Last week, our education experts at Scanning Pens were lucky enough to take part in a collaboration with global education resource providers Twinkl all about how best to use one of our award-winning reading pens, the C-Pen Reader 2, to achieve maximum reading progress with learners. Funnily enough, we called the event Reading Pens for Reading Progress.

Scanning Pens’ Head of Education Julia Clouter and UK Country Manager Jim Bowen joined Twinkl SEND for an hour-long Twinkl TeachMeet session all about the ways in which implementing reading pens can really shake up the processes of reading, learning and learning to read for students and for the educators who guide them.

It was a fabulous afternoon where we had the opportunity to really mine into the reading pen model and why it works so well when it comes to supporting struggling readers, readers from other language backgrounds and those with dyslexia or other neurodivergent needs; and we’ve created a great starting point for any educator thinking about how best to support reading in their classroom next term.

But first, a little more on the power of the C-Pen Reader 2…

Award-winning, best-selling and most of all, pocket-friendly, the C-Pen Reader 2 is the most talked-about reading pen on our books at Scanning Pens. It’s currently providing reading support at the point of need for learners all over the world, at all reading levels and at all ages.

And it’s genuinely as simple as scan, listen, understand: simply move the tip of the pen across the page to hear the scanned words read back to you through your headphones. It’s discreet, meaning that learners won’t feel spotlighted or embarrassed to use it in the classroom, durable (meaning that it can survive the ups and downs of life in a student backpack), and it’s jam-packed with dictionaries, scan-to-file storage and personalisation options to make the reading experience even less stressful for anybody with reading differences.

You can find out more about this magic little pen right here, at the C-Pen Reader 2 page!

5 Takeaways from our Twinkl TeachMeet, Reading Pens for Reading Progress

In case you didn’t make it, here are some key points that we covered during our TeachMeet session.

Click on the cloud emojis to find out more from Julia and Jim in the video!

💭 The C-Pen Reader 2 is inclusive by design. That means it’s simple and stress-free to work into a neurodivergent or struggling learner’s routine… which makes lives easier for educators, too.

💭 Reading pens are also a great way of supporting learners with English as an Additional Language, as they often benefit from the additional modelling and support, especially if they don't have a lot of opportunities outside of the classroom to practice and use English.

💭 The C-Pen Reader 2 also helps learners stay on-task, as it doesn't feature Wi-Fi access to apps, messages and distractions that might come as part and parcel of using a laptop or tablet for reading support. With the Reader 2, it's all on the pen, so there's no need for extra screen time to become part of the reading process.

💭 And it’s important to note that reading pens aren’t just for those students who have dyslexia, either: it can be a foundational part of universal inclusive practice, although there’s a long history of reading pens being used very successfully to support children and young people with dyslexia-related literacy differences, in 2024, educators are rolling out the C-Pen Reader 2 across whole classrooms as a way of combating Covid-era reading loss, and supporting literacy acquisition in struggling cohorts. (And there’s a Class Pack to help you keep that budget-friendly, too!)

💭 But off the back of this, it is important to note that experts are predicting that there’s going to be a huge uptick in learners asking for reading support. Diagnoses of neurodivergent conditions are expected to rise even further by 2025, which means it’s up to schools to resource the most appropriate support possible on the widest scale possible so that no learner gets left behind.

Wait, what if I missed the party?

Not to worry! It’s 2024, and it’s easier than ever to double back and find the information you missed if you were out and about enjoying the sunshine. You can access the recording of our Twinkl TeachMeet on demand via Twinkl’s own website, Reading Pens for Reading Progress.

You can also check out Twinkl SEND’s top 10 tips for implementing reading pens in your school and classroom for a quick run-down of the best methodologies to get those pens into learner hands to see maximum benefit and results!

And if you’ve already got your hands on some reading pens and are wondering how best to kickstart the reading support process, you can also check out  Scanning Pens’ Reading Pen Implementation Pack at Twinkl for an in-depth lowdown on how best to get started, where to dedicate your focus, and all the free implementation support resources you’ll need to support your learners and gauge their progress.

And don’t forget, we’re always here to support.

If you’re looking for more information about how reading pens can transform learning progress in your school or classroom, you can always reach out to us here at Scanning Pens for more information and guidance on the most effective products and pathways for you.

Either drop us a line at ukinfo@scanningpens.com, or speak to one of our reading pen experts directly on +44 (0) 207 976 4910.