Choose how to get started!

Features Tour- Video guide that shows each feature and how it can be used.

Training Guide- This user manual contains step-by-step instructions and practice exercises for all of the tools in Read & Write for Google Chrome.

Key Tools for Specific Learning Needs Reference Sheet - With so many Read&Write for Google Chrome tools to choose from, this chart was created to give suggestions on which tools to start using with elementary students, middle/high school students, struggling readers and writers, and with English Language Learners. Suggestions as to which tools teachers would find helpful are also included.

Guide for English Language Learner Supports - Read&Write provides support for students who are at all levels of acquiring the English language, from those being introduced to English for the first time to those who are proficient in conversational English, but require additional support because of the complexity of the language. Read&Write provides literacy tools that integrate directly with Google Docs, PDFs, Slides and ePubs in Google Drive, and webpages in the Chrome web browser.

Guide to Support Tools for Students with Dyslexia - Students with dyslexia have learning differences which can be supported with a variety of appropriate technological support tools improving their overall performance. Read&Write for Google Chrome tools allow students with dyslexia to be equal participants in learning experiences.

Toolbar Modes

You now have three choices for your toolbar mode to be used on Docs, Web pages, and Slides.

Switching between modes/views - A new section has been added at the top of Read&Write’s Settings menu called General which will include a new setting to choose your toolbar view and the dark/light mode setting, which has been moved from the Theme section.

Customizing Features on Horizontal and Vertical modes - You will be able to go into Settings, then Features, and turn on or off the tools that you would like to have displayed. The features you choose will be reflected on both toolbars (mirror image).

Creating Profiles - Create profiles to remember all of your preferred settings for Read&Write. Quickly switch between different settings profiles from the toolbar menu. You can have a profile set up for use in a particular language or for a particular purpose and it’s super quick and easy to do. You can create as many as 8 profiles.

This 2-minute video will show how to create and switch profiles.

Text to Speech

Text to Speech works with the Google Suite, Microsoft Online Suite, and on websites.

Notice the 'dual highlights' when text is being read aloud - Read&Write highlights the sentence AND word that is being read.

Pro Tip: Continuous Reading is on by default but can be turned off in the Settings under the 'Speech' tab. This will allow for more control over how much is read aloud at one time.

Text to Speech Overview

Try it out:

Try on a Google Doc first. You can adjust the speed of the reading voice in the Settings under the 'Speech' tab.
Have students choose a preferred voice and two speeds - one for support when they are tired or distracted but can read on their own and a slower speed for text with more difficult concepts or new vocabulary.

Dictionary & Picture Dictionary

The Dictionary tool allows students to gain access to word meaning regardless of their own reading ability as all definitions can be speech-enabled. We want to get students in the habit of using the dictionary as a resource.

Picture Dictionary gives a visual representation of word meaning.

Pro Tip: Use the Dictionary, Picture Dictionary, and Translator tools together as they auto-sync with the highlighted word giving students the choice of support.

Dictionary & Picture Dictionary Overview

Tips for Usage:

Try using on a Google Doc first then a webpage.
Choose 5 words with more than one meaning from their reading. Ask students to use the dictionary to determine which is the correct definition based on how the word is used and copy the definition next to the word. Also ask why students chose the definition they chose for each.
Three Productive Ways to Use the Picture Dictionary

Single Word Translator

The Translator can be used to translate single words into over 90 different languages! The Translator tool gives more choices for an individual word. You can change the language that the Translator tool translates to in the settings under Speech tab. Spanish is the default translation language.

Translator Single Word Overview

Try it out:

Try on a Google Doc first. Click on the translator to open, type the word “car” and look at the 5 Spanish choices. Different words will be recognized depending on where a student is from or what is spoken at home.

Screenshot Reader

The Screenshot Reader allows you to have inaccessible text read aloud. Screenshot Reader is useful PDFs, Images, Maps, Charts, Diagrams and Videos.

Screenshot Reader Overview

Try it out:

Try the pictures on this Web page
Pause a video with text and use the screenshot reader to have it read aloud! Example Video: pause at 0:08 seconds and use to read “Apples are red.”

Simplify Page (Web Only)

The Simplify feature in Read&Write de-clutters and simplifies web pages only. You can change the contrast of the background and text color, the font style and size (with Lexend and Open Dyslexic as fonts for students with dyslexia), and the line spacing. When using Simplify, once on the new tab of the article, clicking on the minus button next to the word “simplify” can remove the pictures leaving just the article.

Pro Tip: If your students need a specific font or have a tendency to migrate to other places on the web, you can save the modifications you made in Simplify as a PDF to be shared.

Simplify Page Overview

Try it out:

Try on this Web page.
Check out the Discover toggle to explore some additional support for key words and topics. This feature finds these and then provides a pop-up explanation and photo. The words that Discover has found more information on will be underlined in purple. Have students try it out.

Rewordify (Web Only)

Rewordify replaces complex vocabulary with simpler, easier to understand words and phrases.

Rewordified text is italicized on the page. Click on the word or phrase to toggle between the original text and the rewordified text.

Rewordify Overview

Try it out:

Try on this Web page.
Rewordify can be used directly on a web page or in conjunction with using Simplify Page first and then Rewordify. Check out the italics and see if a synonym or short phrase appears to help clarify.

Co: Writer Prediction

Prediction can be customized for use including the number of words displayed, where the prediction box appears, prediction for just the word being typed or the next word as well, enabling words predicted to read aloud when hovering over each suggestion, and adjustments to the size of the words predicted in the prediction box.

You have the option to search millions of topics. When selected you will then get relevant words and phrases in fewer keystrokes.

Co: Writer Prediction Overview

Try it out:

Try using on a Google Doc.
Click on the Prediction Tool. When you start typing a sentence, you will notice the prediction box will pop up. There are a two ways to have the word populate on your document: Click on the word in the prediction box or press the number of the word.

Talk & Type

Talk&Type is Speech to Text which allows for students to speak their thoughts and answers versus having to type them, including most punctuation marks. This tool will also allow you to speak in your native language by using the drop-down menu on the microphone icon.

Talk & Type Overview

Try it out:

Try using on a Google Doc.
Click on the Talk&Type icon. If prompted, you must allow access your microphone. When the Talk&Type button is highlighted purple, this means it is active. A red microphone icon will appear near the top left of the Chrome window. Use the Text to Speech tool to catch any errors to be corrected.

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