Microsoft Reading Coach

Microsoft Reading Coach is a companion tool. A free Microsoft tool for reading fluency: learners read aloud from AI generated stories (with their own tricky words woven in) or leveled ReadWorks passages, get pronunciation feedback, and unlock rewards as they progress.

Microsoft Reading Coach is a free literacy practice tool for learners who can already decode words and now need to build fluency. It combines AI generated stories with a library of leveled passages from ReadWorks so that practice material matches both reading ability and personal interests. The tool is aimed at emerging readers, parents supporting reading at home, and educators who want to assign and monitor practice. Learners with dyslexia get particular attention, with Immersive Reader support built in and content aligned to Microsoft's Responsible AI standards. Practice works in two modes. A learner can generate a story with AI, and Reading Coach weaves their most challenging words into the chapters so difficult vocabulary gets repeated in context rather than drilled in isolation. Alternatively, they read leveled passages from the ReadWorks library. Pronunciation detection listens as the learner reads aloud and works across multiple English dialects, and stories and passages can be created and read in many languages. Progress is tracked over time, so weak words surface again instead of being forgotten. Motivation is handled through a light game layer: reading earns achievements and unlocks new characters and story elements, which keeps younger learners returning between sessions. Educators get a guided practice view where they can steer students' reading and follow progress, while home users can start on the web or through the Windows app without a school account. Among reading apps, Reading Coach sits close to dedicated fluency trainers rather than full phonics programs. It assumes decoding is already in place, so it complements rather than replaces early instruction. Compared with general AI chatbots that will generate a story on request, the difference is measurement: pronunciation feedback, word-level tracking and teacher oversight are part of the product. The lack of a visible paid tier also makes it an easy first recommendation before considering subscription-based literacy tools.