Text to Speech, Mapping & Outlining

Screenshot Reader (Read&Write for Google Chrome): A Chrome extension feature that lets students draw a blue box around any text on their screen—including text locked inside images, restricted PDFs, or flash videos—and instantly converts it to speakable text.

Voice Dream Scanner: A mobile companion app that uses rapid optical character recognition (OCR) to scan physical worksheets, instantly converting paper documents into clean, digital speech.

Immersive Reader (Microsoft): A built-in feature for Microsoft 365, Edge, and educational platforms that strips away background clutter, allows students to increase text spacing, translates text, and reads pages aloud with highly adjustable speech rates.

iOS Built-in TTS (Speak Selection & Speak Screen): A built-in iPad feature that allows students to highlight specific text to hear it, or simply swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen to hear anything on their screen read aloud.

Chrome OS Select-to-Speak: A built-in accessibility feature on Chromebooks where students can hold down the Search key and click on any block of text to hear it spoken aloud instantly.

Inspiration Maps (iOS): A visual learning app for iPads that lets students build diagrams, graphic organizers, and concept maps. With a single tap, their visual map transforms into a structured text outline.

Kidspiration Maps (iOS): Designed specifically for younger learners (grades K-5). It uses visual symbols, pictures, and simplified drag-and-drop mechanics to build early organizing and writing skills.

Lucidchart: A robust, cloud-based diagramming application. It is excellent for collaborative projects, allowing multiple students to build mind maps, flowcharts, and Venn diagrams together in real-time on any device.

MindView (by MatchWare): A highly professional mind-mapping tool popular in middle/high schools and colleges. It features deep integration with Microsoft Office, allowing students to export their mind maps directly into perfectly formatted Word documents or PowerPoint slides.

Read&Write "Simplify" Tool (Lexile Level Adjuster): A toolbar feature that strips web pages of distractions and uses a simple slider to summarize text and lower its reading level (Lexile level) on the fly while keeping the core facts intact.

Rewordify: A free online tool, available through Read&Write for Google Chrome,  that simplifies difficult English by replacing advanced words and idioms with simpler synonyms, highlighting the changes so students can learn vocabulary contextually.