Reading Apps for Difficult Readers - Reading Tutor vs. Reading Software for Friends - Help struggling readers with AI! - Science reading center (2023)

TABLE OF CONTENTS1:The importance of practice (and strategic practice) for struggling readers.2:IN A HURRY? Issues with Readers apps side by side.3.Struggling Readers Overview #1 (Readability Tutor)4.Struggling Readers Overview #2 (Reading Buddy Software)

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IMPORTANT UPDATE 2023: We have been informed that one of the applications mentioned in this article (Reading Buddy Software) no longer exists! Yet another app mentioned in this article (reading teacher) is still 100% functional.

Introduction: The importance of 'strategic' practice for struggling readers

If you have difficulties reading at home, surely the idea of ​​looking for a reading tutor has crossed your mind.

This is one of the most common recommendations from reading professionals and experts: Find a reading tutor, someone with experience who regularly (preferably every day for at least half an hour) you will sit down with your child to guide them, choose the right books, correct mistakes, and record their progress.

Andpractice is really crucial for all childrenon the road to learning to read, in the case of astruggling reader…Practice needs to be taken to the next level!They need MUCH more!

But in addition to a lot of exercises, struggling readers also need what I would callstrategic practice.

What do I mean by "strategic" practice?

I mean someone who understands the REAL needs of the child and considers the following...

• How much time does a child need to exercise each day?
• What books should I read? (suitable for your reading level)
• How is your reading fluency? (ie how fast is the decoder?)
• What is he fighting with?
• What mistakes does the child make?
• Do you understand what you are reading?

It's sad, but so many families can't afford a tutor...

Tutors can be very expensive ($25 to $80 per hour).

So ultimately, the readers who have a hard time accessing this kind of help are those from families who can afford it.

What happens to families who cannot afford tutoring?

All the responsibility falls in the hands of the parents.

Do not misunderstand! I believe that we as parents need to play an active role in supporting our children on their journey to learning to read. This is crucial if we want to raise successful readers!

But me too now, when sometimes reality sinks...

It's not just about the time aspect (Even busy parents find time when it comes to supporting their children!)... It's a challenge dealing with your own struggling son...

These children are so afraid to read that things do not end well for their parents: sweat, tears, even screaming...

you get the picture!

Parents often lack knowledge on this topic as well. Just because you know how to read doesn't mean you know how to teach reading...Chances are you don't remember how you learned to read!

Again, this is even more difficult for readers with reading difficulties because things don't seem to come naturally to them when it comes to reading.

Applications for Weak Readers based on Artificial Intelligence!

Bottom line: if you have difficulty reading at home,Artificial intelligence can help!

I recently discovered 2 amazing apps/software that use the power of Artificial Intelligence to become reading teachers for children... And their potential blew my mind!

Although these are paid apps, you pay a fraction of what you would pay for a tutor.

Apart from,both currently offer FREE trials(7-day and 30-day free trial, respectively).

If you're struggling with reading or just a kid who needs more reading practice, we recommend checking out these apps...

FINISHED?

SEE APPS READERS WITH PROBLEMSNEXT NEXT!

Readability Teacher:

readability teacheruses artificial intelligence and advanced speech recognition technologyspot the words your child is reading. If they are wrong thencorrect your child's mistakes, in the same way that you would read with your own child. At the end of the book, your child also askscomprehension of questions

The app asks these questions orally and your child also answers them orally. I repeat:Your child orally answers the questions in their own words.

Sorry, I just wanted to point this out because what I've generally seen with comprehension questions and technology is that they force kids to choose the correct answer from a multiple choice test.

Readability Tutor - Get a FREE 7 day trial!

So asking a child to use their own words is quite unusual.

It's really like someone asking you open ended questions and forcing you to think critically.

Here's a note though: I've noticed occasional glitches with this feature. I've contacted the company and they tell me they're aware of this and are working hard to perfect the system and their super advanced technology (it's supposedly called "Interactive Voice-Based Questions and Answers (IVQA™)" and they're the first in the industry to use it). In fairness to them, I have noticed that it has improved from them.

Another great feature of this app is that if your child doesn't knowthe meaning of the wordyou can press any word while reading to find outpronunciation, aremeaningand add it to yoursvocabulary list.

You can create up to 3 profiles. You provide details about your child's age and reading level andthe app does a pretty good job of creating a set of books for your child that are appropriate for their level.

This is really important. I already told you about it on the blog! For beginning readers and those who have trouble reading, you should be very careful to choose books that are appropriate for your level.

Readability Tutor - Get a FREE 7 day trial!

Once your child selects a book they want to read from their personalized book library and starts reading aloud...

Well, this is where the app starts to work its magic, correcting your baby as needed and helping them along the way.

