Tag Archives: decoding

Increasing the Readability of a Webpage

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Not all web pages are created equally. Some provide information in a clear and concise manner. Others are cluttered including extensive text, numerous graphics that might or might not add to the understanding of the content, or advertisements that detract from the content. This can be frustrating for any user, but especially so to those who are working on limiting distractions, focusing on goals around decoding and comprehension of text, and people with certain visual impairments.

TextHelp’s Read&Write for Google Chrome extension is available to all LCPS staff and students and has a tool that can help alleviate these issues called Simplify Page. It reduces visual clutter from Chrome web pages, simplifies the text on the page, and has features to make the web page even more visually accessible.

When on a Chrome web page, select the purple puzzle piece icon Read&Write Purple Puzzle Piece on the menu bar to open the Read&Write for Google Chrome toolbar.

Read&Write for Google Chrome Toolbar

Then, select the Simplify Page Simplify Tool tool. A new tab will open showing a simplified version of the page and the available features.

Simplify Page Toolbar

Simplify: The amount of text displayed on the page can be summarized or shortened by selecting the minus (–) icon. If you’ve decreased the text too much, you can select the plus (+) icon.

Discover: This feature underlines key words in purple. When the words are selected, a brief description or graphic appears, similar to a dictionary.

The visual contrast can be modified by changing the text and background color. Choices include Black on White, White on Black, Blue on Yellow, and Yellow on Blue.

The font size and style can be changed, including the Open Dyslexic font.

The spacing between the lines can be also changed to Single, 1.5, or Double.

Check out this video for more information and enjoy exploring this amazing tool!

Reading on the Move! Storywalks for Everyone!

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A story walk is an interactive experience where learners travel along a path discovering different parts of a narrative which has been broken up and placed around an environment using signs, posters, or some other display. The following are some tips for creating a storywalk so that everyone can enjoy the experience!

  • Font
    • Use a font size of 20pts or higher. 
    • Use a font that is thicker at the bottom, such as the Open Dyslexic Font.
    • Use black on white or white on black to provide a high contrast between the text and the background colors.
  • 3D Object Integration
    • Include tactile objects of items represented in the story at some or all of the stops that can be held, felt, and explored through touch.
    • Invite learners to make objects to be added to various stops throughout the story.
  • Multiple Means of Representation of Text
    • Use Braille on the bottom of the page.
    • Use QR Codes linked to an audio version of the text displayed at the stop.
    • Use symbols used on communication boards to compliment the story.
  • Environment
    • Create the walk in an environment that can be traversed by wheels such as those on walkers and wheelchairs.
    • Post the story pages at adjustable or multiple heights for people of varying sizes to access. 
  • Pages
    • Laminate pages for durability and protection from weather in a glare-free location.
    • Post pages with Velcro so that they can be held for readability and the replaced when finished.
    • Always have a second copy!
  • Additional Ideas
    • Invite students to create a walk of their own for family, peers, or the community. Students can work together breaking up the tasks including writing, illustrating, determining the route, mapping the course, making objects, and issuing invitations. Get everyone involved!

Captions On For Literacy!

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Video is a common modality for educators to share, teach, and reinforce concepts. Captions exist to help individuals with hearing impairments experience the audio portion of the content. Evidence suggests that turning the captions on for video content can also help students, with or without hearing impairments, improve reading abilities. Pairing text with audio and visual content helps reinforce the meanings of words while simultaneously representing how they are spelled. 

Strategies can be used to encourage educators and parents to turn on the captions whenever students are experiencing video content. Consider crafting a “Captions On!” campaign for your learning space, grade level, or school promoting the idea that captions help improve literacy. Here are some potential action steps:

  • When choosing video content, encourage educators to only select video that has captions.
  • Invite parents to turn on captions at home whenever watching television or videos.
  • As students make meaningful contributions to the world by participating in authentic learning experiences, they might choose to create videos. When they do so, encourage students to consider an audience with diverse abilities by captioning their created video content.
  • Google Slides and Microsoft Powerpoint both have a live captioning option for when giving presentations. Encourage staff and students to turn on this feature to have the text displayed on the screen when using these tools to present in-person presentations.

Adopting and practicing a “captions on” mentality will help improve individual literacy skills while simultaneously working toward building a more inclusive and accessible future for all. 

Google Slide with captions on

Google Slide with captions on.

Learners at Algonkian Elementary Install Literacy Support Extensions

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LCPS returned to 100% distance learning on December 15th, 2020. Just prior, educators at Algonkian Elementary School worked to ensure that students installed the literacy support extensions of Read&Write for Google Chrome, Texthelp PDF Reader, and Texthelp Screenshot Reader. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Instructional Facilitator for Technology, Specialized Instructional Facilitator – Assistive Technology, and the Specialized Instructional Facilitator – Reading, learners also participated in experiences where they practiced how to use the tools to support their own learning. These extensions are available to anyone in LCPS! Install and use them today!

Way to go Algonkian learners and educators!

Learners in a classroom behind Chromebooks giving a thumbs up

Learners in a classroom behind Chromebooks giving a thumbs up

Text to Speech & The Purple Puzzle Piece

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Text to speech is a function of technology that allows users to hear accessible digital text. Learners can listen to content with a click of a button. Text to speech allows users to experience text with their ears in addition to their eyes, and provides a way to edit their own written work in a way that allows their ears to catch the mistakes their eyes miss. Text to speech allows users to learn words they might otherwise have trouble decoding and experience curricular content regardless of reading ability. 

Text to speech is a feature of the Read&Write for Google Chrome extension available to any person in LCPS. Go to the Chrome Web Store and do a search for Read&Write for Google Chrome. Then press “Add to Chrome” to add the extension to your Chrome browser. A purple puzzle piece will appear to the right of the URL bar. Click on it and follow the onscreen instructions to enable the extension. Then, start exploring the toolbar including the text to speech tool.