The Web Catcher » Text and Speech http://webcatcher.edublogs.org Capturing the best educational web sites for kids of all abilities Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:29:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 GhostReader from ConvenienceWare http://webcatcher.edublogs.org/2007/10/15/convenienceware/ http://webcatcher.edublogs.org/2007/10/15/convenienceware/#comments Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:00:24 +0000 K. Haugen http://webcatcher.edublogs.org/2007/10/15/convenienceware/ GhostReader (formerly TextParrot) reads text aloud with high quality voices and optional word-by-word highlighting. From  ConvenienceWare, a part of AssistiveWare, which makes more fully featured accessibility software and utilities for people with disabilities

]]> http://webcatcher.edublogs.org/2007/10/15/convenienceware/feed/ 0 VoiceThread http://webcatcher.edublogs.org/2007/10/14/voicethread/ http://webcatcher.edublogs.org/2007/10/14/voicethread/#comments Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:23:02 +0000 K. Haugen http://webcatcher.edublogs.org/2007/10/14/voicethread/ voicethreadVoiceThread is an awesome tool for creating and sharing annotated online slideshows that you have to experience for yourself. Make your own slideshows or browse what others have done.

You can interact by recording or typing comments directly in others’ slide shows and then listen or read what others have said, which creates a non-linear conversation in which anyone can participate.

It’s also possible to doodle on your slideshows, and the doodles fade away (or stick, if you tell them to).

There are numerous examples of how one could use VoiceThread in the classroom.

]]> http://webcatcher.edublogs.org/2007/10/14/voicethread/feed/ 0 Starfall Reading http://webcatcher.edublogs.org/2007/09/27/starfall/ http://webcatcher.edublogs.org/2007/09/27/starfall/#comments Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:34:21 +0000 K. Haugen http://webcatcher.edublogs.org/2007/09/27/starfall/ starfall readingStarfall is one of the best sites for early reading and literacy, with online stories that offer audio support as needed, a fun, enticing interface, and supportive activities and printables. Multiple levels, with numerous stories and activities at each level.

Starfall was created by the family behind Blue Mountain Cards, one of the earliest online greeting card companies. One member of the Blue Mountain Card family struggled to read because of learning disabilities. The activities are free, and the printed materials very low cost, as a way to help all students who are learning to read, including those who struggle.

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