Maximize Summer Learning with an AI-Powered Reading Assistant

Summer is a time of exploration, and for students, that can include adventures into new worlds through books. Ideally, every child would fill their library tote bags with rich literature they can read with confidence and ease. Unfortunately, for many students, independent summer reading does not yet reach that ideal.

Striving readers who have not yet mastered foundational skills may struggle to decode or comprehend the books that interest them. Without guidance, some readers might inadvertently reinforce common reading errors by practicing incorrect vowel sounds, dropping word endings, or skipping comprehension strategies. Rather than progressing, these readers risk solidifying habits that must be untaught in the fall.

EPS Reading Assistant: A Smart Tool for Independent Reading Practice

EPS Reading Assistant offers a powerful solution. Designed for students who need reading support, Reading Assistant combines oral reading practice with real-time, AI-driven feedback. After selecting a text at their instructional level, students read out loud to their device as an AI-powered avatar named Amira listens and responds, offering immediate corrective feedback and coaching—just like a teacher would when sitting beside a student.

This ensures that independent reading time doesn’t reinforce errors but builds skill and confidence instead. As students grow stronger, Reading Assistant adjusts, gradually increasingly the complexity of the texts to match their progress. Meanwhile, educators gain access to detailed reports that highlight developing and mastered skills.

Click here to see Reading Assistant in action.

A Natural Fit for Summer Learning

Whether your district offers formal summer school or provides access to online learning tools at home, Reading Assistant can play an integral role. The program automatically places students at their instructional level (up to grade 6) and just 30-45 minutes of weekly use can lead to significant gains in fluency and overall reading proficiency.

Tips for School-Based Summer Implementation:

• Integrate Reading Assistant into daily routines, such as arrival time.
• Consider using it during center rotations with small groups.
• Ensure a trained staff member is available for support and troubleshooting.
• Leverage built-in reports and teacher resources, including summer reading logs in English and Spanish.

Tips for Supporting Use at Home:

• Introduce Reading Assistant at school first so the AI can calibrate to the student’s reading level and speech patterns.
• Designate a district or school point person to answer families’ questions throughout the summer.
• Instruct families not to assist while students are working in the program. External help can lead to inaccurate data and make future texts too challenging. Families are welcome to observe and learn from the avatar’s coaching, but hands-off support is key.

A Personalized and Productive Summer Reading Solution

Whatever your summer learning model, students will benefit from deliberate reading practice. Reading Assistant is a unique, research-based tool that makes independent reading practice both personalized and impactful. With real-time corrective feedback, adaptive instruction, and actionable insights for educators, Reading Assistant helps students grow the skills they need to become confident, joyful readers.