Read & Write

Read & Write is a Google Chrome extension commonly used on desktops, laptops, and Chromebooks. The free version includes text-to-speech technology. This tool can be useful for students in a wide variety of contexts. A student's ability to comprehend when text is read aloud is typically significantly higher than when the student is reading the text himself, so this feature allows students to access higher-level texts for research, grade-level textbooks, etc.

Additionally, this tool can be helpful for students to have their writing read back to them. I frequently encourage students to read their work aloud to help them catch mistakes that their ears hear, even if their eyes may not see those errors, but students (especially younger ones) tend to correct the mistakes in their head while they are reading and not even realize that they are doing so. This automatic tendency makes it difficult for students to self-correct errors in their own writing. With Read & Write, students can hear exactly what they have written read aloud to them and then tweak what doesn't make sense.

There is also a feature within Read & Write Premium that allows PDFs and screenshots to be read aloud, a capability that many text-to-speech technologies do not have. Students can select the text on a picture to be read aloud, as well.

Quick Facts:

• Technology Type: Google Chrome Extension
• Company/Developer: texthelp.com
• Compatibility: Any Chrome-enabled device
• Cost: Free version available with text-to-speech; Paid premium includes other technologies