Reading Assistant Overview

Reading Assistant is a scientifically-based intervention that combines advanced speech recognition technology with the latest reading science to help students strengthen their reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension and become proficient, competent readers.

Reading Assistant “listens” to a student as he or she reads aloud. Monitoring for signs of difficulty, the program intervenes with assistance when the student is challenged by a word. Students re-read passages several times to build automaticity, and are assessed to determine their level of skills.

Additionally, the program automatically computes words correct per minute (a generally accepted measure of fluency). Reading material in Reading Assistant contains highly-illustrated selections grouped in topical clusters, many with a science or social studies theme. This organisation helps students build a body of knowledge and also read common vocabulary in different contexts.

Every educator knows that students benefit from extra reading practice, especially when it is combined with immediate feedback and support from a teacher. With Reading Assistant students receive individualised reading coaching every time they use the software, making the most of each instructional minute.

The online Reading Assistant program delivers:

• Help When Students Need It: Patented technology provides real-time corrective feedback via speech recognition, enabling students to self-correct as they are reading aloud
• Time Savings for Teachers: Automatic calculation of words correct per minute (WCPM) and immediate access to comprehension and vocabulary reports make tracking students’ progress effortless
• Increased Student Engagement: Reading selections for a variety of interests and reading levels, plus frequent comprehension checks, keep students motivated and focused on reading for meaning
• Anytime, Anywhere Access: The Reading Assistant program on the MySciLEARN Internet platform makes the software easy to implement for school or home use

Proven to Get Results

Students using the Reading Assistant program can improve their reading grade level up to 50% more than students receiving classroom instruction alone, in the same time period. Reading Assistant has been implemented in thousands of classrooms across the world.

Unrivaled Literary Support

Reading Assistant is the only reading program that “listens” to students as they read out loud, intervenes when students falter, and automatically scores students’ oral reading. No other program or e-book provides comparable real-time guidance and feedback.

When a student has difficulty reading a word, Reading Assistant provides a visual cue. If the student does not self-correct, the software intervenes by pronouncing the word.

Students can see their own progress and monitor their own improvement on reading selections.

Engaging Content at a Variety of Levels

• More than 300 leveled reading selections aligned with curriculum standards, including science, history, and social studies
  
• A range of reading levels to allow for differentiated instruction
• A variety of genres supporting elementary to secondary school curriculum, including both literature and informational text at all reading levels

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How it Works

Students preview and read the text silently, including listening to a model reading. After answering guided reading questions, students read the text aloud and take a quiz.

Students will:

• Preview and read silently
• Listen to a model reading of the text
• Record their reading
• Answer guided reading questions