Speed Racer Slides Speed Racer Lab
Finding Your Goldilocks Reading Speed
Essential Question
What reading speed helps my brain learn best?
Too Fast?
I might miss the details.
Too Slow?
My brain might get bored.
Just Right!
I understand everything.
Speed Racer Challenge
The Rules:
1 Listen to the text at 3 different speeds.
2 Try to remember 3 facts after each one.
3 Rate how your brain felt at that speed.
???
WPM
FAST
SLOW
Speed Settings (WPM)
100
Slow & Steady
150
Conversation Speed
200
Quick Reader
300+
Super Sonic!
"If you listen fast, did your brain last?"
Sometimes we listen fast to finish quickly, but we forget what we heard. The goal of TTS is to help you learn , not just finish .
Speed Racer Worksheet Speed Racer Log
Find your Goldilocks Reading Zone!
Pilot Name:
Date:
1
Trial #1: Slow & Steady
Speed: 100 WPM
Facts I Remembered:
How did it feel?
😴
Too Slow
✅
Just Right
🤯
Too Fast
2
Trial #2: Conversational
Speed: 150 WPM
Facts I Remembered:
How did it feel?
😴
Too Slow
✅
Just Right
🤯
Too Fast
3
Trial #3: Super Speed
Speed: 250 WPM
Facts I Remembered:
How did it feel?
😴
Too Slow
✅
Just Right
🤯
Too Fast
The Winning Speed
My Goldilocks Speed is:
WPM
I chose this speed because it helps my brain stay focused and remember what I heard.
Speed Racer Teacher Guide Speed Racer Facilitation Guide
Lesson 1: Experimenting with Reading Speed
Duration 45 Mins
Learning Objective
Students will evaluate the impact of text-to-speech speed (WPM) on their auditory comprehension and identify their personal "Goldilocks" setting for academic reading.
Materials Needed
• Speed Racer Slides
• Speed Racer Log (1 per student)
• Device with TTS capability
• 3 short text snippets (50 words)
1. The Hook: "Guess the Story" (5 mins)
"Class, today we are going to become Speed Racers! But there's a catch. We need to see if our brains can keep up with our ears."
Play a short, familiar text (like a nursery rhyme or school rule) at 300 WPM. Ask students to raise their hand if they understood every word. Most won't. Discuss why "fast" isn't always "better."
2. Defining the "Goldilocks Zone" (10 mins)
Use the slides to explain Words Per Minute (WPM) . Compare reading speeds to walking, running, and driving a car. Introduce the Goldilocks Zone :
Too Slow: Brain wanders, you get sleepy.Too Fast: Brain misses details, you get confused.Just Right: You can picture the story in your head.
3. The Speed Trials (20 mins)
Conduct 3 trials using a consistent TTS voice but varying the speeds.
Trial Speed Text Type Check for Understanding #1: Slow 100 WPM Scientific Fact Name the animal being described. #2: Medium 150 WPM Historical Event What year did this happen? #3: Fast 225 WPM Story Scene What was the character wearing?
Differentiation & Support
For Students with ADHD
Some students may actually focus better at slightly higher speeds (160-175 WPM) as it prevents their mind from wandering during pauses.
For ELL Students
Ensure the trial texts use vocabulary they are familiar with, so "speed" is the only variable being tested, not "language."
Voice Audition Slides Voice Audition Studio
Which digital voice will you hire?
Why Does Voice Matter?
The "Boredom" Test
Some voices sound like robots. 🤖
If a voice is too "flat," your brain might stop listening. We want a voice that sounds like a real person telling you a story.
The "Focus" Test
Do you like a high voice or a low voice?
Do you like a certain accent?
Finding a voice you like helps you focus for longer .
Meet the Candidates
The Professor
Deep, calm, and very serious.
The Friend
High-energy, cheery, and bright.
The Traveler
A cool accent from across the sea.
The Robot
Simple, steady, and very clear.
Fine-Tuning the Sound
Pitch High vs. Low
Deep Bass Squeaky Bird
Did you know?
