White_Text+to+Speech+Extensions+for+Google+Chrome

//Welcome to Katie White's Technology Presentation! //

I am a 7th grade Language Arts teacher at Jackson Memorial Middle School in Stark County. This is my 8th year of teaching and for seven of those years, I have been co-teaching with an intervention specialist. Our classroom is comprised of many diverse learning levels, so when it comes to technology, I like anything that is easy to use and can be utilized by all levels of learners.

Read & Write for Google: Google Chrome Extension
With the many extensions available from Google and the diversity in reading abilities in my classroom, I am constantly searching out assistive technology that can allow my students the opportunity to be successful in language arts and create a sense of independence on their part. So my original intention was to present a multitude of assistive technology that is specifically designed to help students with reading disabilities or struggles. Well, that original plan was foiled when I did some investigating on the different tools. I found that most of the ones I was looking into were sub-par and virtually labeled as "useless" because they had too many malfunctions when trying to use them. Rather than present "useless" technology, I decided to focus on the one extension that I have the most experience with, as well as the one that is most beneficial to all of the needs of teachers and students.

With that being said, the most beneficial Google Chrome Extension to struggling readers is Read&Write, a Google Chrome Extension. By watching the videos below, you will be able to listen to the research to support the integration of text-to-speech technology, an explanation of what the technology is, the identified standards that the technology connects to, and a sample lesson with my students using the software.

Research and Supporting Articles:
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Research Articles:
Read&Write Website Research to support the use of Kurzweil 3000 - a type of text-to-speech software Kurzweil 3000, A Universal Design Learning (UDL) Tool The Effects of Computer-Assisted Instruction using Kurzweil 3000 on Sight Word Acquisition on Students with Mild Disabilities

Introduction to Read&Write
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Tutorial #1: Downloading and Accessing Read&Write
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Tutorial #2: Using Read&Write on Websites
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<span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Using Read&Write in a Language Arts Classroom: A Sample Lesson Plan Idea
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<span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">**Content uses of this technology:**
<span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Read&Write can be used in all subject areas where students are required to read articles and text online as well as edit writing.

<span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">**Language Arts:** Read&Write can be used for not only comprehension based reading activities, but also can be used as a tool for editing writing. By having students listen to their own writing, they are able to use listen for mistakes in grammar and usage, which can sometimes go unnoticed when students are editing without listening to their writing.

<span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">**Social Studies & Science:** Many textbooks for these two subjects are available online, which allows Read&Write users to access them and utilize the text-to-speech software in order to boost comprehension and reading of these non-fiction texts. It can also because in both of these core classes to read aloud news or content-based articles to help students gain understanding.

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 * <span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Math: **<span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">The best use for Read&Write in a Math classroom is for reading quizzes, tests, and homework aloud to students. Sometimes, however, due to the nature of the numbers, Read&Write does not always read the information correctly on the screen. So be sure to test out the extension before assigning it to students.

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<span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Pedagogical Considerations:
<span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">When designing the information for this presentation, I kept thinking back to ways taht this extension could expand or enhance the learning of the students. Since the text-to-speech software is mainly one that allows different learning abilities to interact with a text or editing assignment, be careful when implementing it that you are using the software for more than just an excuse to implement the technology.

<span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Where to purchase or acquire Read&Write

 * <span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Read&Write is available in two formats: the paid subscription or the free Google Chrome Extension.
 * <span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">To purchase the software, visit TextHelp's website
 * <span style="color: #0f3295; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">To download the free Google Chrome Extension for Read&Write, use this step-by-step guide or view the Tutorial #1: Download & Accessing Read&Write video above.