Read & Write
Read&Write's easy-to-use toolbar makes documents, files and web pages more accessible. From hearing emails or documents read out loud to text prediction, picture dictionaries and summary highlighters, Read&Write makes lots of everyday literacy tasks simpler, quicker and more accurate.
The Chrome extension, which looks like the image above, is installed on all CVSD student accounts grades 3-12.
How to Connect
The Read&Write Chrome extension is pre-installed for students grades 3-12 and needs to be installed for adults. Once installed, you can begin using the tools of Read&Write when you click the "rw" or puzzle piece icon.
Adults should download the extension here.
Getting started with Read and Write doc for CVSD. All adults should follow these directions so that you ensure your account is added permanently and not just for a 30-day trial period.
Getting Started for Teachers
An Introduction to Read&Write
Removing Clutter from Websites
Help and Training
Additional resources for teachers to get started with Read&Write:
From Sarah Crum, Director of Learning & Innovation:
Here are a few examples of different student learning profiles and how a resource like this can provide increased access and support growth towards independence:
Students with focusing challenges:
plugging headphones in and listening at the same time as reading alongside text reduces distracting "input" from other sources and helps the brain absorb the material because it is using two modalities
students who lose focus from verbalizing writing in their head to getting it out on paper often times can produce more writing through speaking. They separate expression of thoughts (using the microphone) and then go back and edit and organize later
Students with reading challenges:
Decoding: you can expose students to text and content (building background knowledge) that they would struggle to decode on their own. If they can read alongside listening, this is a great way to reinforce decoding skills because they are seeing and hearing the word.
Fluency: reading and listening to fluently read text helps students build their own fluency as their brain will try to match what they are hearing
Comprehension: you can expose students to grade-level complexity of text and practice comprehension strategies without the challenge of reading level as a barrier
Students with physical challenges:
Students who rely on others to read text can now listen independently
Students who rely on a scribe or device, can produce written work using their voice
This increased independence is so important for all of our learners!
I am sure I have skipped loads of other profiles that this technology supports, but I can't speak highly enough of this extension. In addition to its usefulness, the fact that it is a subtle add on to Chrome means most students don't feel an added stigma using it.