Here are some tools that can be used with emerging readers.
Speech to Text:
Speech to text is already built into all of our laptops and iPads. It may be customized as desired. On the laptops it may be found at: System Preferences -> Accessibility or System Preferences -> Dictation and Speech The location depends on how updated your device is. |  |
Any selected text may be read by the computer. I would recommend using either the voices Alex or Samantha. You may recognize her as the voice of Siri. If Samantha is not listed, then Victoria seems to be easy to understand, as well. This will work on any application, not just Safari or Chrome. Pressing the Option and Esc keys together will enable it. See the picture to the right. |  |
| Read and Write for Google Chrome One of the features of this extension is that it will read passages in Chromes on almost any website and highlight the words as they are said. Some customizing may be done, such as adjusting the reading rate and voice. | |
| Co:Writer This may be installed either as an extension or as an application. The video on the right shows a nice overview. This tool also has a nice speech to text capability. It is a little simpler than Read & Write. |
Text Complexity
Rewordify - Rewordify.com - This will simplify the vocabulary within any text. It is very quick and easy to use.
Textcompactor - texcompactor.com - Text can be shortened, or summarized. Be careful that it does not take away too much meaning. These two resources can work great with each other.
Chrome Extensions: These are found in the Chrome Web Store and are free to download/install. Unfortunately, these are all web-based and only available with Chrome.
Read & Write Chrome - Click here - The free version has the same functions and our built-in MacOS tools. This only works on Chrome.
Speechify -
Read Aloud -
TLDR - this functions much like textcompactor
Snapverter - Chrome extension - A drawback: the free version has ads and only works on Chrome.
TextScannerOCR - This awesome iPad App is available in Self Service. Use it to take a picture of printed text, such as a newspaper or textbook. It will digitize the words so you can then use any of the tools above.
Safari Extensions: Reader Mode
Translator:
Developing readers may include students who are not native English speakers.Google Translate