Sometimes changing the pitch just a little bit makes a voice sound much more natural!
Audition Time!
Listen to each voice read the same paragraph. Then, mark your Audition Ballot .
"Your brain is the boss. Choose the voice that works for YOU."
Voice Audition Worksheet Voice Audition Ballot
You're the Director. Who gets the job?
Director Name:
Candidate 1
VOICE NAME: _________
Audition Rating
👎
Nope
😐
Okay
⭐
Love It!
"This voice sounds like..."
Candidate 2
VOICE NAME: _________
Audition Rating
👎
Nope
😐
Okay
⭐
Love It!
"This voice sounds like..."
Candidate 3
VOICE NAME: _________
Audition Rating
👎
Nope
😐
Okay
⭐
Love It!
"This voice sounds like..."
Candidate 4
VOICE NAME: _________
Audition Rating
👎
Nope
😐
Okay
⭐
Love It!
"This voice sounds like..."
The Winning Voice
Favorite Voice Name:
Preferred Pitch:
LOW
HIGH
Director's Notes
I chose this voice because it sounds most natural to me. When I hear it, I feel like I can listen to a whole book without getting bored or distracted.
Voice Audition Teacher Guide Voice Audition Facilitation Guide
Lesson 2: Selecting a Voice
Duration 40 Mins
Learning Objective
Students will explore digital voice qualities (pitch, accent, gender) and select a preferred voice that maximizes their attention and focus during long-form auditory reading.
Materials Needed
• Voice Audition Slides
• Voice Audition Ballot (1 per student)
• TTS settings open on classroom display
• Sample paragraph for auditions
1. The Hook: "Teacher vs. Robot" (5 mins)
Read a sentence with great emotion and expression. Then, have the most "robotic" TTS voice read the same sentence. Ask students: "Which one was easier to listen to for 10 minutes?" Discuss how a "monotone" voice can make our brains fall asleep.
2. Meet the Candidates (15 mins)
Demonstrate 4 different voices available on your school's devices. Give them names like those in the slides to make them memorable:
The Professor
Usually a male-sounding, lower-pitch voice with a formal tone.
The Friend
Usually a female-sounding, higher-pitch voice with more prosody.
The Traveler
Any voice with an accent (UK, Australia, India, etc.).
The Robot
The default system voice (steady but flat).
3. Playing with Pitch (10 mins)
Select the class's favorite voice so far. Show the "Pitch" slider in your settings.
Slide it all the way up (Mickey Mouse effect) - notice how it's hard to take seriously.
Slide it all the way down (Giant effect) - notice how it sounds muddy.
Find the "Sweet Spot" (usually slightly above or below 50%).
Self-Advocacy Check
Remind students that there is no "correct" voice. If a student likes the "Robot" because it's predictable, that's okay. If they like a "UK Accent" because it makes reading feel like an adventure, that's okay too!
Visual Spotlight Slides Visual Spotlight Zone
Finding the perfect way to follow along
Combatting "Visual Noise"
Sometimes, a page full of words feels like a traffic jam for your eyes. 🚗🚕🚌
The Problem:
Your eyes skip lines, get lost, or feel tired from seeing too many words at once.
The "Spotlight" Solutions
Word Tracking
Colors highlight only the one word being read.
Sentence Tracking
The whole sentence is highlighted to show you where the idea is.
Line Masking
Everything else is hidden, like looking through a window.
Picking Your Colors
Lemon & Charcoal
Bright and easy to see.
Ocean & Midnight
Calming for the eyes.
Dark Mode
White words on a dark screen.
Ready to find your focus?
We are going to try 3 different visual setups. Your goal is to find the one that makes your eyes feel the most relaxed .
No skips
No wandering
Total focus
Visual Spotlight Worksheet Focus Map
Find the spotlight that helps your eyes track.
