Reading pens

Reading pens are another helpful form of assistive technology for students with dyslexia. With a reading pen, students can scan a word or line of text and hear it read aloud instantly. This allows learners with decoding difficulties to access grade-level material in novels, textbooks, and classroom assignments. Research supports the effectiveness of these tools. McKenzie, Kawanna, and Ismahan (2024) found that reading pens can improve reading fluency and overall reading level. Johnson (2008) reported increases in reading accuracy and comprehension when students used reading pens. Similarly, Mortimore (2018) found that students demonstrated gains in vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence after using reading pens as part of their literacy support.

With all the reading pens listed below, there is a learning curve. Text must be scanned properly. Users need to have a steady hand as a fairly steady, consistent scanning motion is required. All reading pens can have issues with unusual fonts. Misreading and pronunciation errors can also be a problem from time to time.

Rocket Pen Reading Tutor reads any surface- books, phones, tablets, and PCs.

• It can read aloud individual words or multiple lines of text.

• Users can listen along with earbuds. lt has 'learn to read' functions such as spelling and syllabication of words.

• Text is highlighted as it is read.

• There is an onboard dictionary.

• The cost is high at $399.

Scanmarker Pal is a translation pen and reading pen for language learners and students with reading difficulties.

• It has Bluetooth connectivity for use with headphones.

• It also has a built-in dictionary.

• The cost is $99

• It can scan text and export it digitally (to a computer or note file)

• it supports translation into over 100 languages

Svantto 4-in-1 translator Pen & ReadingPen

• It can translate into 8 language offline and 134 languages online.

• It has a user friendly touch screen design with adjustable speech speed.

• It scans words or sentences and reads them aloud through a built-in speaker or via Bluetooth headphones

  
  

References

Johnson, I. (2008). Does the Oxford reading pen enhance reading accuracy and comprehension for students with reading difficulties in a classroom environment? Kairaranga, 9(1), 36–43. https://doi.org/10.54322/kairaranga.v9i1.111

McKenzie, Kawanna, and Ismahan Arslan-Ari. “Evaluating the Implementation of the Reading Pen on the Reading Level, Comprehension, and Oral Reading Fluency of Students with Learning Disabilities.” Educational Technology & Society, vol. 27, no. 4, 2024, pp. 251–66. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48791554. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.

Mortimore, T. (2018). The impact of using a ReaderPen on year 10 learners in a multicultural urban school. Institute for Education, Bath Spa University.