Tag Archives: Read&Write for Google Chrome

Checking for Errors Using the Check It Tool

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The Check It feature of Read&Write for Google Chrome extension checks writing for grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and common word confusion errors. When activated, it will create a purple underline under potential errors. This works in addition to built-in spell checking or grammar checking software in the word processing software, appearing above or below any underlines that software may generate.

The Check It tool will be a black check mark inside of a black circle on the Read&Write for Google Chrome toolbar. Select this icon to turn the tool on. The check mark and circle will turn purple, and a dot will appear under it. The document will automatically be checked for errors. Select the icon again to turn off the tool. At the time of this blog post’s publication, Read&Write for Google Chrome is available to every student and teacher in Loudoun County Public Schools. Learners could use this tool as an additional support during the editing process. The video titled Read&Write for Google Chrome – Check It Overview describes how to use this feature of the toolbar.

 

Predicting Words ln Line Using Read&Write for Google Chrome

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The Word Prediction feature of the Google Chrome extension Read&Write for Google Chrome provides a list of potential words someone might use next in a sentence. By default, the feature is set to predict ahead where a list of words appear without the user needing to begin the next word. This feature can be deactivated in the Word Prediction settings. When deactivated, a user will only be provided with a list of words once they’ve started to type. With the Predict Ahead feature inactive, a user needs to generate their own words and choose a word from the options provided based on what they have started to type. Select the Read&Write for Google Chrome (purple puzzle piece) icon to open the toolbar. Select the crystal ball icon to activate word prediction. Use the three dots to the far right to access the settings, navigate to the Word Prediction settings, and deselect Predict Ahead. When the user begins to type, that user can select from the generated list of words. A user could also use the key command of CTRL + the corresponding numeral of the word in the list. The following video is a short demonstration of how to use the Word Prediction feature in Read&Write for Google Chrome. At the time of this blog post’s publication, Read&Write for Google Chrome is available to every learner in Loudoun County Public Schools.

Predicting Words Ahead with Read&Write for Google Chrome

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The Word Prediction feature of the Google Chrome extension Read&Write for Google Chrome provides a list of potential words someone might use next in a sentence. By default, the feature is set to predict ahead where a list of words appear without beginning the next word. With the feature active, a user need to generate their own word and instead choose a word from the options provided. Select the Read&Write for Google Chrome (purple puzzle piece) icon to open the toolbar. Select the crystal ball icon to activate word prediction. While activated, a list of potential words will be automatically generated. A user can select from the list by clicking on the word. A user could also use the key command of CTRL + the corresponding numeral of the word in the list. The following video is a short demonstration of how to use the Word Prediction feature in Read&Write for Google Chrome. At the time of this blog post’s publication, Read&Write for Google Chrome is available to every learner in Loudoun County Public Schools.

Become Read&Write for Google Chrome Certified

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Texthelp, the company that produces the Read&Write for Google Chrome extension for literacy support, has created an online, self-paced learning experience called Read&Write for Education Academy to help anyone become familiar with the tool. Completing the course earns one a certification, a certificate, a badge, and tons of information on how better to use the product to design inclusive experiences.

Work alone or find some friends to work through it together! Either way, you can become Read&Write for Google Chrome certified! Read&Write for Google Chrome is currently available for anyone to use in LCPS.

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!

Speech to Text Within a Google Slide

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A recent update to Read&Write for Google Chrome has brought with it a new, highly requested feature! The Talk&Type button is a shortcut to activating the Voice Typing feature of Google Docs. Prior to this update, this feature only worked in the Speaker Notes section of a Google Slides presentation. Users needed to turn on the Enable Dictation feature in the Accessibility settings of Chrome to dictate directly into a slide. Now, users can use the Talk&Type button in Read&Write for Google Chrome when using Google Slides to use speech to text, essentially cutting down on navigation and providing a consistent experience between applications. This new feature provides learners with yet another option for how to compose text to show what they know! Watch this short tutorial titled Read&Write in Google Slides Speech to Text Update to see how it works.

Isolating One Row of Text At A Time Using Line Focus or Screen Masking

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Highlighting one row of text at a time can help a reader focus on that text by reducing potentially distracting content. This feature is known as Line Focus in Immersive Reader and Screen Masking in Read&Write for Google Chrome.

Read&Write for Google Chrome Logo and Screen Mask Icon

Screen Mask icon in Read&Write for Google Chrome

Screenshot of Line Focus in Immersive Reader

Line Focus Settings in Immersive Reader

Line Focus in Immersive Reader

Example of Line Focus in Immersive Reader

Three Ways to Use Text to Speech with Read&Write for Google Chrome

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Read&Write for Google Chrome LogoClick on the purple puzzle piece to install the Google extension Read&Write for Google Chrome.

Or click here for installation instructions in English

Or click here for installation instructions in Spanish.

  1. Click the play button play buttonto listen to text being read aloud in Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Forms, Google Sheets, Schoology, and the Chrome web browser. Try it now to listen to any text in this blog post!
  2. In Google Meet, click the Hover SpeechHover Speech Icon button to hear the text in the chat read aloud. Place the cursor over text in the chat…no need to click!
  3. Do you see text within a picture? Use the Screenshot Reader Screenshot Reader iconto draw a box around the text to have it read aloud. Try it with the text in the image below.Children at play sign

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.