Hooray! Spring is on the way. Whether families are headed to the beach, camping, amusement parks or even a staycation, it’s a great time to practice using those reading accommodation tools with real-life reading opportunities. Using reading tools such as text-to-speech during fun, low stress, literacy activities helps to build independence and encourage practice with the tool-based skills needed for more academic reading when returning to school.
Take advantage of Spring break! Many of our struggling readers do not take the initiative to read for their own purpose and pleasure. Prepare now to set your students up to engage in authentic real-life reading materials. Help them learn the power of connecting to the world that exists outside the classroom. Here are some ideas to set them up for success!
Will your family be visiting a new city, museums, or historical sites during the break? Read about the destination prior to the visit. Check out the collection of accessible books at BookShare.
Offer Spring Break Reading BINGO
Reading BINGO challenges students to read, using their digital device, within a variety of situations. Printables for making BINGO cards can be found here.
Specific links supporting different reading situations are also provided for you below:
Use text-to-speech to read information while on family outings
Take pictures of maps or informational signs using software such as Claro. Claro software can convert words within an image to accessible text PDF files that can be spoken, searched, copied and highlighted. Students can then read the information independently using text-to-speech and tell the family about what they have learned!
Each of these reading ideas gives our reluctant readers a chance to be independent with sharing information and contributing to family fun. Opportunities to increase reading helps build literacy skills and self-esteem. View my webinar, Reading Success During Spring Break on YouTube.
Prepare … so when students come back to school from Spring break they will be ready to share.