Word Identification aids are easy to use, low cost assistive technology solutions that provide text-to-speech support for students who have difficulty decoding the words presented on the page. When students encounter an unknown word while reading, they can type it into the device and have it read to them. Using this method allows the students to read at their own pace and without having to ask for word identification support from peers or teachers. Keep in mind that these devices are available in both speaking and non-speaking versions. Generally, the speaking word identification aid is the one used to aid students with identification of unknown vocabulary.
One word identification aid that is available for elementary school age students is the Children’s Talking Dictionary and Spell Corrector (Franklin Electronic Publishers). It has 44,000 words. For older students, the Merriam-Webster Speaking Dictionary and Thesaurus (Franklin Electronic Publishers) has 120,000 words and the Speaking Language Master (Franklin Electronic Publishers) has 130,000 words. Each device is capable of speaking the word typed in and when used with headphones can provide the text-to-speech feedback to the user without any classroom disruption. All of the devices have additional features available such as a handwriting guide, confusables/homophones, word building activities and phonetic spell correctors that support both reading and writing skills. These devices are all from Franklin Electronic Publishers and can be purchased directly from Franklin or from numerous vendors including Staples and Walmart.
This type of technology is appropriate for students who can read the majority of the words in a reading sample. Students with significant reading and/or writing difficulties may require more sophisticated reading and/or writing solutions.
Audio books are instructional, leisure and/or related materials that have been recorded either onto audio cassettes, compact discs or as mp3 files that can be played on iOS or Android devices and other mp3 players.
Books on tape or CD can be found at the local library or purchased through bookstores or websites. There are some websites that offer free audio books:
Kurzweil 3000 has an option to export files in mp3 format. Other sources, such as Bookshare, offer memberships for students with disabilities. In order to use those services, the students must have verification of their print disabilities.
Bookshare is an accessible online library with over 170,000 titles, free to those with print disabilities. Books can be downloaded and read aloud on a computer, utilizing either of two free software options, or the Read2Go app on an iOS device or as mp3 files. This resource contains fiction, textbooks, periodicals and other text to support students in the curriculum. Through NIMAS, most recent textbooks are available through Bookshare.
DIgital text options like Bookshare provide the end user with multiple options for reading the text including:
For more information about using Bookshare in Allegany County Public Schools, click the email link.
Start-to-Finish® books by Don Johnston Incorporated offers a wide-selection of engaging narrative chapter books for adolescent readers in the intermediate, middle and high school grades who are not proficiently reading at grade level. Books are offered in a computer audio format, cassette, and print format. Students who are learning English as a second language, at-risk, identified for special education or struggling to access grade-level print materials find success reading these narrative books and become motivated to read more.
The text is carefully written and edited to match the interests, social maturity and reading issues of an older struggling reader. The content is mature, while taking into account the barriers (language, syntax, vocabulary, dialog, etc.) that would normally make text hard to understand for a struggling reader. The Start-to-Finish Library supports students who are reading printed text with a readability as low as second grade through fifth grade.
The Gold Library offers:
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The Blue Library offers:
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For a list of Start to Finish books available locally, select this link. For an article un using Start to Finish books with struggling readers, click here.
PowerPoint books
Most Microsoft office packages contain PowerPoint presentation software. Using digital pictures, clipart, Boardmaker pictures and drawings, digital books can be created that students can access using the computer with PowerPoint. In slide show mode, students can read and navigate their book or hear it read out loud to them.
Theres an app for that……besides playing mp3 files, iOS devices can be used to create digital story books with audio support. Story Kit, My Story, Pictello, and Toontastic are a few of many apps available.
Advanced reading and writing aids allow students to use one software program in order to both complete reading and writing assignments. Most advanced reading and writing aid software programs allow teachers or students to create electronic materials by either importing digital files or by scanning books or text using a scanner and presenting them on a computer screen. Most of these programs include optical character recognition (OCR) capability which, upon scanning, converts document images and PDFs into editable text.
Advanced reading and writing aids provide text-to-speech like the talking word processing software. They also include a variety of other features such as displaying an exact copy of the textbook page as it is being read. Word processing with word prediction support is also a component of an advanced reading and writing aid. Other features integrated into many of the software programs are the ability to select font size, font color, background color in the text view, and the ability to choose the type of visual tracking support. There are also several study skills features available such as highlighting text in different colors, definitions, pronunciation support and the capability of making different types of notes. All of these programs enable students to access text-to-speech on the Internet through the software. The advantage of using one of these programs is that students only have to learn to use one software package instead of having to layer numerous programs in order to get the reading and writing support needed.
Frequently used advanced reading and writing aid software includes Kurzweil 3000 (shown right) and SOLO (Don Johnston) for students in upper elementay through high school and IntelliTools Classroom Suite for younger students.
Advanced Reading and Writing Aid software can be beneficial for students who need support in both reading and writing. This includes students with print disabilities, physical disabilities, and writing deficits.
Technology has great potential in providing access for all learners. Through the use of a variety of assistive, inclusive, or instructional technologies, students with wide ranging abilities and learning styles can access the general curriculum. When technology is appropriately integrated into the regular classroom, based on a thoughtful match of student skills and curricular tasks, students are provided with multiple means to complete their work. When considered after the curriculum media, materials, and tasks are developed it is assistive technology; when considered and integrated into the development of curriculum media, materials, and tasks it becomes universal design for learning (UDL). For additional information on matching technology, select the Consideration Process link above.
This site is designed to provide access to information and resources found in Allegany County Public Schools, not to be an exhaustive reference to the wide world of technology. By linking a reference of tools spanning the spectrum from low to high tech to common classroom needs we hope to create something that is useful and easy to navigate. By providing a way for you to contribute to the site we hope to create a tool that reflects use of practical and replicable strategies and tools that you’ve found to be of value. Select the contribute link above to submit strategies, web sites, files or other supports for addition to this site.