Embedded Files
Recorded audio books and literature platforms to build listening comprehension, vocabulary, and independent access to text.
What are Audiobooks?
What are Audiobooks?
Audiobooks provide an auditory path to reading, allowing students to access curriculum materials, literature, and textbooks by listening. This accommodation bypasses decoding challenges—making it highly effective for struggling readers, students with dyslexia, and those with visual or physical disabilities—while keeping them engaged with grade-level content.
Audiobook Access
Audiobook Access
These are platforms that come with their own pre-made libraries of audiobooks for students to browse and stream:
Learning Ally: A key educational resource featuring a massive library of human-narrated audiobooks, including K-12 textbooks. The app synchronizes professional voice narration with highlighted on-screen text to build reading confidence. Read more about Learning Ally here. Note: Learning Ally is specifically designed for students with reading-based learning differences, visual impairments, or physical disabilities.
Bookshare (Audio Formats): Use Bookshare to get digital audio versions of textbooks or novels. (Ask your school psychologist about student eligibility requirements).
School Memberships: Some schools have an institutional membership to get digital texts for eligible students.
Individual Memberships: Eligible students can get an individual membership for free through the school district or on their own (proof of disability is required).
Sora (The Citywide Digital Library): Provided completely free for all NYCPS students and teachers. Powered by OverDrive, students can log in 24/7 using their standard school/DOE credentials to instantly borrow and listen to thousands of digital audiobooks (and ebooks) on any device.
DIY Audiobook Players & Reader Apps
DIY Audiobook Players & Reader Apps
These are powerful player apps and web extensions. Students use them to import their own files (like PDFs, EPUBs, or Google Docs) or link their existing library accounts (like Bookshare) to listen to them like an audiobook:
Capti Voice: A versatile, education-focused platform that reads documents, web pages, and book files aloud. It is highly customizable, supports offline reading, and integrates perfectly with school accounts and Google Drive.
Voice Dream Reader: A premium, feature-rich app designed specifically for reading files aloud. It boasts incredibly natural-sounding voices and allows students to import PDFs, EPUBs, and Word docs to listen to them like an audiobook.
Speechify: An app and extensions that converts digital text, scanned worksheets, and web articles into fluid speech, using high-quality AI voices that keep students engaged.
Read&Write for Google Chrome: A highly accessible Chrome extension that provides a customizable reading toolbar. It allows students to instantly read aloud Google Docs, web pages, and accessible PDFs with dual-color highlighting (highlighting the sentence in one color and the spoken word in another) to support visual tracking.
Dolphin EasyReader: A free app designed specifically for students with dyslexia, low vision, or physical disabilities. Students can customize font sizes and speech, and link directly to Bookshare to instantly search, download, and play audiobooks in one place.
Apple Books: Built directly into iPads and iPhones. It acts as a great DIY reader where students can import and organize their own EPUBs and PDFs, or buy and listen to store-bought audiobooks.
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