Read&Write GOLD 10 - Texthelp Systems

1. Read&Write GOLD 10 - Texthelp Systems Literacy solutions for ALL readers Doug Rosette – d.rosette@texthelp.com

2. Today’s Presentation • Texthelp Systems Background • RWG Overview/Demonstration • Wrap-Up / Questions

3. Texthelp – Systems, Inc. • Worldwide leader of literacy support software solutions • Founded in Antrim, Belfast, Northern Ireland – 1996 • 120 Employees • North American Headquarters – Woburn (Boston) MA • Microsoft Certified Gold Partner • Apple and Adobe Solutions Developers • Best In Tech 2010: RTI - Finding the right response for interventions. Read&Write GOLD was recently chosen for a Scholastic Administrator Best in Tech 2010 - RTI award. Chosen by administrators Education Division – Read&Write Gold, Fluency Tutor, Publishing Division – Lexiflow and Speechstream – Deliver online support developed into curriculum such as Pearson, Discovery Ed, Houghton Mifflin – Publishers building RWG into their content

4. What is Read&Write GOLD? • Floating Toolbar that sits at the top of screen • Each icon is a powerful tool. • These tools help students with reading, writing, study • skills and research • Our tools motivate students and empower them to • be successful while building confidence and self- • esteem.

5. RWG Support Tools – by Design Reading Support Tools Writing Support Tools Research/Study Support Tools

6. Success For All – Where does Read&Write Gold help“Technology can help in intangible ways” Helps all students with various learning challenges, such as: • Dyslexia – Decoding • Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic learning • Research - Bibliography (Support Tools)‏ • Phonetic Spellers - Writing • ESL/ELL Learners – Translation • Low Self-Esteem - Dependent Learners • Bi-modal approach to reading — text is highlighted in context as it is spoken aloud - Jerome Elkind – 1993 – using computer based readers to improve comprehension for students with dyslexia – bimodal approach to reading. “Annals of Dyslexia”

7. Why Read&Write Gold • Engage students in THEIR environment one they are familiar with and actually use, such as MS Office, Adobe PDFs, Internet Explorerand Daisy. • They get to be “like” everyone else. • A wide variety of tools incorporating aspects of a variety of packages into one solution set or toolbar • Flexible teacher toolkit allows tailoring to individual student needs • Motivate Students and monitor their progress • Research based and Proven Successful for students • Ease of Implementation • Addresses DI, UDL, and RTI

8. WEB 2.0 Integration All Microsoft Word Documents Internet Explorer, Firefox, Open Office & Safari Adobe Acrobat Reader Documents Paper based… Textbooks, Worksheets or Formative Assessments Converts digital text to MP3 audio files

9. Read&Write GOLD reads DIRECTLY with Virtual all of computer-based applications:

10. Professional Development • Free Webinar Schedule for more information visit www.texthelp.com • Built in Video Tours • Free Demo Downloads available • (Texthelp US) You-tube Channel • Friend Us on Facebook and Twitter

11. New Features • Picture Dictionary • Displays image(s) for selected text or typed entry • Definitions also available • Works with clipboard text • Requires online connection • Image Caching • Verb Checker • Simple wizard to help students see correct verb conjugations • Supplies suggestions if entered verb is not found • Contains 1000 verb conjugations • Study Skills Vocabulary Tool • Uses the Study Skills highlighters to build a vocabulary list • Creates an MS Word document with words, dictionary definitions and pictures • Word List can also be entered manually • New Version 10 Feature Video Tours Literacy Language Learning

12. Live Demo