Read & Write
Read&Write for Google: Writing Tools
Read&Write for Google is primarily used as a text reader (see Reading section) but it has some writing accommodation tools that can be useful for students as they compose their own sentences.
These features include:
Text-to-speech: Reads each word or complete sentences aloud with dual highlighting, as a student writes. This provides assistance in listening for proper usage of grammar, syntax, and punctuation. It also reads aloud whole paragraphs of written work to assist with the editing process, allowing the user to hear the overall quality and organization of the writing.
Word prediction: Predicts the word being typed, as a student writes, assisting with spelling and proper sentence structure.
Voice-Typing: Allows a student to use his voice to dictate a word or multiple complete sentences, which turns spoken words into text.
Fact Finder: Allows a student to quickly perform a web search when, for example, working on a research paper or fact-finding assignment.
Talking Dictionary: Provides definitions of words, allowing opportunities for an expansion of vocabulary usage in a student's writing.
Read&Write: Texthelp PDF Reader - Adding Text
Texthelp PDF Reader extension - part of Read & Write!
Through our district-wide licensing of Read&Write for Google, the Texthelp PDF Reader is available for all students to use on their Chromebooks. The Texthelp PDF Reader can be especially helpful for those students who need or prefer to type and/or use their voice to fill out worksheets, add annotations, and/or complete questionnaires or homework assignments.
The one caveat however, is the document a student needs to work in must be in an accessible format. If the document has been scanned in by a teacher on a non-OCR (optical character recognition) scanner, what has been created is an image-based PDF. An image-based PDF is a document that is not accessible, meaning it cannot be "interacted with" or changed - including being unable to use a screen reader or any other tools within Read&Write for Google. Similarly, taking a photo of a text document will also result in an inaccessible document, requiring it to be OCR'd in order for it to become accessible.
If a document is in an inaccessible format, in order to make it accessible, it must first be converted into a text format.
Note: Instructions in how convert inaccessible to accessible text are contained in the Writing Section, under ClaroPDF Pro: Converting Docs & Using PDF Reader.
How to Access and Use a PDF for Writing
Tips for Adding Annotations and Comments for Collaboration
If this is the first time opening a converted document on Google Drive, you will first be instructed, when clicking on your accessible document, to install the Read&Write PDF Reader extension. To do this, simply click on the “Install” and “Allow Permission” buttons. Once this process is complete, you will need to click on your document again to open it with the newly installed Texthelp PDF Reader extension. To open your document, right click on it, scroll down to "Open with" and select Read&Write for Google Chrome.
When your document opens, the PDF Reader toolbar will appear at the top of the page:
To add text anywhere on the document, first click on the Typewriter (T) icon of the menu bar, move your cursor to where you want to insert text and then tap on your touchpad or mouse.
When you do this the following text box & toolbar will appear:
To use the tools of the Typewriter (T):
When you start typing, your writing will appear in the Text Box.
While typing, you can also click on the Word Prediction icon and a list of words will appear in a word prediction box. Hover over any of the words in the prediction box and the word will be read aloud. Click on a desired word to insert it into the text box.
If you prefer, you can also use your voice to add text by clicking on the Talk&Type icon and then beginning to speak. Click on the Talk&Type icon again when you want to stop talking.
Delete all of your text by clicking on the trash can; text box will close.
To hear the text that has been inserted into the text box, click on the Play icon.
To add the text to your document, click on the Add Typewriter icon and your text will be inserted into your document.
To move your added text to another area on your document or to align and position it better on a line, click on the com?
Directional Arrows icon and hold it down while you drag it to where you want it to be placed.