom, Kami is often used to help students engage with stories or phonics activities. Teachers can upload a simple worksheet or storybook and activate Read Aloud, helping kids hear the words as they follow along visually. Students can circle sight words with the drawing tool, voice-record their reading attempts, or use picture-based comments to communicate ideas. It’s tactile, auditory, and visual—perfect for young learners.

In a high school science class, on the other hand, a teacher might upload a dense lab report or diagram-heavy document. With Kami, they can scaffold that content using the Explain tool (which breaks things down just like a teacher might), and/or use the Relevel feature to suit the appropriate grade or Lexile level, or even embed a video of themselves walking through the experiment. Students can annotate diagrams, ask questions in context, or record lab observations via video—all on the same file.

So whether it’s coloring in the alphabet or evaluating the pH of a solution, Kami adapts.

Savvy:
That’s a brilliant synopsis, thank you. So accessibility tools aren’t just for SPED or ELL?

Laurel:
Not at all! While Kami absolutely supports SPED and ELL learners—and does so exceptionally well—our accessibility tools benefit all students.

For instance, Read Aloud helps early readers and students with dyslexia, but it’s also useful for anyone processing complex content. Likewise, Translate supports multilingual learners, but it’s just as handy in world language classes. And tools like Screen Masking or Dyslexia-Friendly Fonts offer comfort and focus for students with and without formal diagnoses.

And let’s not forget: our newest features—like the Explain, Summarize, and Relevel tools—help every student build comprehension, no matter their age or ability.

Savvy:
Alright, talk to me about middle school. That’s clearly a unique transition phase. How does Kami serve that age group?

Laurel:
Middle school is where students start needing more autonomy. Students at this level often face group projects, multimedia assignments, and more abstract thinking. Kami’s collaboration features shine here.

Whether it’s a shared whiteboard, real-time co-annotation of a social studies article, or the chance to leave peer feedback via voice note, Kami gives middle schoolers the tools to express themselves in formats that feel natural. They also begin using features like Class View, which helps teachers spot who’s keeping up and who needs a nudge—without having to wait until grading day.

It’s also a perfect stage to introduce our AI-powered Questions tool. Teachers can generate comprehension questions from a reading passage or convert existing ones into auto-graded formats. Students engage, teachers save time—it’s a win-win.

Savvy:
You mentioned Class View. How does that support differentiation across grade levels?

Laurel:
It’s one of Kami’s most powerful tools. Class View lets teachers track student work in real-time, so they can intervene when needed or tweak instruction on the fly. In an elementary class, that might mean spotting a student who’s off task and nudging them with a quick comment. In high school, it could mean identifying a student who’s misunderstood a math concept and sending them a video walkthrough in response.

And with our Insights and Answers View, teachers don’t have to guess who’s struggling. They get the data they need to personalize instruction—whether that’s assigning an extra practice sheet or simplifying content with the Relevel button.

Savvy:
And assessments—how does that vary by age?

Laurel:
So, elementary assessments might include drawings, voice responses, or fill-in-the-blanks. With Kami, students can use the drawing tool, voice comment, or even record a video of themselves explaining their thinking.

By high school, teachers might want deeper questions and faster grading. That’s where our AI-powered Questions tool and auto-grading features step in. Kami can generate and grade multi-format questions aligned to different depths of knowledge. Teachers get their evenings back. Students get timely, tailored feedback.

Savvy:
So for any district leader or buyer thinking Kami’s just for ‘older students’, what would you say?

Laurel:
I’d say take another look!

Kami’s real power lies in its adaptability. We’re in pre-K classrooms helping kids develop phonemic awareness. We’re in middle schools promoting student voice and collaboration. We’re in high schools driving college and career readiness. And we’re doing it all with one intuitive, accessible platform.

No matter where a student is in their journey—from learning to read, to reading to learn—Kami is there.

Summary

The belief that Kami is only used by certain grade levels is officially busted. With flexible tools that scale across all ages, Kami is built to support every learner—from kindergarten through to graduation. Whether it’s supporting early literacy, enhancing collaboration in middle school, or streamlining assessment in high school, Kami is the classroom companion for every stage of learning.

Discover more

To learn how Kami can support your classroom, school, or district, speak to our team today:
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