Eye Tracker:
1. Tracking Style
Check one:
Word Highlight (The focus is on one word)
Sentence Highlight (The focus is on one whole idea)
Block/Line Masking (The other lines are hidden)
"This style helped me..."
2. My Focus Colors
Color in the boxes below to show your favorite color combination!
Background Color:
COLOR HERE
Highlight Color:
COLOR HERE
Text Color:
COLOR HERE
My Perfect View
Draw what your favorite reading setup looks like on the screen. Include the highlight and any masks!
Why I chose these settings:
When my screen looks like this, my brain doesn't have to work as hard to find the next word. It makes reading feel smoother and less like a chore.
Visual Spotlight Teacher Guide Visual Spotlight Facilitation Guide
Lesson 3: Visual Highlighting Options
Duration 45 Mins
Learning Objective
Students will explore visual tracking aids (highlighting and masking) and customize their digital reading interface to reduce visual distractions and improve focus.
Materials Needed
• Visual Spotlight Slides
• Visual Spotlight Worksheet
• Colored Pencils/Markers
• TTS tool with highlighting/masking
1. The Hook: "Visual Noise Jam" (10 mins)
Project a page of text that is messy (multiple columns, ads, sidebar images, small font). Ask students to find a specific word in the middle.
"Class, sometimes looking at a digital page is like trying to find a friend in a huge, noisy crowd. Today, we're going to use a 'spotlight' to make the rest of the world disappear so we can focus on just one word at a time."
2. Tracking Modes (15 mins)
Demonstrate the three main visual aids using your classroom display:
A
Word Highlighting:
Only the current word glows. Best for students who struggle with decoding and need to connect sound to symbol.
B
Sentence Highlighting:
The whole sentence glows. Best for students who track well but struggle with reading comprehension and need to see "ideas."
C
Line Masking:
Darkens everything but 1-3 lines. Best for students who skip lines or are easily distracted by images/other text on the page.
Color Contrast Guide
Discuss how colors affect our brains. Have students experiment on their devices and record findings on their worksheet.
Color Combo Brain Effect Black on Yellow High energy, grabs attention immediately. Good for tired mornings. White on Blue Calming, reduces eye strain. Good for long reading sessions. Yellow on Black Very high contrast. Best for students with low vision or high light sensitivity.
Master Mix Slides Master Mix Testing
Combining Your Settings for Success
What is a Master Mix?
The Formula
Speed + Voice + Visuals =
The Goal
To read a long story and remember everything without feeling tired.
Today's Mission: The Deep Sea
"Deep under the ocean, where no sunlight reaches, amazing creatures live in the dark. Some fish create their own light! This is called bioluminescence. They use this light to find food and talk to their friends."
Apply Your Master Mix now!
Did it work?
Focus
Did your eyes stay on the words the whole time?
Memory
Can you explain what you read to a partner?
Energy
Does your brain feel ready for another page?
Write it down!
If you found your perfect mix, record it on your Tech Recipe Card . This is your secret code for reading success.
Ready to Test?
Tech Recipe Card My Reading Recipe
Ingredients for Brain Success
Head Chef:
The Ingredients
Reading Speed
________ WPM
Favorite Voice
___________________
Visual Style
___________________
How to Serve
"Mix these settings together on any device. Best served with a quiet workspace and a set of headphones. Helps my brain digest information perfectly!"
Certified
Master Mix Teacher Guide Master Mix Facilitation Guide
Lesson 4: Testing Your Settings
Duration 50 Mins
Learning Objective
Students will integrate their preferred speed, voice, and visual settings into a single configuration and evaluate its effectiveness during a sustained reading task of a nonfiction article.
Materials Needed
• Master Mix Slides
• Tech Recipe Card (1 per student)
• Nonfiction passage (200-300 words)
• Headphones
1. The Hook: "The Master Mix Formula" (5 mins)
Explain that just like a chef combines ingredients to make a perfect meal, we are combining our "tech ingredients" to make a perfect reading experience.
Goal: Zero Distraction, Maximum Learning.
