Tag Archives: literacy

Text to Speech and Screen Reader Resources

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In today’s digital world, information is provided via text, images, icons, buttons, links, and more. Students use a variety of electronic devices to access their curriculum, including LCPS-provided Chromebooks and iPads, as well as personal computers, tablets, and smartphones. Text to speech and screen reader features, applications, and extensions can help students with varying abilities more readily access information. 

Text to speech tools convert digital text into audio on computers, tablets, and smartphones. These tools read aloud text, including image descriptions (Alt-Tags), on webpages, Schoology courses, Microsoft Office applications, Google Workspace applications, PDFs, emails, and more.   

There are many text to speech tools available, depending on the type of device the student is using. Some are free and built into the device’s operating system. Some third-party text to speech applications can be added to the device, either for free or for a fee.

When reading the text aloud, many text to speech applications also highlight the words and sentences as they are being read, providing visual cues in addition to the audio. The reading speed and voices can often be customized.

LCPS students and staff have access to Texthelp’s Read&Write for Google Chrome extensions to use with Google Workspace apps, Microsoft Office apps, PDFs, Schoology modules, and Chrome browser websites. The Read&Write for Google Chrome, OrbitNote, and Screenshot Reader extensions all include text to speech features. 

The video below titled Read&Write for Google Chrome™ – Text to Speech describes how to use some of Read&Write for Google Chrome’s text to speech features.

iOS devices, including iPads and iPhones, have built-in text to speech features called Speak Selection and Speak Screen. The video below titled How to Use Text to Speech on iPhone or iPad describes how to access these features.

Screen readers provide much more extensive information than text to speech applications. In addition to reading text aloud and descriptions of images provided in the alternative text (Alt-Tags), screen readers also read aloud content or convert to Braille various screen elements including menu titles, headings, buttons, icons, links, folder and file names, and more. Screen readers enable students to use the computer’s operating system and navigate through websites, documents, forms, and other digital content using keyboard shortcuts. 

Screen readers are built into many operating systems, including Windows’ Narrator, iOS’ VoiceOver, Android’s TalkBack, and Chrome’s ChromeVox. Some third-party screen readers can also be added or downloaded to the device, either for free or for a fee.

Check out the following videos that demonstrate how to use some built-in or free screen readers.

Using ChromeVox on a Chromebook

Using VoiceOver on iOS devices

Using Narrator for Windows

Using NVDA for Windows

There are many other text to speech and screen reader tools available. Start exploring to learn more!

Immersive Reader in Minecraft EDU

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Minecraft EDU is a tool which provides learners with the ability to build in a sandbox environment. Learners can create anything using a robust library of building blocks. One aspect of Minecraft is creating signs for other participants to read. Participants can press the letter I on the keyboard to launch Immersive Reader which provides text to speech support for someone who might need to listen to the text displayed on the sign. This video provides a detailed description of how to use Immersive Reader in Minecraft. Have fun exploring a more inclusive virtual world using built-in tools like Immersive Reader!

Two signs in Minecraft. The first one reads This is a sign in Minecraft. Pressing I opens Immersive Reader. The second one reads Immersive Reader will read text aloud helping people decode.

Signs in Minecraft

Immersive Reader with the text Immersive Reader will read text aloud helping people decode!

The text on the sign in Minecraft displayed in Immersive Reader

Immersive Reader Integration into Nearpod

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Nearpod is an interactive, multimedia presentation tool. Immersive Reader is an embedded feature created by Microsoft. Immersive Reader provides text to speech, text display options, syllable and parts of speech support, and more! Explore the integrated features that Immersive Reader provides by watching this brief video below.

Podcasts with Audio Stories

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Listening to audio stories can help learners become better readers. Summer is a great time to listen to stories while on a podcast iconwalk, on a hike, or in the garden. Listen to stories in the car during any summer adventure. Podcasts featuring fictional content are a fun way to enjoy literature alone or together! Some examples of podcasts with fictional content include the following:

 

Text Simplification for Websites

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Text simplification invites learners to customize the presentation of material in a way that makes it easier for that individual to access by reducing the amount of visual clutter and allowing for the use of customized fonts, spacing, colors and more! Read&Write for Google Chrome is an extension available in the Chrome browser for anyone in LCPS to use. The Simplify Page tool removes visual clutter from web pages and places the simplified text into a new tab. The amount of text displayed can be adjusted using the + and – icons. Visual contrast can also be customized (black on white, white on black, blue on yellow, and yellow on blue). Different fonts can also be selected.

Listen to text read aloud to increase comprehension and learn new vocabulary

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Text-to-speech allows users to hear text read aloud. This is useful for anyone learning to decode text, improve comprehension of text, and expand vocabulary. Text-to-speech allows for learners to read with their eyes and/or their ears. Read&Write for Google Chrome is an extension for the Chrome browser available for anyone in LCPS to use. The Play and Hover Speech feature allows text to be read aloud with highlighting.

Repeating Specific Words During Shared Reading to Teach Language Using Augmentative/Alternative Communication

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Reading together can be a great opportunity to model language using augmentative/alternative communication. When reading a story together, communication partners (you!) can help a student learn vocabulary by using the AAC yourself to comment on what’s happening in the story, ask an open-ended question about the story or picture in the story, and then respond to the question or whatever the student expresses.

Focusing on specific words provides repetition necessary to learn how they are used.

The following is an example created by Speech-Language Pathologist Jessica Cerovich who models language using an AAC application while reading a book. The words focused on are Like and Don’t Like.

    • Comment on what is happening such as “I like” and “don’t like.”

    • Ask an open ended question like “What do you like?”

    • Respond when the child communicates anything.

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.