Train-the-Trainer materials
Using these materials
These Train the Trainer materials contain everything you need to appoint trainers or champions in your setting. We equip them with all the materials they will need to be able to train everyone in your setting, how to use Read&Write.
In this section you will find:
You can also take this guide away to refer back to at any time.
1. Introduction
Read&Write is a literacy support software for all learners, but especially those who have specific learning needs. Read&Write is also support for teachers in easily creating higher level learning activities and opportunities for students to develop independent learning. In this session we will address these fundamental needs for reading comprehension - Making the meaning from text, learning/understanding vocabulary and responding in writing to what was read.
Objectives: Participants will learn the toolbar modes, setting up profiles, specific tools, how to make each function, and how they can be used with students for learning.
2. Curriculum and Training Materials
Let's get started with Read&Write's top tools.
For each feature, we've included some talking points, a video to share, and some tips for usage.
Toolbar Modes
You now have three choices for your toolbar mode to be used on Docs, Web pages and Slides.
Switching between modes/views - A new section has been added at the top of Read&Write’s Settings menu called General which will include a new setting to choose your toolbar view and the dark/light mode setting, which has been moved from the Theme section.
Customizing Features on Horizontal and Vertical modes - You will be able to go into the Settings, then Features and turn on or off the tools that you would like to have displayed. The features you choose will be reflected on both toolbars (mirror image).
Creating Profiles - Create profiles to remember all of your preferred settings for Read&Write. Quickly switch between different settings profiles from the toolbar menu. You can have a profile set up for use in a particular language or for a particular purpose and it’s super quick and easy to do. You can create as many as 8 profiles.
This 2-minute video will show how to create and switch profiles.
Text to Speech
Text to Speech works with the Google Suite, Microsoft Online Suite, and on websites.
Notice the 'dual highlights' when text is being read aloud - Read&Write highlights the sentence AND word that is being read.
Pro Tip: Continuous Reading is on by default but can be turned off in the Settings under the 'Speech' tab. This will allow for more control over how much is read aloud at one time.
Text To Speech Overview
Share this video and the usage tips.
Try it out:
- Try on a Google Doc first. You can adjust the speed of the reading voice in the Settings under the 'Speech' tab.
- Have students choose a preferred voice and two speeds - one for support when they are tired or distracted but could read on their own and a slower speed for text with more difficult concepts or new vocabulary.
Dictionary & Picture Dictionary
The Dictionary tool allows students to gain access to word meaning regardless of their own reading ability as all definitions can be speech-enabled. We want to get students in the habit of using the dictionary as a resource.
Picture Dictionary gives visual representation of word meaning.
Pro Tip: Use the Dictionary, Picture Dictionary, and Translator tools together as they auto sync with the highlighted word giving students choice of support.
Dictionary & Picture Dictionary Overview
Share this video and the usage tips.
Tips for usage:
- Try using on a Google Doc first then a webpage.
- Choose 5 words with more than one meaning from their reading. Ask students to use the dictionary to determine which is the correct definition based on how the word is used and copy the definition next to the word. Also ask why students chose the definition they chose for each.
- Three Productive Ways to Use the Picture Dictionary
Single Word Translator
The Translator can be used to translate single words into over 90 different languages! The Translator tool gives more choices for an individual word. You can change the language that the Translator tool translates to in the settings under Speech tab. Spanish is the default translation language.
Translator Single Word Overview
Share this video and the usage tip.
Try it out:
- Try on a Google Doc first. Click on the translator to open, type the word “car” and look at the 5 Spanish choices. Different words will be recognized depending on where a student is from or what is spoken at home.
Screenshot Reader
The Screenshot Reader allows you to have inaccessible text read aloud. Screenshot Reader is useful PDFs, Images, Maps, Charts, Diagrams and Videos.
Screenshot Reader Overview
Share this video and the usage tips.
Try it out:
- Try on the pictures on this Web page
- Pause a video with text and use the screenshot reader to have it read aloud! Example Video: pause at 0:08 seconds and use to read “Apples are red.”
Simplify Page (Web only)
The Simplify feature in Read&Write de-clutters and simplifies web pages only. You can change the contrast of background and text color, the font style and size (with Lexend and Open Dyslexic as fonts for students with dyslexia) and the line spacing. When using Simplify, once on the new tab of the article, clicking on the minus button next to the word “simplify” can remove the pictures leaving just the article.
Pro Tip: If your students need a specific font or have a tendency to migrate to other places on the web, you can save the modifications you made in Simplify as a PDF to be shared.
Simplify Page Overview
Share this video and the usage tips.
Try it out:
- Try on this Web page.
- Check out the Discover toggle to explore some additional support for key words and topics. This feature finds these and then provides a pop-up explanation and photo. The words that Discover has found more information on will be underlined in purple. Have students try it out.
Rewordify (Web only)
Rewordify replaces complex vocabulary with simpler, easier to understand words and phrases.
Rewordified text is italicized on the page. Click on the word or phrase to toggle between the original text and the rewordified text.
Rewordify overview
Share this video and the usage tips.
Try it out:
- Try on this Web page.
- Rewordify can be used directly on a web page or in conjunction with using Simplify Page first and then Rewordify. Check out the italics and see if a synonym or short phrase appears to help clarify.
Co:Writer Prediction
Prediction can be customized for use including number of words displayed, where the prediction box appears, prediction for just the word being typed or the next word as well, enabling words predicted read aloud when hovering over each suggestion, and adjustments to the size of the words predicted in the prediction box.
You have the option to search millions of topics. When selected you will then get relevant words and phrases in fewer keystrokes.
Co:Writer Prediction Overview
Share this video and the usage tips.
Try it out:
- Try using on a Google Doc.
- Click on the Prediction Tool. When you start typing a sentence, you will notice the prediction box will pop up. There are a two ways to have the word populate on your document: Click on the word in the prediction box or press the number of the word.
Talk&Type
Talk&Type is Speech to Text which allows for students to speak their thoughts and answers versus aving to type them, including most punctuation marks. This tool will also allow you to speak in your native language by using the drop down menu on the microphone icon.
Talk&Type Overview
Share this video and the usage tips.
Try it out:
- Try using on a Google Doc.
- Click on the Talk&Type icon. If prompted, you must allow access your microphone. When the Talk&Type button is highlighted purple, this means it is active. A red microphone icon will appear near the top left of the Chrome window. Use the Text to Speech tool to catch any errors to be corrected.
Training by the hour in three sessions - guides for conducting your own training
3. Action Planning for Quick Wins
Teachers need to take time to reflect on how and how often they are implementing Read&Write in their instruction, lessons and activities in order to increase the ease of use and benefits for students.
Here are some sample questions for participants to answer at the end of a Read&Write training session:
- In what specific lesson or activity will you use Read&Write tools this week and using what specific tools? Why have you chosen those tools?
- How will you use Read&Write to support UDL principles in this lesson or activity?
- How will you measure the effectiveness of using Read&Write in this lesson or activity?
- What supports or resources do you need to effectively implement Read&Write in this lesson or activity?
- Identify if you will use videos (and which ones) to train your students.
- What are some questions you now have about the tools?