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Read-aloud & text-to-speech
When a student can't yet decode text fluently, reading gets in the way of thinking. Text-to-speech (TTS) reads the words so the student can spend their energy on understanding.
Who it helps
Struggling and emerging readers, students with dyslexia, English learners, students with visual fatigue — and anyone who simply retains more by listening while they read along.
Try it yourself: turn on read-aloud
Pick your classroom device to see how to enable text-to-speech.
Device setup helper
Classroom moves
- Model it once with the whole class so it's a normal option, not a spotlight.
- Pair listening with the text on screen — highlighting each word as it's read builds decoding over time.
- Let students set the speed. Faster reading suits review; slower suits new material.
- Use it for your own directions so non-readers can start independently.
Not a replacement for reading instruction
TTS removes the decoding barrier so students can access grade-level ideas — it doesn't teach decoding. Keep it alongside your reading program, not instead of it.
Next
The flip side of listening is speaking your ideas — see Speech-to-text & dictation.