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Pear Deck offers 2 tools for read-aloud and translation support. Choose Student Toolbox when students need quick support on the original slide. Choose Immersive Reader when students need more reading controls in a separate reading view.

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Compare the Tools

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Choose Student Toolbox

Use Student Toolbox when:
  • Important text appears in an image, diagram, screenshot, or other visual slide content.
  • A student needs to hear or translate a specific selection without leaving the slide.
  • Maintaining the slide layout and interactive context is important.
  • The required translation language is supported by Student Toolbox.
Student Toolbox depends on detected text. It provides focused read-aloud and translation tools rather than the display, grammar, and reading-focus controls available in Immersive Reader. See Use the Student Toolbox for teacher setup, student steps, supported languages, screenshots, and a demonstration.

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Choose Immersive Reader

Use Immersive Reader when:
  • Slide text is typed directly into a Google Slides or PowerPoint Online text box.
  • A student needs to adjust the appearance or spacing of text.
  • A student benefits from line focus, syllable breaks, parts-of-speech labels, or a picture dictionary.
  • A student needs translation beyond the languages supported by Student Toolbox.
Immersive Reader cannot render text contained in images or multiple-choice options added through the Pear Deck sidebar. Add that content to a text box on the slide when students need to use it in Immersive Reader. The student opens the text in a separate reading view and returns to the slide with the back arrow. See Immersive Reader Integration for teacher setup, student access, supported content, and screenshots.

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Turn On Student Toolbox

  1. Go to Pear Deck Home.
  2. Open My Account, then select Settings.
  3. Turn on Student Toolbox.
  4. Start a new session.
Students open Student Toolbox in the lower-right corner of Student View and select Read Aloud or Translate.

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Turn On Immersive Reader

  1. Go to Pear Deck Home.
  2. Open My Account, then select Settings.
  3. Turn on Immersive Reader.
  4. Start a new session.
Students select the Immersive Reader button on a slide with readable text. They use the back arrow to return to the original slide.

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Verify the Selected Tool

Join the new session in Student View and open a slide that contains typed text and text inside an image.
  • Use Student Toolbox to select text from the slide while the original layout remains visible.
  • Open Immersive Reader and confirm that text typed directly into the slide appears in the separate reading view.

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Resources

Student Accommodations in Pear Deck

Review the available reading and language supports at a glance.

Manage Pear Deck Account Settings

Review settings that apply to future Pear Deck sessions.
Last modified on September 22, 2026