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Utilizing Resources to Reach At-Risk Students

Regardless of the role we fill in the school system, each of us has a common goal; we want our students to experience academic success in the classroom and life. Realistically speaking, however, not all students will reach their unique potential and will be classified as at-risk.

This month's technology professional development offering was Utilizing Resources to Reach At-Risk Students. In this session, I introduced attendees to several tools available for helping all students achieve. For those of you who were not able to attend these professional development courses, I am sharing the information in this forum so that your students can also benefit from these tools. Or, use these tools with your child at home--there are many tools in this list that are classified for use with those who have been identified as having dyslexia.

 Each of these can be found in the Chrome Web Store and are currently free-to-use for teachers. I have provided the links to each of these apps/extensions to make it even easier if you find one you would like to try!

Tools for Students with Dyslexia

 Read and Write for Google
Get the free version for a year! Click ME!!!
Word prediction, dictionary, picture dictionary, text to speech, screenshot reader, speech maker, screen mask, translator, highlighters, voice note, dyslexia tools, and more. Works on web pages, PDFs, Google Docs, and Google Slides.

Making the web easier for people with Dyslexia and helping show what browsing with Dyslexia is like.
Top-rated tool for dyslexia students
Removes all ads, comments, and other distracting items. New text can be adjusted using font/color tools.

 Tools for All Learners

BeeLine Reader
Removes all ads, comments, and other extra distracting items. Applies a color gradient to the page text to guide your eye from one line to the next.
This screen overlay tool darkens out the page except for a horizontal band you can move up and down as you read.

Turn web pages into a flippable e-book with easy clickable or keyboard control, as well as control over font size and page color as well.
Copy/paste text into the app to get a summary of the most important information.
Double-click any word on a webpage to get an automatic definition and pronunciation.

Tools for the Physically Impaired

Click-free Browsing
Adds navigation icons to a web page that can be activated by simply hovering over them, rather than needing to click. Commands include scrolling, backward and forward in page history, opening a link, and more.

Provides keyboard shortcuts for navigation and control for someone with difficulty using a mouse.

Use mouse gestures to navigate including forward, backward, scrolling, refreshing, switching tabs, and more. The user can even program their own custom mouse gestures to open programs and perform other tasks.

This extension gives you a movable cursor in any web page, allowing you to move through the text with your arrows keys and select text with the keyboard.

Adjust and improve webpage colors for partially color-blind students.
Create, edit, download, and play pictographic communication boards.


Tools for Holding Attention

Move It
Designed by a PE teacher. Set to periodically have students stop working and do something physical for a moment. Great for teachers as well!
Behavior management tool - builds positive learning habits and behaviors.

Call me at extension 1035, email me at tpoolson@prc.k12.ms.us, or set up an appointment for me to walk through the content with you in a department meeting. I will be glad to sit down with you, answer any questions you may have, even plan with you! As always, I am happy to visit your classroom on the day you use the software to offer technical assistance or moral support.

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