Anyone here know about the Readingpen?

I'm new here and am home schooling Mom to 4 lovely children. My oldest is severly dyslexic. We work with a private tutor using Lindamood Bell's programs (S/S, VV and LiPS). He is 11 and reading on a 2nd grade level.

My son saw this pen in a magazine and wants it. Here's a link to it:

http://www.readingpen.com

I'm wondering if anyone has used it with their LD student and if it reads fluently. Would it be worth the money?

Thanks for any input!

Carolita

I am guessing that this would not be a great tool for a kid who doesn't have a fair reading level (at least 4th to begin with). Also it is just for the occassional word I think and not intended for every other word or something. THough I think that you should post this in the technology forum. There is a person that generally only posts there KJT or something. S/he is very knowledgeable on things like this.

--des

I agree with what has already been stated. But again, it's worth a trial. As with any technology, making it available is the starting place and having a few different students try it makes it more engaging. The students who really need the tool, stick with it if they feel it will be of benefit.
Have the student try highlighting words on paper and observe if they have a steady, firm method. It is important to have this skill in place prior to trying the Reading Pen.
The benefits of this particular tool are very subjective in my experience.
(Thank you, Des, for the kind words)

Carolita,
I just went back and reread your original post. You have a motivated 11 year old who is reading at a second grade level and you are homeschooling. I homeschooled my son, who has a language based reading disability, when he was that age. We used and still use alot of technology. There are some inexpensive text-to-speech software programs that may help your son when the text is online or digitized. A great program to try is textaloud MP3 which is available at www.nextup.com. You can try it out for 30 days and I recommend trying the AT & T voices and the NeoSpeech voices as they are the best quality synthesized speech voices currently available.

This technology is an accommodation so that your son can read what he wants to read, while he is also receiving the remediation to help improve his reading skills. What the software does is empower him to be independent as he can listen to the text while it is being read to him. What is important is to set the speed at a rate that works best for him so that he can follow along as each word is highlighted.

There are a variety of other programs. Another inexpensive option that also allows you to try it out first are the programs available through Premier Assistive Technology at www.readingmadeeasy.com. They have an excellent collection of software tools for print disabled individuals - LD, blind or visually impaired or the at-risk student. Check them out as the products were developed by Steve Timmer, who lost his sight in his 20s from macular degeneration and he is especially aware of the accessiblity issues for all students.

Sue,
Let me clarify - some of the students with whom I work find tools like this helpful depending upon their fine motor skills and perceived benefit and others do not find them helpful at all. That's why trials are so important when determining the effectiveness of assistive technology for any student.

Is that better?