ClaroSpeak

ClaroSpeak US is a text-to-speech app you type or paste content into, then tap the play button to hear the audio. It can save content as audio or text files, and users can send files via email, text message, or save them to Dropbox. In-app purchases are available for different voices in 27 languages.

When you open the app, a white screen appears, where you can enter words using a keypad or by pasting from another source. Across the top of the screen is a toolbar with a set of options: tap to open text, audio, or Dropbox-based files; paste, undo, or clear text; get more info; and play, save, or send content. You can also clear text by shaking the device. Set customizable settings from the tool bar, including rate of speaking voice, font, color, and a feature called "typing echo" (words are echoed after they are typed).

ClaroSpeak US has some unique features that place it a notch above many other apps of its kind, like highlighting each word on the screen as the text is spoken. While text-to-speech apps may not directly apply to many of the Common Core standards beyond 2nd Grade, they can certainly support Language Arts, Social Studies and others for kids with special needs at any grade level.  From creating audio versions of textbook chapters or worksheets for kids who have impaired vision, dyslexia, or other learning challenges (or are reading below grade level for whatever reason), to a kid copying a rough draft of a report into the app and listening to the spoken playback, this app is an incredibly useful tool. For kids with speech challenges but who can read and type, this app also provides a stand-in voice for them.

While the five voices provided are quite natural, they're far from perfect. Still, none of the five are hard on the ear and the app's pronunciation of words is almost always spot-on.