For that reason, I’ve chosen to look into the ways that we can use assistive technology such as Google Read&Write to support struggling readers to find success in the classroom.
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I should note that, as a staff, we are, of course, looking into reading/literacy programs that can help address reader needs through direct literacy instruction (such as UFli), but I wanted to focus on what we’re able to do for students who have not yet mastered their reading skills and are struggling across the board in other subject areas as a result.
The root of this issue tends to be that, unfortunately, we are not in a position to have enough resources to supply reading materials for each students’ level on all curricular topics (McGlynn and Kozlowski, 20). This then can impact student ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in curricular areas and ultimately results in reduced self esteem and a negative view towards school in general (Wyk and Louw, 246; Manzer,1).
Fortunately, this is where technology can help us.
With a school district that already utilizes GSuite for students, a clear option here is encouraging students and teachers to try Google Read and Write for these kids.
See the video below to explain how Google Read and Write can be used to support students in their literacy at school (and at home!).
Essentially, Google Read and Write is a Google Chrome extension which allows students the opportunity to “access reading material and tasks that would otherwise be too difficult” (McGlynn and Kozlowski, 20). It can easily be downloaded through the Chrome webstore, and remains available thereafter any time that a student is logged into Google Chrome (McGlynn and Kozlowski, 20).
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There is both a free option which allows students to use basic functions of read and write (having text read aloud, and the option to translate texts into other languages) and a premium version for a fee (you can request a quote here for your school OR note that teachers also get free accounts to trial the premium) that includes a much longer list of features including many of those cited in the youtube video above and on the Chrome webstore page (McGlynn and Kozlowski, 20; Texthelp, "Free For Teachers: Read and Write."; Texthelp “Read&Write for Google Chrome™”; Texthelp, “Upgrade in Product”, “Using Read&Write to Support Every Pupil in Your Classroom”).
Once installed, and its features are properly taught to students and staff, it becomes an invaluable tool in supporting and fostering reading culture in all students across all subject matter (McGlynn and Kozlowski, 20).
As librarians and educators, we “advocate for equitable access to educational technology, digital content and learning opportunities to meet the diverse needs of all students.” and “model for colleagues the identification, exploration, evaluation, curation and adoption of new digital resources and tools for learning” (ISTE). Given this, it seems natural to me that using tools like read and write to support student literacy, should be a part of our instruction and a part of creating digitally literate students.
I recognize that this, in part, begins by providing effective exposure and professional development opportunities to teaching staff about that programming and so, I hope to use my digital literacy platform that I want to work on during this course and my collaborative opportunities as a TL to showcase tools such as google read and write to staff, students and ultimately our school learning community as a whole (Ratkovitch, 2).
Works Cited
Manzer, Kimberly. "Providing Support to Struggling Readers using Technology-Assisted Reading." Morning Watch (St.John's), vol. 41, no. 1-2, 10/01/2013, pp. 1. https://www.mun.ca/educ/faculty/mwatch/vol41/fall2013/kimManzer.pdf
McGlynn, Kaitlyn, and Janey Kozlowski. “Using Technology to Unlock Content for Students.” Science Scope, vol. 40, no. 6, 2017, pp. 20–23. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26393788. Accessed 29 May 2023.
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). "ISTE Standards: Educators." ISTE, www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-teachers. Accessed 29 May 2023.
Ratkovitch, Amanda. "The Impact of a Hybrid Professional Development on Teacher Instructional Strategies: A Study of the Integration of Google Read and Write to Improve Instructional Practices." Order No. 27548508 The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 2019. United States -- Wisconsin: ProQuest. Web. 29 May 2023.
Texthelp. "Free For Teachers: Read and Write." Texthelp, www.texthelp.com/products/free-for-teachers/read-and-write/
Texthelp. "Read&Write for Google Chrome™." Chrome Web Store, 17 May 2023, chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/readwrite-for-google-chro/inoeonmfapjbbkmdafoankkfajkcphgd.
Texthelp. "Upgrade in Product." Texthelp, www.texthelp.com/products/read-and-write-education/upgrade-in-product/.
"Using Read&Write to Support Every Pupil in Your Classroom." Youtube, uploaded by Texthelp, 8 Nov. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=by48FATAyR4.
van Wyk, Gerda, and Arno Louw.
"Technology-Assisted Reading for Improving Reading Skills for Young South African Learners." Electronic Journal of e-Learning, vol. 6, no. 3, 2008, pp. 245.
