Tools to Support Writers
Tool
Text to Speech:
Listening to your
writing helps you
evaluate what your
wrote.
Add Images:
Photos and
illustrations add
meaning and interest
for your readers.
Spell Check
Graphic Organizer to
Outline View:
You can switch from
your graphic organizer
to an outline or import
writing into another
program.
Dictionary/
Thesaurus:
These resources
support word choice
and determining the
meaning of unknown
words.
Voice Recording:
You can add audio
recording as you
write can help
you explain your
ideas
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes. The Listen Tool
allows you to listen to
any text.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes. The Word Guide is a
dictionary and
thesaurus.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes—talking dictionary
and thesaurus
Yes
Yes. You use with
other programs such
as MS Word or the
Internet.
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes. The Listen Tool
allows you to listen to
any text.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes. The Word Guide is a
dictionary and
thesaurus.
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Special
Features
MS Word
Inspiration
Kurzweil
Natural Reader
Clicker 5
Kidspiration
WordQ
Pixie
Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland
Curriculum 2.0 - Grade 4 2012
Page 1 of 2
Word and
picture banks
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Strategies for
Writing
Description:
Diverse learners benefit from a variety of UDL strategies to support written expression. Many students
who struggle in writing are able to express their knowledge and ideas more effectively given a range of
tools and supports. UDL supports are intended to provide all students with flexible and varied means of
expression.
UDL strategies may include both the use of technology and tools and supports that do not require
technology. Student’s preferences and choice should also be taken into account when providing
support for written expression.
More information on the principles of Universal Design for Learning can be found at www.cast.org.
Quick Guides for specific strategies and tools can be found on the HIAT website.
Strategies and scaffolds to support written expression:
 Keyboarding—students who struggle with hand writing may be able to produce more text with
less effort when typing
 Text to speech—text to speech provides feedback to students as they write, allowing them to
listen to what they have written, support word choice, sentence structure and spelling in order
to revise and edit their work
 Word banks—provides models or options for students who struggle with spelling, vocabulary, or
word choice
 Audio and video recording--alternative or to compliment written output for students challenged
by handwriting or spelling
 Illustrations, images, or graphics—used as a way to capture ideas or concepts and expand on
written output
Tools and features:
 Microsoft Word: spelling and grammar check
 Clicker 5: text to speech, spell check, picture supports for text, word banks, ability to embed
multimedia, students can add audio
o There is a variety of Clicker 5 resources on the Instruction Center available to support
writing. To see all Clicker 5 resources, search for Clicker 5 in the search box
o Important—when downloading Clicker 5 resources from the Instruction Center, right
click and Save target, then open the document

Pixie 2: text to speech, picture supports for text, voice recording

Kidspiration: graphic organizers and outlines, text to speech, picture supports for text, talking
dictionary (Word Guide tool), voice recording

Inspiration: graphic organizers and outlines, text to speech, picture supports for text, voice
recording, add multimedia

Kurzweil: text to speech, talking dictionary, talking spell check, voice recording

Word Q: word prediction/spelling supports, text to speech

Natural Reader: text to speech, can be used with any program, including Word or the internet,
free download for home use
Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland
Curriculum 2.0 - Grade 4 2012
Page 2 of 2