Text-to-Speech
Last Updated March 21, 2024
What is Read&Write for Google (RWG)?
Read&Write Google is a product developed by texthelp. https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/
It has many tools. Text-to-speech capability is one of them. Hyde Park Day School uses the RWG Chrome extension. It varies slightly depending on where it is being used.
On a Google doc
On the Internet
Opening a PDF in the Chrome browser with TextHelp PDF Reader
Opening an ePub in the Chrome browser
What is Text-to-Speech (TTS)?
Text-to-Speech (TTS) software converts digital text into spoken text. Some software uses a computer-generated voice. Others use a recorded voice recorded by humans. Students can see text and hear it read aloud at the same time. Text-to-Speech can be used to help students in both reading and writing.
Text-to-speech Software: What It Is and How It Works
How does this help students?
- Sometimes, the amount of work it takes for some students to decode is so great, the effort detracts from the student’s ability to read for understanding. TTS takes the weight off so the student has access to learning the content. The students can read for meaning and participate in discussions at school. For some students, TTS is a tool they can use to help them while they are building their decoding (sounding out words) and encoding (spelling) skills. For others, these reading skills may not be as easily attainable making TTS a critical key for their access to content that is at their developmental level.
- Another critical reason we teach our students these tools is because it gives them the ability to be independent in their learning. Mom, dad, big brother or sister, grandma or teacher are not always going to be there at their side, especially when they get into the high school, college and years beyond. Our mission is transition and this means providing tools that help our students be independent learners.
- TTS offers students more control over their reading. They can choose the pace and highlight words as they read reinforcing the speech-to-print match.
- TTS also serves as a model for helping students understand correct grammar, vocabulary and punctuation. All of these are important parts of the revising and editing process of writing.
- Sometimes vocabulary is above a student’s listening comprehension level. Having the ability to increase or decrease the level of text complexity increases a student’s ability to understand content at his/her academic level. Students have control to use the dictionary when they need it, too.
- TTS gives students more exposure to text. For students who struggle with decoding and comprehension, this gives them more opportunity to hear how language works. This includes listening to correct sentence structure, learning new vocabulary, listening to different genres of writing and how they are written differently as well as learning about content through realistic fiction and nonfiction text. This increased exposure supports their ability to learn and independently use the reading skills being taught by their teacher.
How do I use TTS on the Read&Write for Google toolbar?
Some tools require that the text be selected first. Others start at the top of the page. To make TTS available, click on the purple puzzle piece. For the RWG toolbar:
On a Google doc
TTS uses 2 icons: Play, Stop
Click on the text where you want TTS to start speaking. TTS will start speaking when you click the Play icon.
You can also highlight text and then click Play. Click the Stop icon to TTS.
On the Internet
TTS uses 3 icons: Hover and Play, Stop
Hover is the easiest. Click on the Hover icon to turn it on, then hover with your cursor over the text you want to hear. When you move the cursor, it will automatically start speaking at the new location. Click Stop to stop speaking. Click the Hover icon again to turn this feature off.
You can also highlight the text where you want TTS to start speaking. Click the Play icon. Click the Stop icon to stop speaking.
On a PDF with TextHelp PDF Reader in the Chrome Browser
TTS uses 3 icons: Click to Speak and Play, Stop
When the Click to Speak icon is red, it is turned on. Then you can click text to start speaking. Click Stop to stop speaking.
You can also click or highlight text and click the Play icon to start speaking.
or ePub in the Chrome browser
TTS uses 3 icons: Click to Speak and Play, Stop
When the Click to Speak icon is red, it is turned on. Then you can click text to start speaking. Click Stop to stop speaking.
You can also click or highlight text and click the Play icon to start speaking.
How much does it cost (after transition)?
Read&Write for Google Chrome extension is a product. The cost for HPDS students is rolled into the tuition fee. It requires that we use our domain under our Google Apps for Education account (which is free). Our domain is hydeparkday.org. When a student transitions, there are other options if the district does not have a site license.
Here is the pricing information to know when a student transitions:
For schools with a Google Apps for Education account:
1. Individual student license: $160 per student per year. This is for schools who are only looking for a handful of licenses. Let's say you wanted to provide Read&Write to five students the cost would be 5 x $160 = $800.
2. Group license: (A group license is any subset of your total student enrollment. For example, all students with an IEP or all 7th grade students, etc.) Please contact TextHelp for group pricing here - https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/support/license-enquiry/
3. District license: This license is a true Universal Design for Learning (UDL) solution and is based on total student enrollment in the district. Please contact TextHelp for group pricing here - https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/support/license-enquiry/
For schools without a Google Apps for Education account
A single license cost is $160 per person per year.
https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/pricing/
This license supports multiple devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Google Chrome, Office 365, iPad, and Android. You have the option of getting them all at no additional cost. This gives our customers more flexibility to use the literacy support they need, wherever and whenever they need it.
Parents can order a subscription based license directly from our website using a credit card at https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/pricing/?_ga=2.221592223.689316547.1590674934-430711839.1564875962
Does it work on other devices?
Yes, it does! It works on Windows and Mac computers, iPads and Android tablets, and comes as an extension in the Chrome browser.
What do I need to know when my student transitions?
- Find out all of the ways text is used for your student’s learning.
- Does the student research on the Internet?
- Are the textbooks online?
- If not, submit a request to Bookshare to have them converted to accessible text.
- Are the student’s expected to do worksheets?
- Are they available in a PDF format? (It not, refer to PDF Tech Guide).
- A big obstacle for having students use text-to-speech is having access to a digital text. It’s important to come up with a plan with the teacher for how to convert paper worksheets into digital text, such as a Google Doc or PDF.
- Then determine how RWG TTS integrates with them
- If RWG TTS is not an option, find and integrate other comparable TTS tools
- Consider headphones if using RWG TTS in a large group settings
What else is good to know about using Text-to-Speech on the Read&Write for Google Chrome Extension toolbar?
- Technology rapidly changes. When one company makes a change, another one has to adapt. Depending on the source of the digital material there may be pauses in functionality. For example, Google may make a change to their Google Doc product and then texthelp needs to adapt Read&Write Google to catch up. In other words, it usually takes more than one company to make this a seamless solution. Perseverance and problem solving are good practices to use when these technical issues come up.
- Font is important. If the size is too small or too fancy, the TTS software may have trouble recognizing the letters and may distort the pronunciation. Increasing the page view may help. If it doesn’t, it may be the way the document was formatted.
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) says that eligible kids with learning and attention issues should be able to access the same learning materials as other students.http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/idea/
Where can I find more information?
Read&Write for Google - https://www.texthelp.com/en-us/sectors/education/
Understood.org - https://www.understood.org/en
Learning Technologies Lab - http://www.learningtechnologiesab.com/
*Please note that technology and pricing is always changing. This document reflects the most recent known information as indicated by the Last Updated Date at the top of the page.