When setting up these profiles, you are also asked what is realthe number of minutes you want your child to read every day or every other day or just on weekdays...It really depends on you.

Also,you can set a reminder at a specific time so you don't forget.

As a parent, you can access the ikeep track of how your child is doing. Get reports on: How accurate was your reading? How many minutes a day/week did you spend reading? How fast was he reading? What is able to complete the comprehension questions?

However, I wish the app would also tell me what specific mistakes my son made, and I didn't find that... I also gave my feedback to the company behind the app! Let's hope they keep it in mind!

But overall... You get very useful information and a very complete report of your child's progress that can really help you know if your child is going in the right direction in reading.

Readability Tutor - Get a FREE 7 day trial!

Of course, if you want to support and read with your child on your own, I do not suggest that you assign this app to read with your child all the time.

Especially if you are confident in what you are doing – definitely read with your child!

But sometimes life gets busy... You have a million things to do, plus kids, and in the end you only have a few minutes left a day.

So, as we've already learned, especially with a troublesome child who needs someone by their side all the time… why limit their reading time?

This app is available for both Android and iOS.However, it is not available for use on computers.

Price-wise, the app at the time I'm doing this review offers a 7-day free trial and then costs $19.99/mo.

SOON:

Name:readability teacher
Available:Android and iOS tablets/phones
Cena:$19.99/mo. Cancel at any time.
Free Trial:SO
Readability Tutor - Get a 7 day FREE trial here!

Readability Tutor - Get a FREE trial!

a reading buddy

UPDATE 2023: We have been informed that this company no longer exists!

The idea behind Reading Buddy is exactly the same: use AI for interactive reading between Reading Buddy and your child.

Once again, the software supports your child along the way by correcting their mistakes, helping them get stuck, and telling them how to pronounce words correctly when they run into difficulties.

So, since the idea is the same, I'll just describe the differences:

• The first big difference is that Reading Buddy cannot be used on an iPad or phone (at least not yet!).Must be used on a computer (Mac or Windows)using one of the following browsers: Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge. So, strictly speaking, it's not an app.
• They also recommenduse headphones for optimal experience. The headphones they propose are Logitech's h390 (around $30). Headphones can be purchased here(Amazon – affiliate link):Logitech New Logitech H390 USB Headset with Noise Canceling Microphone Bulk Pack, 5.8 oz
• Instead of the software telling your child the correct word while they struggle with the word, it triggers a visual cue to encourage self-correction.If additional help is needed, the word is read aloud to the child and the child is expected to pronounce it correctly before continuing.
• Softwarerecords your child's weaknessesand build on thempersonalized reading suggestionsto keep practicing (until both fluency and comprehension improve).
• Aa more structured approach: 400 reading sessions (approximately 20-40 minutes each) divided into 4 reading levels for grades 1-8. This differs from the Readability Tutor: With the Readability Tutor, you decide the duration of the session (you can choose just 10 minutes a day or a maximum of 1 hour at any time!). There is also no limit to the number of reading lessons you can take. Its growing library allows you to use the app for as long as you want.
• much attention toRepeated readings... Repeated reading produces excellent results with students, increasing their fluency.Readable Buddy takes this approach and places it at the heart of its software.In many reading sessions, the student will practice repeated reading passages until they are mastered.
• Although there are still doubts of understanding,it is not an interactive system of open questions (as in Readability Tutor).
• System of incentives of points and personalized prizes.Rewards and incentives are set and controlled by parents.
• Custom dictionary for kids, but also one-click access to synonyms, Spanish translations, Wikipedia and photos.
• It also offers comprehensive reports with important statistics to track your child's reading progress, such as: time spent, word accuracy, comprehension, and pass/fail.

WE HAVE INFORMED THAT THIS READ PURCHASE IS NO LONGER WORKING, even though their website is still up and running.

SOON:
Name:a reading buddy
Available:Computer (Mac and Windows)
Cena:$79.99/mo. No blocked contracts. Cancel at any time.
Free Trial:YEAH. First 30 days free. Remember to use coupon code "COVID19" at checkout!

Application

Both the Readability Tutor and the Reading Buddy are very important options for struggling readers. Both programs are powerful and use the power of AI to create interactive reading experiences. This experience can really feel like your child is being guided through a reading session by the teacher (within a computer, tablet, or phone).

Ultimately, when trying to decide between the two, it all comes down to personal preference and which approach you think will be best for your child.

For a more structured approach (based on repeated reading) or if you prefer to have your child complete the sessions on the computer, use the Reading Buddy software.

For a more flexible approach (you decide the length of the session, your child chooses his own from the library of books) or if you prefer your child to have sessions on a tablet/phone, selectreadability teacher.

And if you're still not sure, you can always use their FREE trials, see what works best for you, then stick with that app and cancel the other one.

Readability Tutor - Get a FREE trial!