Every teacher should be aware of this tool!
Community Review for Bookshare
My Take
I use Bookshare with students on an IEP or a 504 plan who have print disabilities. Using the Bookshare online reader is frustrating for the kids (robotic voice, visually not very appealing), but Bookshare lists tools on its website (How to read books on Bookshare) that make the reading experience much better! I use Read and Write on Laptops (Chrome or Windows), built-in "Read Aloud", Dolphin Easy Reader or Voice Dream Reader on iOS. There are very few books used in schools that you won't be able to find on Bookshare. It is a tool that will help your students get access to age-appropriate books, allowing them to read independently when used with a good text-to-speech tool. I introduce Bookshare with high-interest books, letting the student pick the reading voice and speed. I check for reading comprehension the same way I would with students reading books visually. Never too early to start when we know that reading visually will be difficult for a student! Let them keep their love for books and practice attention, comprehension while building vocabulary!
How I Use It
- Reading for fun: showing kids that struggle with visual reading that books can be interesting, fun, and informative.
- Reading class books: allowing the student independence in reading assignments, not being dependent on an adult or peer reading to them!
- Reading books for an assignment/presentation: letting the student chose a book in the library for the assignment, then finding it on Bookshare to foster that independence.
- Read books in SpEd room with a group of eligible students- have text to speech tool that highlights word as they are read to encourage students to follow text visually (if able), then check for comprehension and discuss.