Tech Tools to Support Tech Tools to Support Literacy in the Content Literacy in the Content

AreaArea

ATEN Region 2 ATEN Region 2

July 2005July 2005

• How could you increase the difficulty of your set?

• What does the statement mean?

The difficulty of your set could be increased if you do a jam followed by a peach.

The Way it IsThe Way it Is

• Number of students at risk in content area curriculum continues to increase

• Pressures to meet higher standards and cover content for big stakes testing are pervasive

• Human resources and time to assist students who cannot read print at grade level are decreasing

• Textbooks rule as a major curriculum tool• Students must engage in independent reading to

learn content!

What We Know About TeachingWhat We Know About Teaching

• Effective instructional strategies can increase student learning– Activate background knowledge– Teach key content area vocabulary– Summarize key concepts(Vocabulary, knowledge and reading comprehension are

highly related!)

• Effective technology strategies can increase student learning

• Instructional strategies + technology tools = student success

What We Know About ReadingWhat We Know About Reading

• Effective strategies used before, during and after reading improve comprehension

• Students must learn to think about what they are reading as they read

• Students must learn – To ask questions about content– Summarize what they have read– Identify main ideas, key concepts

Students must read fluently to learn from silent, independent reading.

Effective Reading Instruction

Phonemic Awareness

Phonics Fluency Vocabulary Comprehension

Hear, identify, and manipulate sounds of spoken

words

Know relationship between letters of written language and

sounds of spoken language

Read text accurately and

quickly

Words used to communicate

effectively or use/recognize in print

Understand what is read

Isolation

Blending

Identity

Categorization

Recognizes individual sounds in words

Recognizes word with odd sound in a set of words

Combines sequence of sounds into a single word

Segmentation

Breaks a word into separate sounds

PHONEME

Recognizes same sounds in different words

EXPLICIT andSYSTEMATIC

INSTRUCTION

Identify useful series of sounds.

Teach them in a logical sequence.

Apply sounds to reading and writing.

BRIDGE BETWEEN WORD RECOGNITION AND COMPREHENSION

Provide repeated and monitored oral

reading.

Provide a variety of short text passages at student's independent

reading level.

Increase practice through audiotapes, peer guidance,tutors, *use of technology

Provide models of fluent reading.

Students engage in oral language, listen to adults read to them, and read

extensively on their own.

Teach individual words and word

learning strategies.

INDIRECT INSTRUCTION

DIRECT INSTRUCTION

Teach use of dictionaries, glossaries,thesauruses, how

to use word parts, and context clues.

COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES

Teach students to be aware of what they do

and do not understand, & the fix-up strategies.

Use graphic and semantic organizers.

Use text explicit/ implicit and scriptal

questions.

Teach students to ask their own questions.

Teach story structure.

Use summarizing.

Summarized from the National Institute for Literacy Publication, "Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read" http://www..nifl.gov by Eileen Pracek, FDLRS/TECH, 6/02

What We Know About Reading What We Know About Reading in the Content Areain the Content Area

• Students must have – A knowledge of specialized vocabulary– A wide range of background knowledge– Strategies for reading expository, rather than

narrative text– A high level of monitoring for understanding– Study and memory techniques– Ability to overcome a lack of interest in reading

and writing to learn

What We Know About TechnologyWhat We Know About Technology

• Digital text is flexible; printed text is rigid.• Text to speech supports at risk students in

reading• Talking word processors support at risk students

in writing• Word prediction helps at risk students write more• Not all technology tools work for all students at

risk• Students, teachers, support personnel must be

trained in use of tools

School Tools

Curriculum

Reading

Computer Access

UniversalAccess

Writing

Resources/Services

Digital Information

Access to Print

Reading Support

Talking Word

Processor

InternetElectronic

Media

Word Prediction

Cognitive Organizer

Premier Accessibility SuitePremier Accessibility Suite

Software for Reading Software for Reading and Writingand Writing

Http://www.readingmadeeasy.com

Accessibility SuiteAccessibility Suite

• Comprehensive 250,000 word dictionary that talks

• Reads definition of word and uses word in context in a sentence

• Provides list of synonyms and antonyms • Includes spell checker and thesaurus• Works with most applications• Power search feature helps find words from

