DYSLEXIA (DIGITAL TOOLS TO SUPPORT DYSLEXIC STUDENTS)
- Instructional Technology
- Digital Tools for Dyslexic Students
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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
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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.
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Digital Annotation
Allows students and teachers to label and mark up text, images, songs, websites, videos, and more.
Jamboard - An online collaborative whiteboard that is integrated with Google Drive
Kami - See the Kami Page on the Hotspot
Loom - Screencasting extension with drawing tools
Mote - Add voice notes (30s) to comments in Google Docs, Slides, Classroom, and more.
ReadWorks - Reading comprehension support that includes annotation, assessments, and is integrated with Google Classroom
Web Paint - Annotate web pages using this extension
Talk and Comment - Create voice notes inside Google Docs, Classroom, and Forms
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(Digital) Oral Administration of Tests
Record your voice reading the test questions. Students will have the ability to play/rewind/repeat.
Habla Cloud - Specifically designed and optimized for use with Google GSuite and Chromebooks.
Mote (Easiest Solution) - Integrates within Google Forms to provide voice notes. (video instructions)
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.
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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
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Speech to Text
The process of converting speech input into digital text, based on speech recognition.
Google Voice Typing
Open any Google Doc in the Chrome Web Browser and select Tools > Voice Typing. Watch the video below for instructions on how to use this tool.
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.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 neededSpeech to Text (voice recognition)
Speech to Text (voice recognition)
Speech to Text (Voice Recognition) is an extension that helps you convert your speech to text and it can recognize a wide variety of languages and related dialects.
iPad App
Voice Actions for Chrome
Voice Actions for Chrome (beta)
Control your browser just by talking to it.
Voice Actions for Chrome lets you control your Chrome browser with your voice.Voice In Voice Typing
Voice In 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. -
Text to Speech
A form of speech synthesis that converts text into spoken voice.
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.
Immersive Reader - Integrated into the Microsoft Office suite as well as programs such as Flipgrid, Nearpod, Wakelet, and more!
Use Immersive Reader on Websites Extension - Works best with webpages. Also includes a picture dictionary.
Microsoft Lens - Use Microsoft Lens and Immersive Reader with VoiceOver, the built-in iOS screen reader, to access and read scanned texts more easily, decode complex texts, and focus on the text in your documents. You'll also learn how to highlight syllables and parts of speech, use a picture dictionary, and translate content.
Natural Reader - Upload text and documents (including PDFs) and listen.
Read Aloud - Best with webpages
Read & Write - Works best with Google Docs
Screenshot Reader - Works best with PDFs
Select and Speak - Works best with webpages
Speak It - Works best with Chrome webpages. Can read over 50 languages.
Textbook TTS supports - Most online textbooks have text to speech tools already embedded in their program.
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Website Decluttering Tools
The following extensions remove ads and distractions, leaving only text and images for a beautiful reading view on any site.
Clear Read
Just Read
Postlight Reader (formerly Mercury Reader)
Fluency Tutor
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Additional Resources
Assistive Technology for Writing by Understood.org
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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.