An older article, but still relevant to student accommodations.
Google Lens can now copy and paste handwritten notes to your computer
Tech Thursday: Microsoft Accessibility Tools, Part 1
“Microsoft Assistive Tech Specialist Rachel Berger demonstrates free, accessible AT to support students who struggle with reading, and writing. This presentation showcases how tools can be used to support student engagement and accessibility for users with learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, ELL or a combination of any of the broad range of unique student abilities.”
Using Voice Typing in a Google Doc
Video by Debbie Irwin, of Designed with a Purpose, demonstrating use of voice to text within Google docs.
Technology Tools That Can Help Dyslexic Students
Audiobooks or Reading? To Our Brains, It Doesn’t Matter
Back to School Tip: Students in the Park City School District re fortunate to have access to a district-wide Learning Ally subscription. If your student benefits from this wonderful opportunity, be sure Learning Ally has been reloaded to the school laptop.
“The subject’s brains were creating meaning from the words in the same way, regardless if they were listening or reading. In fact, the brain maps for both auditory and visual input they created from the data looked nearly identical.”
The Benefits of Ear-Reading
If you are in the Park City School District and have a child that would benefit from ear-reading, please speak to the school. This is the second year of a district-wide subscription to Learning Ally and, having advocated for the program, PC READS wants to ensure that it’s successful! A special thanks to the Park City Education Foundation for funding the original Learning Ally school grant at Parley’s Park several years ago.
EXCERPT: The effective use of assistive technology coupled with an explicit structured literacy curriculum can be life-changing for students with learning differences. Try one of these tools to see if your students will come out of their shell. Give them the freedom to choose what topics they want to learn about and watch the transformation in their self-belief that they can be successful readers and achievers.
iPad/iPhone – Speak Selected and Speak Page – Text to Speech
This short video demonstrates how to access the text to speech features on an iPad or iPhone.
Why Audio Books in the Classroom?
As summer begins and many families have car trips planned, consider checking audiobooks out of your local library for the entire family to enjoy!
“He has become a child that reads. And he is not alone. Several students this year are having incredible reading experiences, kids who have never liked reading, are begging for the next book, begging for time to listen. Yes, listen, because these students are devouring one audio-book after another. Comprehending the words without having to struggle through the decoding. Accessing stories that they have heard their friends talk about. No longer looking at the easier books while they long for something with more substance. Those children are becoming readers with the help of audio-books.”
Microsoft Learning Tools: Education and Technology
“One in five students struggle with dyslexia, which can affect their ability to read, write and participate in class. Microsoft Learning Tools is software that helps improve reading skills by reducing visual crowding, highlighting words, and reading text aloud, so students can engage with words in a whole new way.
See how technology and education come together to empower young minds to do more.”
Why Listening to Podcasts Helps Kids Improve Reading Skills
PC READS is always advocating for audio learning!
“The combination of audio and text allowed for reading breaks and helped students learning English as a second language connect the text to the sounds.”
Dyslexia Keyboard
Check out this recommendation by Jamie Martin, an AT expert!
Webinar: Trouble With Essays? How to Use Assistive Tech to Help Kids With Writing Issues
One hour webinar by Jamie Martin on assistive technology.
FREE ! 22 Assistive Technology Tools for Dyslexics
At today’s PC READS meeting, we shared this excellent article and discussed the many ways that assistive technology benefits dyslexic students. It’s worth opening and saving!
A New Way of Reading That Invites Everyone In
Article by Kyle Redford about the importance of audio books for dyslexic students.