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Reading
Decoding
Use Hover Speech and Text-to-Speech to provide students with lower decoding skills with access to grade level content.
Use the Fluency Builder to rehearse reading content using the record function and then have students check accuracy using the Text-to-Speech features . Select passages that are at the student's fluency instructional level.
Reading Fluency
Use Fluency Builder with passages at the student's instructional reading level for fluency rehearsal.
Comprehension
Dictionary and Picture Dictionary
Teach the student to use the dictionary and picture dictionary resources to find the meaning of Tier II and Tier III words.
Use the picture dictionary during instruction to support visual learners and second language learners.
Translator
Teach the student to use the translator to look up the meaning of words in his/her native language. Use the play feature to help the student access the definition when reading is a concern.
Vocabulary
Use the highlighters and vocabulary tools to create vocabulary lists with picture prompts. Once the word document opens, you can copy/paste the text and pictures to make intervention flash cards, games and other materials!
Use Talk-to-Type or Prediction to increase student's ability to communicate information in writing. Scaffold written language output using graphic organizers.
Proof-Reading and Revising
Use the highlighters and vocabulary tools to create vocabulary lists with picture prompts. Once the word document opens, you can copy/paste the text and pictures to make intervention flash cards, games and other materials!
Teach students to use Hover Speech and Text-to-Speech to listen and proof read their written output. Use a sentence by sentence strategy for revision.
Teachers and other proofreaders can use highlighters to indicate sentences that need revision. Use the collect highlights function to open the marked sentences into a new document for revision without changing the student's work.
Listen to information using Hover Speech and Text-to-Speech when decoding interferes with access to research.
Use the highlighters and collect highlight tools to gather research information from websites. Use the color categories to organize information as you research for future writing tasks.
Use the dictionary and picture dictionary features to improve comprehension of information as you are reading or listening to information from websites.
Visual Simplification
Use the Screen Mask to highlight a specific part of the screen and minimize the focus on the rest of the screen.
Use the Simplify Page to reduce or removed the visual content present on a webpage. Click this icon on the newly opened web page to reduce the reading complexity of the text on that page.
Self-monitoring
Teach students to use Hover Speech and Text-to-Speech to listen and proof read their written output. Use a sentence by sentence strategy for revision.
Use the Fluency Builder to rehearse reading content using the record function and then have students check accuracy using the Text-to-Speech features . Select passages that are at the student's fluency instructional level.
Change the Voice so Read and Write will recognize Spanish, French and German speech. Have students practice their second language speech and language skills by speaking and listening skills to Read and Write in Spanish, French or German. (Sorry Chinese is not available yet.) These settings are in the Options menu under Speech and Language.
English Language Learners
Teach the student to use the translator to look up the meaning of words in his/her native language. Use the play feature to help the student access the definition when reading is a concern.
Change the translation language under the options menu under speech. The current choices are Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese and Bahasa Melayu (Malay Language).
When students are using Read and Write for Talk-to-Type on Canvas, they have to activate the Rich Content Editor first. See the screenshots to locate this feature:
When the Talk-to-Text is finished, then the student should submit his or her response and then the HTML tools can be re-activated and used to revise if needed by clicking on the Rich Content Editor Link.
Intervention and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
Tier I - All Students
Use the picture dictionary during instruction to support visual learners and second language learners.
Teach the student to use the dictionary and picture dictionary resources to find the meaning of Tier II and Tier III words.
Use the Screen Mask to highlight a specific part of the screen and minimize the focus on the rest of the screen.
Tier II - Targeted to Meet Specific Students Needs
Use the highlighters and vocabulary tools to create vocabulary lists with picture prompts. Once the word document opens, you can copy/paste the text and pictures to make intervention flash cards, games and other materials!
Use the Fluency Builder to rehearse reading content using the record function and then have students check accuracy using the Text-to-Speech features . Select passages that are at the student's fluency instructional level.
Use the Simplify Page to reduce or removed the visual content present on a webpage. Click this icon on the newly opened web page to reduce the reading complexity of the text on that page.
Tier III - Designed to Meet the Needs of a Few Students
Use Talk-to-Type or Prediction to increase student's ability to communicate information in writing. Scaffold written language output using graphic organizers.
Listen to information using Hover Speech and Text-to-Speech when decoding interferes with access to research.
Use the highlighters and collect highlight tools to gather research information from websites. Use the color categories to organize information as you research for future writing tasks.
Use the highlighters and vocabulary tools to create vocabulary lists with picture prompts. Once the word document opens, you can copy/paste the text and pictures to make intervention flash cards, games and other materials!
Categorization
Have early readers use the highlighting tools to categorize words using the highlighting tools to practice independent reading and comprehension tasks. Create a Word document in Office 365 with vocabulary from ELA, Science and Math activities and have the students sort the language into like categories using the highlighters. Then have them use the vocabulary tools to find the definitions.
Translator
Teach the student to use the translator to look up the meaning of words in a new language. Use the play feature to help the student access the definition and rehearse pronunciation.
Listen to information using Hover Speech and Text-to-Speech when decoding interferes with access to rehearsal sites like ALEKS or Imagine Math.
Mode use of the picture dictionary and translator during instruction and on rehearsal websites to support visual learners and second language learners.
Use the highlighters and vocabulary tools to create vocabulary lists with picture prompts for math concepts including roman numerals, statistical terms, or algebraic and geometric concepts. Once the word document opens, you can copy/paste the text and pictures to make intervention flash cards, games and other materials!
Teach the student to use the dictionary and picture dictionary resources to find the meaning of Tier II and Tier III words.
Use the Screen Mask to highlight a specific part of the screen and minimize the focus on the rest of the screen.
Read and Write has an iPad app, see the information on the using R&W on an iPad website for detailed information and how to request installation from your STS.
The app functions as an alternate keyboard which has the following features:
Word Prediction
Talk to Type
Read Aloud
Dictionary and Picture Dictionary
Translation
iPads have features similar to Word Prediction, Talk to Type (speech recognition) and Read Aloud (text-to-speech) built-in. They might be turned off by the Multi-Device Manager (MDM). Sometimes, before installing the Read and Write keyboard, STS Professionals suggest activating these settings. This is a really great strategy! This teaches students to use the built-in features on devices to meet their needs. The onboard features are often more streamlined as well. Read and Write is one system of tools, but it's not the only system out there. If you have a specific need for dictionary, picture dictionary or translation on the iPad, please discuss that with your STS and/or administrator in terms of student needs.
