DYSLEXIA (DIGITALS TOOLS TO SUPPORT DYSLEXIC STUDENTS)
- Instructional Technology
- Digital Tools for Dyslexic Students
-
Our Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 866 (82nd Texas Legislature) and it became law. This law contains a section stating that "The agency shall establish a committee to develop a plan for integrating technology into the classroom to help accommodate students with dyslexia." This page was built to support the tech plan brought forth by the committee.
Content Accordion
-
Website Decluttering Extensions
The following extensions remove ads and distractions, leaving only text and images for a beautiful reading view on any site.
Clear Read
Just Read
Mercury Reader
Fluency Tutor
-
Audiobooks
Voice recordings of the text of a book that you listen to rather than read.
We have two audiobook options for students in Plano ISD (Learning Ally and Bookshare):
Learning Ally is a multi-sensory reading accommodation that levels the playing field for students who struggle to read due to a learning difference. The benefits of Learning Ally include:
- High-quality, human-read audiobooks
- Track students' reading progress
- Teacher focused tools and resources
Watch this 5-minute video showing Learning Ally at work in the classroom
Bookshare is an ebook library that makes reading easier. Listen to books, follow along with karaoke-style highlighting, read in braille or large font, and customize your reading experience with ebooks in formats that work for each student. Click here for more details.
Please contact Fern Johnson for more information about using audiobooks with your dyslexic learners.
-
Text to Speech
A form of speech synthesis that converts text into spoken voice.
Read & Write - Works best with Google Docs
Immersive Reader - Integrated into the Office suite as well as programs such as Flipgrid, Nearpod, Wakelet, and more!
Unofficial Immersive Reader Extension - Works best with webpages. Also includes a picture dictionary.
Select and Speak - Works best with webpages
Screenshot Reader - Works best with PDFs
Fluency Tutor - Educators can choose from existing reading passages or create your own. Ability to assign passages to students for them to read and record. Extra help such as text-to-speech, picture dictionaries, and translating tools.
Read Aloud - Best with webpages
SpeakIt! - Works best with Chrome webpages. Can read over 50 languages.
Natural Reader - Upload text and documents (including PDFs) and listen.
Textbook TTS supports - Most online textbooks have text to speech tools already embedded in their program.
-
Speech to Text
The process of converting speech input into digital text, based on speech recognition.
Google Voice Typing
Open a Google Doc in the Chrome Web Browser and select Tools > Voice Typing. Watch the video below for instructions on how to use this tool.
VoiceIn Voice Typing
VoiceIn Voice Typing (Chrome extension)
Use your voice to type across many different websites
Voice In enables voice typing --- it makes it easy to type in the browser using voice-to-text.
Whether it is writing emails in Gmail, answering assignments in Classroom, or replying to chats, Voice In Voice-To-Text capability lets you do them all using your voice.Fluency Tutor
Fluency Tutor (Chrome extension)
Students can install the extension so they can choose which content they want to read and read independently
of the teacher.Google Voice Search Hotword
Google Voice Search Hotword (Chrome extension)
Say “OK Google” on Google’s search page to speak your question, which Google will then search and answer
aloud.Voice Recognition
Voice Recognition (Chrome extension)
Voice recognition app that allows the user to dictate the text of a document, then save the text to Google Drive
or send as an email.SpeechPad
Voice to Text Notebook (Chrome extension)
Voice recognition app that allows the user to dictate the text of a document, then copy and paste the text to
another application as neededVoiceNote
VoiceNote II (Chrome extension)
Voice recognition app that allows the user to dictate the text of a document, then copy and paste the text to
another application as needediPad App
-
Digital Annotation
Allows students and teachers to label and mark up text, images, songs, websites, videos, and more.
Kami - See the Kami Page on the Hotspot
Mote - Add voice notes (30s) to comments in Google Docs, Slides, Classroom, and more.
Web Paint - Annotate web pages using this extension
Loom - Screencasting extension with drawing tools
Talk and Comment - Create voice notes inside Google Docs, Classroom, and Forms
ReadWorks - Reading comprehension support that includes annotation, assessments, and is integrated with Google Classroom
Jamboard - An online collaborative whiteboard that is integrated with Google Drive
-
(Digital) Oral Administration of Tests
Record your voice reading the test questions. Students will have the ability to play/rewind/repeat.
Mote (Easiest Solution) - Integrates within Google Forms to provide voice notes. (video instructions)
Habla Cloud - Specifically designed and optimized for use with Google GSuite and Chromebooks.
Voice Recorder App - Record your voice and download as an mp3 file to use with Google Slides.
Audio Recorder in Nearpod - Use the audio recorder in Nearpod to narrate your slides.
-
Dyslexia: A TEA Professional Learning Course
Taken from the TEA website
The purpose of this course is to empower educators to serve and advocate for students with or at risk for dyslexia. The course consists of four modules. In the first module, you will learn more about what dyslexia is and how it impacts student learning. In the second module, you will explore effective schoolwide practices for the identification and support of students with dyslexia. In the next module, you will learn more about how to support students with dyslexia in the classroom through systematic, explicit, and evidence-based instruction designed to meet the needs of students with dyslexia. In the last module - Taking Action - you will reflect on your learning, create a personal action plan, and review resources. A participant handbook is provided to guide participant learning. Participants will receive 6 CPE credits for completion of the course.
Registration Link
-
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE DIGITAL TECH TOOLS PLAYLIST!
This curated playlist contains step by step directions on how to use digital tools more effectively with your dyslexic learners. New videos will be added as needed. Please email fern.johnson@pisd.edu for future video requests.