Write:Outloud

I used it a few years ago when I was teaching a self-contained class of 4th and 5th grade students who were identified as language-impaired. If you are using it to read tests to students, it really works well. If, however, you are hoping that it will help teach expressive writing, it leaves quite a bit to be desired. It is a solid program, but I found that if students were unable to express themselves orally, written expression was also a challenge. I now use LMB’s V&V for students who have these difficulties.

I had parent volunteers come in every day to work with students one-on-one during language arts. Basically, the monitored each child’s journal for clarity (and because I had one student who delighted in deleting all of his work before he saved it…). Students were using WriteOutLoud in conjunction wht CoWriter. Without the daily support of parent volunteers, my students would not have been able to utilize the software effectively at all. (I did not have an aide and was teaching students at 4 different reading levels. Journal time was independent work.)

Don Johnson has come out with a new program, Draft:Builder, which appears to combine WriteOutLoud and CoWriter with enhancements to teach the writing process. Depending on what you are looking for, it may better address the writing process for your students.

I’ve just reread your post…this was WAY more information than you asked for. (Can you tell I’m now a writing teacher at a middle school for children with special needs?) In terms of reading to your students, WriteOutLoud is fine….just don’t let them spend too much time deciding which voice they prefer!

That would be Don Johnston (http://www.donjohnston.com) and it’s a good place to head for materials that work.
I’ve heard good things a bout the Co:Writer/DraftBuilder combination — but have to agree that it takes lots of coaching and monitoring to get writing happening.

Christa,
There are many text-to-speech options available. What is recommended depends upon several factors - what are the ages of the students, what features are needed, and why is it being recommended.
Give a little more info for specific recommendations. (Write:Outloud is a very good product for specific students.)
Karen

My daughter uses it in the classroom - I haven’t seen it. She uses it primarily for the auditory spellcheck.

She uses primarily Draft Builder. Great software.

[quote=”KTJ”]Christa,
There are many text-to-speech options available. What is recommended depends upon several factors - what are the ages of the students, what features are needed, and why is it being recommended.
Give a little more info for specific recommendations. (Write:Outloud is a very good product for specific students.)
Karen[/quote]

Hi,
Thanks for responding and sorry for my delayed response! :D

I teach Language Arts in a self-contained SLD class of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. I was wondering if it would be helpful for a student to type a paragraph or essay and then let the computer software read it back to him/her.

I’m thinking specifically of students whose handwriting is atrocious (OT issues) and who often leave out words when they write. (If I read it back to them, they usually catch the error, but if they reread it silently, they often miss the errors. )

I don’t know anything about the other features of Write:Outloud…

Thanks,
Christa

[quote=”Leah-FL”]My daughter uses it in the classroom - I haven’t seen it. She uses it primarily for the auditory spellcheck.

She uses primarily Draft Builder. Great software.[/quote]

Leah,

Can you tell me more about Draft Builder, and how old is your daughter? What are her difficulties with writing and how does it help her?

Thanks

BTW, there are some nice screen shots and explanation of Draft Builder on the Don Johnston page (http://www.donjohnston.com)

Looks very useful!!

—des

Hi, I also teach LD 7th & 8th grade writing in a school for LD students. I like both Write:Outloud and Co-writer, but I found Co-writer rather cumbersome. We use Texthelp for the older kids. It has some of the better features of each of these programs. It helps with their comprehension of research materials, when they get materials off the internet, it will help them read it, and it helps them with proofreading their work.

For planning the writing and organizing it, we use Inspiration. It generates graphic organizers and outlines.

FYI, for any of you who teach older middle school kids with learning disabilities and are looking for spelling materials or help for the kid who never does homework, please check out my website www.gwhizresources.com. Thanks!

Christa,
“I teach Language Arts in a self-contained SLD class of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. I was wondering if it would be helpful for a student to type a paragraph or essay and then let the computer software read it back to him/her.”
I have found that using text-to-speech software is very beneficial for helping students with the editing phase of their writing. Many students read their written product on their own and fail to find many errors that they detect when they hear their work read aloud to them. The beauty of text-to-speech software is that they can independently edit their work instead of depending upon a peer, teacher or parent to read it to them. They can adjust the speed of the reading, highlight each word, adjust the voice quality, etc. The other major difference that I find with students who use the computer for writing is that they are more willing to use grade level vocabulary because of the spell check and thesaurus features. For students with learning disabilities who hand write their work, they often use less complex language because they do not want to have to correct their mistakes and if they know a work but don’t know how to spell it, they are less likely to include it in their written work.
I have also used Draft:Builder and Inspiration and have found them very valuable to help break the writing into specific steps with visual supports.

Thanks, everyone!!!

I’m going to look into these programs.

:D Christa

Mydaughter is 10, 5th grade and has been using Draftbuilder since3rd.