20 Apps for Reluctant Readers

1)    Speak it to me – text to speech app. Great for students with reading disabilities. Also allows them to follow along with the text. Text can be copy/pasted into the app and read aloud. This could also potentially eliminate the need for scribes. The font size could be increased (for those with visual impairments) and the voice speed can also be altered.

2)    Dragon Dictation: Dragon Dictation works in the opposite way of Speak it to Me. Instead of reading text out loud, the app writes down spoken text. For students who struggle with writing, it can be a great way for them to jot down ideas or get help learning. Reluctant readers may be more apt to read if they know their answers to questions can be spoken instead of written.

3)    Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Spelling and or understanding of certain vocabulary is often a road block for reluctant readers. Readers can gain some independence through accessing this app quickly and easily.

4)    Prizmo: With Prizmo, users can scan in any kind of text document and have the program read it out loud, which can be a big help to those who struggle with reading.

5)    Flashcards for iPad This app makes it easy to study words, spelling, and other elements of reading that young and LD readers might need help with.

6)    The Writing Machine: designed to pre-literacy concepts. It is well known that developing concepts about print at an early age is invaluable to a child’s overall literacy development.

    

7)    First Word Sampler: Preschoolers with a reading disability can get a head start on improving their skills with this app that teaches them about letters and words using fun graphics and sounds.

8)    Sound Literacy: The app is incredibly useful, employing the Orton-Gillingham method ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orton-Gillingham ) to help students recognize the spellings of English phonemes. It uses pictures, words, and sounds, and makes it easy for young students to practice and learn their ABCs. It is especially good for dyslexic children.

9)    Word Sort: This app helps kids to learn how to identify parts of speech, like nouns, adverbs, and verbs, as well as emphasizing grammar skills.

10)           ABC Phonics Word Families: Using analogy phonics (or word families) this application teaches young learners to see and hear the patterns of commonality in a set of words. With flashcards, spelling words, scrambled words, and games, this app is a must-have for helping students.

    

11)           Blio: Blio offers all the same features of any basic e-reader, and also a few things that make it unique. Through synchronized highlighting and a serial presentation view, the app helps those with reading disabilities make sense of the text, something many other similar apps don't offer.

12)           Read 2 Me: If you use DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) books in your classroom, Read2Go is one of the best and most accessible ways to read those books on iOS.

  

13)           AppWriter: Designed with reading and writing disabilities in mind, this text editor for iPad integrates numerous accessibility features into standard text editing functionality.

14)           Audiobooks: Sometimes students with reading disabilities might just want a break from reading books the old fashioned way. That's why this amazing collection of free audiobooks can come in handy, offering access to classics like Romeo and Juliet and Treasure Island.

15)           iStoryTime: There are numerous titles to choose from in the iStoryTime series, all of which allow kids to have the book read to them or to get help reading it themselves.

16)           Reading Trainer: While this app is designed to help average readers boost their reading speed and ability, it can be useful to those who struggle as well, as many of the skills taught can help just about anyone become a more confident reader.

17)           Stories2Learn: Why use existing stories to help troubled readers when you can build your own? This application lets you develop your own text and audio stories, including messages, topics, and other things that can help keep kids interested.

18)           MeeGenius! Kids' Books: MeeGenius is another series that's perfect for practicing reading skills. Those with trouble reading can use illustrations and helpful word highlighting to get help, or just have the book read to them until they're confident enough to do it on their own.

19)           See Read Say: This application will help to ensure that young learners are familiar with all of the Dolch sight words (the most common words), using games, activities, and tons of practice

  

20)           Read Iris: Import images from your photo library and clipboard, or import PDF files received from other apps. Readiris for iPad automatically recognizes all text, graphics, images and tables in your documents. Select the content and pages you want to include in the final document.