Improving reading comprehension with AI

Inspired by my 6-year-old nephew, Oscar, I set out to create something that would make reading more engaging for students. As a teacher, I’ve always looked for ways to embed technology into learning, but I wanted something simple—something that would truly support both reading attainment and attitudes toward reading.

That’s how Spark Education AI was born. It’s a tool where students generate their own age-appropriate stories, based on their reading level. Instead of passively reading a set text, they take ownership—creating, exploring, and then answering tailored comprehension questions.

When I first shared Spark with educators at the Apple Distinguished Educator Summit in Monterrey, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Since then, schools in Mexico, the USA, and Scotland have trialled it, with students using Spark showing a 7.8% improvement in comprehension scores compared to control groups using NGRT.

How Spark Education AI Works

🔹 Teachers assign a reading age – Ensuring every student gets texts suited to their ability. 

🔹 Populate prompts – Adding characters, settings, or topics to shape their story.

🔹 Read a unique AI-generated text – Aligned precisely to their reading level.

🔹 Answer five comprehension questions – Designed to assess key reading skills.

🔹 Get a score and earn Spark Coins – Rewarding progress and effort.

🔹 Monitor progress over time – Teachers track comprehension improvements easily. 

🔹 Stay engaged with leaderboards, streaks, and avatars – Making reading something students genuinely look forward to. 

One teacher told me:

"My students actually look forward to comprehension now. They’re more engaged, more confident, and they’re thinking critically about the texts they create."

Spark Education AI is now available in English and Spanish, and I’m excited to see how it continues to evolve with teacher feedback.

If you’d like to explore it yourself, a free 14-day trial is now available.

👉 www.sparkeducation.ai

Marc