Hi Stephanie... At Computers for Youth (CFY), we provide home computers and family training to middle school students in high-poverty neighborhoods of NYC. One of our chief goals is to help the students (and help their parents!) use the computers to improve literacy skills.
One of the things that we have found works best is having the kids use a text-to-speech reader. We use ReadPlease (available at www.readplease.com). We encourage students do a lot of writing (journals, songs and poems are favorites) and then have the computer read their words aloud back to them. ReadPlease highlights words one at a time while it reads aloud. The tool has been a great way to get kids to proofread their work and to *hear* when they have made mistakes--dropped words, omitted punctuation, etc. For students who are learning English, we also often have them write in Spanish, translate to English (using a translator on the web like Babelfish--not perfect but useful) and then have the computer read their words back to them. Good luck! Your program sounds great. --Kallen Tsikalas :) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Director of Research & Learning Services Computers for Youth 505 8th Avenue, Suite #2402 New York, NY 10018 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tony Streit Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 11:16 AM To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group Subject: Re: [DDN] Read and Succeed Program - Your advice would be appreciated! Hi Stephanie, While our materials are not specifically designed to address reading alone, you might find some useful information off our website in the curriculum development section, specially with regard to language arts: http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/activities/language/index.asp We've found that the very best youth technology programs are those that first and foremost promote student-centered, experiential learning that harnesses technology for broader goals. I hope you'll find the resources you need on our site to develop such a program. Let me know if we can be of further assistance. Best, Tony Tony Streit Director, The YouthLearn Initiative Education Development Center, Inc. 55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA 02458 phone 617.618.2778 fax 617.332.4318 http://www.youthlearn.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 02/01/05 07:24 AM Please respond to The Digital Divide Network discussion group To: "'The Digital Divide Network discussion group'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> cc: Subject: [DDN] Read and Succeed Program - Your advice would be appreciated! I'm working with a non-profit organization (Frontline Outreach) in Orlando, Florida. Specifically with their Read and Succeed Program. Over the next couple of months a company will provide us with a large number of computers to use with our students...Are there any methods/processes/tools/applications we should be aware of to assist us in improving our reading program? Is there a specific organization which addresses technology & reading? We work with 75-100 students each year with a goal to improve their reading level by at least one grade level. Currently we manually test and rely on volunteers to assist with the reading. Thank you! Stephanie A. Parson, Ph.D. President & CEO Crowned Grace Incorporated BUILDING WEALTH ... CREATING CHOICES 407.654.7382 (o)/407.654.5622 (f) _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
