Kent ISD
Assistive Technology
Technology Supports for Literacy
Kent Reading Council – November, 2008
Educationally Relevant Search Tools:
- links and resources for finding a thematic topic
- search tools and topics for students
- web search for kids by topic
Scaffolded or Scaled Reading Content:
- guide to US government by grade level
- space and astronomy, with targeted reading levels
- --Space and beyond, with targeted reading levels
Sites that help determine “readability” of text:
- input a URL or website location and the readability will be calculated
- Cut and paste into this site for Readability stats
Digital Graphic Organizers:
- free online brainstorming and mapping tool
- free online brainstorming and mapping tool
free online brainstorming and mapping tool
Vocabulary, Dictionary and Thesaurus Tools:
- a very visual thesaurus
- look up words on any webpage, create quizzes, make a glossary, create a crossword puzzle, etc.
Text-to-Speech Tools:
- - Universal Reader will read any text aloud
- - Kent area schools and families have free access to this text reading software
- - free text to speech tool
- free text to speech tool
Turning Text into Audio MP3:
- -- free audio conversion software
- – Text To Audio will convert text to MP3
- - free text to mp3 conversion software for all Kent area schools and families
- Listen to text aloud on your PC or convert to MP3
E-Text Resources:
– search books for “full view” versions
– search for audio books or e-books available for loan
– seach the Michigan E-Library for e-books or audio books
- electronic version of Sherlock Holmes books/stories
- interactive e-books for children
- a collection of free easy to read and accessible books
- a collection of free stories and poems in MP3 format
– a wiki with comprehensive lists of e-text and e-book resources
- - free online poems and poetry activities
- a collection of electronic short stories
Plagarism Checking Websites:
Teacher Resource Wikis:
- building tools for literacy and growth
- a 5th grade wiki, with students contributing informationfor the unit "Turn Homeward, Hannalee"
- Mr. Monson’s 5th grade classroom wiki
- students work collaboratively on research projects. Create information resources, write stories and exchange their ideas through wiki, email and discussion pages
--second and third graders who are using technology to help share with the world, what they are learning
“We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary egg. We must hatch or go bad.” --C S Lewis
“I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore.” --Dorothy/ Wizard of Oz