WordAloud software "free" to English schools

WordAloud^® - teaching English and literacy worldwide

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." Benjamin Franklin

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Are you teaching literacy? Are you teaching a child to read? Is your child struggling at school?

Teaching method

There is now strong evidence that you should teach reading using the synthetic phonics method, regardless of which tools you use. However WordAloud already supports this method. The editing facility in WordAloud is especially useful, allowing pupils to type in simple words, see them in large bold characters, and hear them pronounced by the computer. This provides valuable feedback in the learning process. Once the basic mapping of sounds to letters has been learnt, pupils can move on to use WordAloud as a text reader, and develop their reading skills.

User-friendly software for developing reading skills

WordAloud works by displaying text a word at a time, in large letters across the middle of the screen. This provides a simple and natural means to read, since your eyes do not have to scan the text and can remain focussed in one place. You can step through the text, or you can let WordAloud step for you, slowly or at higher speeds. WordAloud can speak the words as they are displayed, or you can speak the words, or you can get the pupil to read aloud. WordAloud can display text in whole sentences, and it can show pictures alongside the text as illustration.

WordAloud helps to develop literacy skills required for reading confidently and fluently:

• the pupil perceives a direct association between the written and the spoken word;
• the pupil develops word decoding and word recognition skills;
• the pupil builds up short-term memory in order to understand whole sentences;
• you can quickly identify and correct any weaknesses in the pupil's reading ability;
• the pupil's skills can be reinforced through repetition and varied practice;
• progress can be monitored;
• writing (using WordAloud's editor) can be used to reinforce reading skills;
• the pupil's attention and concentration is maintained.

WordAloud is highly configurable, e.g. allowing different text and background colours, thus helping pupils with special needs, especially those with dyslexia, visual impairment, attention deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD) or learning difficulties. It can be operated solely using the keyboard, or solely using a pointing device, such as a mouse.

WordAloud helps in teaching English as a second or additional language:

• words are clearly separated in the speech stream;
• memory of words is reinforced by sight and sound together;
• pictures provide contextual clues for meaning and memory.

WordAloud can be used with pupils of any age, and at any reading level. You can use it in a class setting, in small groups or for individual tuition. It is easy to use for anyone, including assistants and parents. Pupils can use it as a reading aid and to practice reading. You can use it with an interactive whiteboard for multimedia presentation; you can use it on a PC or laptop; or it can be used on a suite or network of PCs: Windows 95 through to XP.

WordAloud can read any material on the computer: it can read text files; it can read web pages and browse the web; it can read material that you type in; it can display pictures that you download from a digital camera. WordAloud supports phonics teaching, and some sample teaching material is supplied. It also supports the government literacy strategy, as specified by DfES.

It is recommended that you use WordAloud with a keyboard which has lower case letters on the keys. Such a keyboard is available at low cost, e.g. £8.21 plus £5 delivery from MISCO, see www.misco.co.uk.