Some of you might be thinking, “Wait, doesn’t Book Creator already have Text-to-Speech?” And you’re right—but until now, it was only available in ‘Read Mode’ to listen to an entire book, and could not be used on individual text elements or PDFs. After hearing from so many teachers about the incredible benefits of having Text-to-Speech (TTS) in edit mode, we couldn’t agree more, and we’re excited to bring this powerful tool to students! This is a game-changer!

How can text-to-speech improve student support?

Creating an inclusive classroom and addressing the diverse needs of learners is a challenge educators face daily. The Book Creator team is passionate about finding ways to support teachers in overcoming those challenges. Here are a few ways the TTS feature can support your students.

Improve reading fluency with text-to-speech

Accessing complex texts can be challenging for many students. Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology supports decoding and comprehension by allowing students to hear the text read aloud. For students with learning disabilities, the ability to listen to text reduces cognitive load, enabling them to focus on meaning rather than struggling with individual words.

Barriers such as dyslexia, visual impairments, and other learning differences can be removed using TTS, making content more accessible. With Book Creator, students can use TTS on any text added to their books, ensuring that written content is accessible to all learners. With this new update, teachers can also import texts as PDFs and use TTS, making it easier for students to access digital textbooks, worksheets, and other instructional materials in an audio format.

Additionally, research shows that repeated exposure to spoken text enhances reading fluency over time. By integrating TTS into their instruction, educators can provide meaningful support that fosters independent reading and learning.

Text-to-speech for better writing & editing

The ability to use TTS while writing allows students to listen to their work, making the editing process more effective. I can’t count the number of times a student approached my desk saying, “I’m done!”—only to quickly backtrack with an, “Oh, never mind” once I read their writing aloud. Hearing their words helps students catch mistakes they may have overlooked, prompting them to revise with a fresh perspective.

Empower students with text-to-speech

When students use the speech-to-text (STT) microphone functionality to write in Book Creator, it is even more important for them to be able to hear their text back aloud using TTS. For students who struggle with reading or writing, it serves as a powerful self-editing tool, enabling them to check their work and self-correct as needed.

Most importantly though, is that TTS allows students to engage with their content independently so they can take ownership of their learning. Hearing grade level PDFs read aloud or listening to written instructions on a page, encourages independence and fosters confidence in learning tasks.

Text-to-speech for multilingual learners

For multilingual learners, especially those at the novice level, decoding every word can be overwhelming, often hindering comprehension and participation. TTS allows students to engage with text more independently, providing valuable practice with word recognition and pronunciation. Even something as simple as hearing a list of vocabulary words read aloud can significantly improve understanding. Listening to new words in context helps students grasp their meanings and builds confidence in using them during class discussions.

Having the ability to use speech-to-text and text-to-speech communication in Book Creator for our multilingual learners allows them to use their native languages, and translate to English, or vice versa. Teachers and peers can communicate more effectively, and students will be able to accurately “show what they know” without the barrier of English language acquisition in the way.

How does text-to-speech work?

Using text-to-speech for text