Reading pens. What are the benefits and what are the options?

Posted by Kirstin Barr on the 7th January, 2026

Category Text-to-Speech Dyslexia

One of the tools that often comes up when thinking about supporting ASN learners are reading pens. They can be a real game changer for learners with dyslexia, literacy difficulties or EAL, helping them access text independently without always needing an adult beside them.

When reading pens come up in schools, the conversation often starts with brands and it can be easy to be overwhelmed with the options available. They all look similar but they don’t all do the same job. What is most important is to understand the features they have and what is going to work best for the learner.

I have been lucky enough to be able to trial three leading pens (C-Pen 3, RocketPen Reader and Scanmarker Max) to understand those features a bit more and will explore these with you.

Reading printed text out loud: a natural starting point

The most obvious place to start with this is the core function of all of these reading pens. All of the pens will scan printed text and allow the learner to hear it read out loud (either through a speaker or headphones). This allows learners to become more independent, not needing adult support to keep up with classroom activities. They also help to reduce reading fatigue and let learners focus on the meaning of the text they are working with rather than just decoding.

While this seems obvious, there is more to it than just that. How the pens works with that text can be important to the learner. RocketPen Reader and Scanmarker Max offer multiline reading functionality so a section of text can all be scanned before the reading starts. For RocketPen Reader this comes with a function to simply complete the scanning and then press play while the Scanmarker Max can be set to autodetect movement to a new line and will autoread if a longer time elapses before scanning again. C-Pen reads the text a line at a time.

The RocketPen Reader also has the additional benefit of being able to scan from screens (even when I am using dark mode!), opening up options in classrooms where more of the work is provided in a digital format.

Left or right handed

All of the pens have the option to be set to right or left handed mode to allow for the learner to use the appropriate hand. Interestingly the RocketPen Reader also allows for right to left scanning so that a left handed user can still pull the pen towards them for reading rather than having to push the pen from left to right to scan the text. A feature which some users may find more comfortable.

Accessing the menu

The navigation screens on the C-Pen 3 and RocketPen Reader work through a combination of touch screen and physical buttons while the Scanmarker Max only has a touch screen. While trialling this I found, due to its small size, that the touch screen may be a little more demanding to use if the learner struggles with fine motor control.

Voice choices

If a learner is listening to large quantities of text the ability to have control over the voice is really important. While all the pens give options around the speed of the voice, some have pauses around punctuation and the option to change the accent including a Scottish voice being available on the RocketPen Reader. This can be useful for some learner as they find that a more familiar accent reduces cognitive load, can make the speech easier to process and increase comprehension.

Headphones, Bluetooth and privacy in the classroom

All of the pens make use of wired USB-C headphones which can be used to listen to the text, reducing the stigma that may come in the classroom. The Scanmarker Max goes one step further and also allows for the use of Bluetooth headphones to be connected. However, wired headphones are often the choice in schools as they are easier to manage and can avoid issues around pairing of devices.

Dictionaries, vocabulary and translation

Ever wanted to check the meaning of a word in the moment? Maybe your class uses technical language or has EAL learners who may just need to check specific words as they go. The pens all have inbuilt dictionaries which allow the learner to hear the definition of individual words. The Scanmarker Max also offers translation tools for blocks of text with some languages available offline and a wider range accessible when connected to wi-fi. While the C-Pen 3 and RocketPen Reader have bilingual dictionaries inbuilt for single word translation. Both C-Pen 3 and Scanmarker Max are able to translate from spoken language into a variety of different languages.

Decoding support: syllables, spell-out and word breakdown

Not all reading difficulties are about comprehension though, some learners struggle most with the process of decoding the words themselves.

This is where the RocketPen Reader stands out with some additional features such as breaking words down by syllable and spelling out individual words. The Scanmarker Max can break a word down for phonics practice.

 
These features could be particularly useful in primary schools and for learners who need explicit support with word structure.

Storing text, taking notes and other tools

Some of the pens have tools for learning beyond just reading text. They are able to store text and audio and allow the learner to access it at a later date. The C-Pen 3 and Scanmarker Max can be used to export scanned text to a computer for editing and record voice notes, while the Scanmarker Max can also transcribe voice to text which can then be exported from the pen to a computer. In addition the Scanmarker Max includes a camera which can be used for extracting text from photos, reading aloud and translating.

What about exams?

A reading pen can be used in exams but there are some restrictions to this. You may also want to consider the use of wired headphones for use in an exam. The Scanmarker Max allows the features to be locked down using a PIN to restrict the available tools for exam use and the RocketPen Reader can have the dictionary restricted. Both C-Pen 3 and RocketPen Reader also have an exam version of their reading pen which is a simplified version of the standard pen, giving just the ability to read text out loud and avoiding any of the other learning features available.

Comparison of features

So which pen should I choose?

This is the final question for this blog and one that I’m not going to give you a straight answer to!
Instead ask what features of the pen are most useful for your learner. Would they benefit most from clear audio, support with decoding words, a familiar accent, simple interface or something that helps to build their independence. If you focus on these factors, then you will be able to select the right option. Remember that the same pen can be the right choice for one learner but not for another, even if they are in the same class.

Disclaimer: we do not endorse any specific products. Our role in CALL Scotland is to research and find solutions, bring them to the attention of educators, and work with developers and suppliers to enhance products to meets the needs of learners, staff and families in Scotland.