series of letters in word

Universal ReaderUniversal Reader

• Floating toolbar• Works with most applications• Use it to read email, Word documents, PDF files• Set location of bar – always top, minimized, running

behind other applications

Universal ReaderUniversal Reader

• Optional view window with custom settings

Universal ReaderUniversal Reader

• Talking Pointer Option

E-Text ReaderE-Text Reader

E-Text ReaderE-Text Reader

• Reads electronic books or any text that you can select

• Reads any document in Standard Text, MS Word, RTF, HTML formats

• Highlights text in four colors

• Allows you to insert bookmarks (ß)

• Includes full, integrated, word processor to make your own notes

E-Text ReaderE-Text Reader

• Extracts highlighted text to new file

Talking Word ProcessorTalking Word Processor

Talking Word ProcessorTalking Word Processor

• Full function word processor that talks• Includes a spell checker, thesaurus, and

word prediction• Special features

– Word view – displays word in a custom window– Word pause - slows down the reading of words – Word magnify - tracks the word being spoken – Word repeat - speaks word as typed – Key echo - speaks letter as typed

TWP – Word PredictionTWP – Word Prediction

As you begin to ty

As you type, a list of words is displayed. Type the number that corresponds to your choice. The word will appear in the sentence.

TWP – Word PredictionTWP – Word Prediction

TWP – Multiple Doc ViewTWP – Multiple Doc View

Ultimate Talking DictionaryUltimate Talking Dictionary

• Comprehensive 250,000 word dictionary that talks

• Reads definition of word and uses word in context in a sentence

• Provides list of synonyms and antonyms • Includes spell checker and thesaurus• Works with most applications• Power search feature helps find words from

series of letters in word

Ultimate Talking DictionaryUltimate Talking Dictionary

Ultimate Talking DictionaryUltimate Talking Dictionary

Ultimate Talking DictionaryUltimate Talking Dictionary

Scan and Read ProScan and Read Pro

• Full powered scanning application

• Easy to operate

• Includes full reading tool with options

• Includes full word processor with word prediction, spelling checker, and thesaurus

• Can convert text files to audio (WAV, MP3)

• Has built-in MP3 Player

Scan and Read ProScan and Read Pro

Picture of scanned page in image view

Scanned pages in text view

Talking CalculatorTalking Calculator

• Use with or without a screen reader

• Has large keys and contrasting colors

• Every button and edit area talks

• Displays entries and results as you work

• Allows user to cut and paste work steps into a document

Talking CalculatorTalking Calculator

PDF MagicPDF Magic• Converts “inaccessible” PDF Files to

accessible formats as MS Word, Text, HTML, RTF

• Reads document using all reading options

• Includes spell checker, thesaurus, word processing features, CD Writer

• Converts PDF Files to audio files

• Supports audio segmenting

PDF MagicPDF Magic

Text to AudioText to Audio• Converts text files to audio files• Works with Microsoft Word files,

Standard Text, Rich Text Format and HTML

• Creates 9 different types of audio output files, including MP3, WAVE and VOX

• Includes CD writer and MP3 player

Text to AudioText to Audio

Text Cloner ProText Cloner Pro

• Scans files that work with all major screen readers

• Works with any TWAIN compatible scanners• Aligns images, formats documents, and

handles multiple columns automatically• Includes word processor, spell checker,

thesaurus • Imports and recognizes text from existing

images

Text Cloner ProText Cloner Pro

Off LimitsOff Limits

• Full-featured web browser reads web pages online

• Manages individual or group internet access with permission-based, multi-level controls

• Allows for individual access profiles, including restricting sites and times to access internet

• Creates audio files from web pages • Safe “site categories” available

Off LimitsOff Limits

Off Limits – User SettingsOff Limits – User Settings

Premier Accessibility SuitePremier Accessibility Suite

Software for Reading Software for Reading and Writingand Writing

Http://www.readingmadeeasy.com