How to Enable Text-to-Speech (read aloud)

With Text-to-Speech enabled, directions can be read aloud in most Practice topics, in prompts and passages for both Quick Writes and Guided Drafts, and in student writing while working on a Guided Draft. Once Text-to-Speech is enabled, small text-to-speech controls (Play, Pause, Stop) will display for each student with text-to-speech enabled.

Enable Text-to-Speech for your class

Teachers can enable text-to-speech for their students directly from their account. There are two places where you can enable text-to-speech for your students.

Manage Classes page

1. Navigate to your "Manage Classes" page.
2. Select the speaker icon next to a student’s name.
3. The speaker icon is greyed out when disabled and will turn blue when enabled.

Edit Student window:

1. On the "Manage Classes" page, select the gear icon next to the student's name.
2. In the Actions drop-down, select "Edit Student."
3. On the Edit Student window, toggle the "Enable text-to-speech" option.
4. Once toggled on, select "Save changes."

Enable Text-to-Speech in your account

Teachers and students can turn enable text-to-speech directly within their accounts in two locations. 

Account Settings page:

1. Select the drop-down in the top-right corner of your homepage.
2. Select "Account Settings."
3. Select the "Site Preferences" page.
4. Under Text-to-Speech, toggle the "Enable text-to-speech for my account" option on.
5. Select "Save text-to-speech setting."

Sources in writing assignments:

Students can now also manage text-to speech settings directly in their writing assignments with sources instead of through their account settings! 

1. In any writing assignment that provides students with a source to reference, select the "Settings" drop-down at the top of the source. Students will also see this drop-down when they view the source in fullscreen.
   
2. Toggle the "Enable text-to-speech" option on.
3. Students can interact with the text-to-speech feature either with the play buttons next to the text or the slider at the bottom of the screen.

💡 Turning text-to-speech on from within the writing assignment will enable text-to-speech for the entire account.