I had a chance today to explore the new Google Read Along App on my Chromebook and I think it is something that will engage young readers in reading practice at home. Right now the App only works on Android-enabled Chromebooks and Android devices, but I hope it will be available for iOS in the future.
Here are some of the features that I really liked.
- It is free with no in-app purchases or ads.
- It is available in nine languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese and Hindi
- The in-app reading buddy that listens to the reader, offers assistance when they struggle and rewards them with stars and badges as they successfully complete passages.
- Students can also tap the reading buddy to get help pronouncing a word or sentence.
- Parents can create profiles for multiple readers.
- The app can recommend difficulty levels for stories and games based on the reading performance of the student.
- It works online or offline, but you do need to be online to download new stories.
- Google is looking for feedback, so I think the App will continue to improve. They have even created a place for anyone to send feedback at readalong@google.com.
I've read a few reviews and this app definitely has room to grow, but at first glance it definitely looks like something worth exploring. Happy Reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment