Why doesn't Sparx Reader have an audio function?

Lots of schools include reading out loud in their reading provision

In many schools, it is common practice to have group reading as a component of their whole-school reading programme. Here, pupils might be read to solely by an expert reader (the teacher) or students in the class might take turns to read. These scenarios are crucial elements of a strong, school-wide reading culture as they can support pupils’ comprehension of a text, as well as provide a social reading experience. Being read to by a strong reader can be captivating - the way someone skilled can bring words to life for their listeners, by adding colour and inflection, is a wonderful way for people to enjoy a book as a community.  

We see Sparx Reader as something that sits alongside many different types of valuable reading provision within schools so currently, we don't provide a function for the text to be read out loud within the site. 

We want to support students in building effective reading habits 

Sparx Reader aims to develop robust, independent close-reading habits in young people, who learn to read with care, precision and insight. We believe that this particular aim is best achieved when pupils read books for themselves.

This is because the complex process of reading is based on a great many sub-skills being held in perfect balance, consisting of both cognitive processes and ‘soft skills’. In brief, effective reading is a crucial interplay between word recognition and language comprehension, and habit-development, self-efficacy level and the ability to persevere. 

Students can learn to rely too much on listening rather than reading

When a student listens to an audio version of a book, some of the load of decoding is removed from their cognitive processes. Equally, a speaker’s use of dynamics can go a long way to add meaning to, and generate insights into, the narrative. While these aspects can heighten enjoyment and interest, they do not necessarily promote careful, individual reading for meaning. In order to become proficient in close reading, learners must take responsibility for establishing meaning, for themselves. 

Students can read the text aloud themselves

For some students, it may be beneficial to read the text on Sparx Reader aloud  - either to themselves or to a teacher - before tackling the questions. This way, it is still the learner who is decoding, identifying and comprehending the words and their larger place within a sentence.