Tech Mod 09Software that supports

struggling readers and writers

Kurzweil is text reader software

Word Q is word prediction software

Kurzweil 3000

A Text Reader

Text Readers provide reading support for students:

Who struggle with decoding. With poor fluency which affects

comprehension. Who read so slowly they cannot

keep up Who over-rely on adult verbatim

reading, affecting their ability to read with independence.

State Testing

At this time, Kurzweil is the only text or screen reader currently supported for Maryland State assessments. However, in order to use this text reader for testing, “students must have used a screen reader in instruction and have had an opportunity to become familiar with the operation of the Kurzweil 3000 interface”.

Maryland Accommodations

The Maryland Accommodations Manual (2005) encourages the use of screen or text readers on state testing, “to promote standardization of the verbatim reading accommodation”.

Struggling Readers

The downside of “verbatim reader” accommodations

Verbatim reading does not enhance reading skills.

Students less likely to ask an adult to slow down, to repeat.

Lack of engagement with print affects word recognition, reading fluency and reading comprehension.

Kurzweil highlights text as it reads aloud

Use the footnote tool to add background information

Add questions to gauge comprehension

Use Kurzweil as a talking word processor to take notes.

WordQ

Word Prediction Software

Word Prediction Software

Predicts the next word you want to type so that you don’t need to enter all the letters

Similar to Co:Writer (SOLO) Works over the top of Word, email, or

any program you type in

Benefits

Kids who have trouble spelling Kids who type very slowly ELL kids Kids with fine-motor difficulties

WordQ