2. The Integration Phase (10 mins)
Assist students in navigating their settings to apply all three variables at once. For most students, this will involve:
Setting the WPM to their Goldilocks number.
Selecting their Audition Winner voice and pitch.
Enabling their Focus Style (Highlight or Mask) with chosen colors.
3. The Sustained Test (20 mins)
Give students a passage about a complex topic (e.g., "The Solar System" or "Animal Adaptations").
Instructional Script:
"Now, put your headphones on. I want you to read this whole passage using your Master Mix. Your job isn't to finish first. Your job is to be able to tell me 3 things you learned when you're done. If a setting feels 'off,' pause and fix it immediately."
Metacognition & Troubleshooting
After the test, ask students to reflect. Use these guiding questions:
Q1: Was it too fast for the hard parts?
"Sometimes we need a slower speed for science or history than we do for stories."
Q2: Did the colors help your eyes?
"If your eyes feel itchy or tired, we might need a lower contrast setting."
Tech Hero Slides Tech Hero Profile
Your Voice. Your Choice. Your Success.
Being Your Own Tech Hero
A Tech Hero is someone who knows exactly what they need to learn their best.
You are the expert on YOU!
No one knows how your brain works better than you do.
How to Talk to Teachers
The script:
"Excuse me, [Teacher Name], I use Text-to-Speech to help me read."
"Can you help me set my speed to 150 WPM and turn on Visual Highlighting?"
Be clear about what you need.
Be polite but confident.
Have your badge ready to show.
Settings Everywhere
School Tablet
Usually in "Accessibility" or "Accessibility Settings."
Library PC
Look for the "Immersive Reader" or "Speech" icon.
At Home
Share your recipe card with your family!
Badge Time!
We are going to create your User Badge . Keep this in your desk or backpack so you always know your settings!
I AM A TECH HERO!
Tech Hero Badge Worksheet The Tech Hero Badge
Fill this out, color it, and cut it out. Keep it in your desk or tape it to your tablet!
Tech Profile
Photo / Drawing
Hero Name:
Classroom:
My Master Mix Settings
Speed:
______ WPM
Voice:
__________
Style:
__________
Helpful Hint:
"Show this badge to your teacher if you need help setting up your device in a new classroom!"
Cut along the black line to create your badge
Tech Hero Teacher Guide Tech Hero Facilitation Guide
Lesson 5: Creating a User Profile
Duration 45 Mins
Learning Objective
Students will finalize their accessibility profiles and practice self-advocacy scripts to articulate their tech requirements to other teachers and staff.
Materials Needed
• Tech Hero Slides
• Tech Hero Badge Worksheet
• Cardstock (optional for durability)
• Scissors & Laminator (if available)
1. The Hook: "The Expert in the Room" (5 mins)
"Class, you have spent 4 weeks experimenting, testing, and mixing. You are now the world's leading experts on how YOU learn. Today, we are going to make sure the rest of the world knows it too."
2. Technology Generalization (10 mins)
Explain that TTS looks different on every device but the settings stay the same. Help students find where the settings are on a secondary device (e.g., if you usually use iPads, look at a Chromebook).
On Windows: Search for "Narrator" or use "Immersive Reader" in Edge.On Mac/iOS: Look for "Spoken Content" in the Accessibility menu.On Chrome: Look for "Select-to-Speak" in Accessibility settings.
3. Self-Advocacy Roleplay (15 mins)
Practice the "Tech Hero Script." Pair students up to take turns being the "Student" and the "New Teacher."
The Script:
"Hi, I'm [Name]. I use Text-to-Speech to help me read long assignments. My best speed is [WPM] and I focus best with [Visual Style] . Can you help me check these settings on this computer?"
Teacher Tip:
Encourage students to use their User Badge as a visual aid. It makes the request feel "official" and helps students who might feel shy or nervous about speaking up.
Final Wrap-Up
Distribute the badges. Have students color and personalize them. If possible, laminate the badges. Suggest that students keep them in their pencil case or taped to the back of their assigned device.
