Converting digitial books to speech for student success

[KarenJanowski]

Many of our students benefit from listening to books using the text-to-speech resources that are available. Converting text-to-speech can be a laborious process and I'm curious to know how everyone is doing this. What works for you in converting the text? What do your students prefer? Do you use Bookshare, Kurzweil, Wynn, Read and Write, Microsoft Reader, Premier Assistive Technologies? Something else?
What is the process that you use? I always believe there has to be an easier way than the way that I've used, especially when converting the digitized text to MP3.
Let's share our strategies. What are the pros/cons of each method?

[Robin Fabiano]

Hi Karen,

I was not impressed with Bookshare without it also being used w/ Kurzweil or another Daisy Reader. I have been using Tumble books lately. I always have the read aloud option on w/ the Mac for web based material- do PC's have that option embedded yet? I also download book from CD into itunes and then allow kids to listen using their ipods or computer. I wish things were easier- more availbale and less expensive!! Have you ever subscribed to Raz-kids? It's part of reading a-z and has about 10 books per level online with a readloud option and comp. questions/quizes. Excellent! And not that expensive!! I also love reading a-z becasue it downloads into Adobe and that has a read aloud function as well.
Let me know what you are doing??!!

[K Greenhaw]

I would highly suggest ClaroRead Plus and Dolphin EasyReader.

ClaroRead is especially useful for students with Dyslexia or reading difficulties because it works well with Microsoft Office, has great scanning and text-to-speech capabilities, and is compatible with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

Dolphin EasyReader is also great because it is specifically geared for students with visual impairments who want to hear digital talking books on their PC without special hardware, as well as those who need to have text read aloud, organize colors and fonts that aid with reading, and quickly search through specific headlines, titles, notes, footers, bookmarks, and chapters.

If you're looking for an all-around good player and DAISY book maker then Dolphin is probably better but if you want a tool more specifically geared toward building reading skills and dealing with Dyslexia then ClaroRead is probably best. But they are both great for text-to-speech needs.

[Debra Bauder]

In Kentucky, about 95% of the schools have Read Write Gold for text to speech as part of the UDL initative that was started at the state level. However folks are free to use what they want. Read Write Gold is also an accommodation on the state accountability test - as long as it is written into the child's IEP.

[K Greenhaw]

Yes I would also recommend Read & Write Gold due to its dedication to literacy support, scanning and screen shot reading features, as well as its great text-to-speech and translation capabilities.

It's hard to believe there are so many different options out there for text-to-speech that are already integrated into many schools across the country. I suppose the best way to choose between them all is to ask different school districts and states what they think works best for their kids.

[Debra Bauder]

Has anyone used TextSpeech Pro for the MAC? If so, what did you think of the quality?

[Sally]

I just found about about Robobraille.org, which seems to be a free service that converts text into braille or MP3's via email. I don't know much about it, but you can go on their website and look into it.
If anyone has tried Robobraille, please let me know.

[Terri Grundy]

We have Kurzweil at all of our HS and have been using that for years. However, there was always the struggle of Power Points, teacher's notes and that whole hassle. I recently was made aware of Spoken Text. (www.spokentext.net) It converts pdf, doc, power points, etc. into a MP3. Very cool tool! Better yet, it's free!

[Vickie]

Thanks for the website. I use PowerTalk with PowerPoint. That has been really easy for a variety of students.

[Bob Keller]

Bookshare.org will post a free version of ReadOutLoud on the website, sometime this fall for students eligible for bookshare services.

[Vickie]

We are using MP3 players with the Oregon Drivers Manual download. We also use the county library
resource and download books onto the MP3 players.

[Valerie C. Chernek]

Have you checked out the new ReadOutloud 6? This text reader supports a broad range of digital formats and will open NIMAS and DAISY without conversion.

[K Greenhaw]

Ya, I'm checking it out on the Don Johnston website: http://www.donjohnston.com/products/read_outloud/ and it looks pretty inexpensive per school building plus it has an unlimited site license and has text-to-speech plus study tools. Pretty good all-around.