Tech Tool Tutorial Lesson Plan
Tech Tool Tutorial
Individual Coaching Plan (Tier 3)
Duration
50 Minutes
Objective
Guide the student through hands-on demonstrations and practice of key assistive technology tools (text-to-speech, highlighting, dictation), enabling independent use during reading tasks.
Why It Matters
Equipping the student with these tools reduces reading fatigue, improves comprehension, and fosters self-reliance in accessing grade-level text.
Preparation
- 1 Ensure assistive software (TTS, highlighting, dictation) is operational.
- 2 Review One-on-One Guidance Script.
- 3 Print or project Shortcut Cheat Sheet.
- 4 Load a sample reading passage for demonstration.
Materials
- Laptop or Tablet
- Guidance Script
- TTS Practice Activity
- Shortcut Cheat Sheet
- Daily Tech Log Journal
Instructional Steps
| Step & Time | Key Activities | Assessment & Diff |
|---|
| Intro & Goals | | |
| 5 mins | | |
- Greet and explain objective: mastering assistive tools.
- Ask about prior reading challenges.
- Set today's goal: read a short passage using TTS.
| Assessment: Engagement & goal articulation.
Diff: Simplified questions/sentence starters. |
| TTS Demo
10 mins |
- Model launching TTS, voice speed, and volume.
- Highlight text and show narration controls.
- Student verbalizes steps during modeling.
| Assessment: Student explains controls. |
| TTS Practice
10 mins |
- Student selects a new short passage.
- Follow TTS Practice Activity prompts.
- Teacher supports using Guidance Script.
| Assessment: Independent start & adjustment.
Diff: Sentence-level segmenting. |
| Annotation
10 mins |
- Demo highlighting and adding notes.
- Show shortcuts from Cheat Sheet.
- Student practices on new text.
| Assessment: Highlights/notes on key ideas. |
| Dictation
10 mins |
- Demo mic icon and voice commands.
- Model speaking and editing errors.
- Student dictates a summary paragraph.
| Assessment: Successful dictation & edit.
Diff: Topic prompts/sentence starters. |
| Reflection
5 mins |
- Discuss which tool felt most helpful.
- Complete Daily Tech Log entry.
- Set independent mini-challenge.
| Assessment: Review log entry confidence. |
One on One Guidance Script
Guidance Script
One-on-One Coaching Facilitation
Lesson Phase
All Phases
Pro-tip: Use these prompts as a guide. Feel free to adjust the language based on the student's comfort level. Allow for silence—give the student time to process and find buttons.
Phase 1: Intro & Goal Setting
5 Minutes
Teacher:
"Hi there! Today we’re going to explore three tools—text-to-speech, highlighting & annotation, and dictation—that can help make reading easier and more fun."
Teacher:
"First, can you tell me about a time when reading felt hard or tiring for you?"
Student Response Notes
Teacher:
(If needed) "You might say something like, ‘I struggled to read a long paragraph because my eyes got tired.’"
Teacher:
"Great! For our goal today, you’ll open a short passage and use the text-to-speech tool to read it out loud. Then we’ll practice highlighting, annotation, and dictation. Does that sound good?"
Phase 2: TTS Demonstration
10 Minutes
Teacher:
"Here’s our sample passage on the screen. Can you click on it to open the file?"
Teacher:
"Perfect. Now look for this play button—▶️. That’s how we start the text-to-speech feature. Watch me click it."
Teacher:
"You’ll hear the computer read the text. To make it faster or slower, use this speed slider here. I’ll move it to the right to speed it up. Now you try adjusting it back to normal."
Teacher:
"Excellent! Can you point to the volume control and lower it slightly?"
Phase 3: Guided TTS Practice
10 Minutes
Teacher:
"Now it’s your turn to select a new short passage. Take your time."
Teacher:
"When you’re ready, follow these steps from our TTS Practice Activity. As you do each step, tell me what you’re about to do out loud."
Teacher:
(If hesitant) "Remember: 1) Open file, 2) Click ▶️, 3) Adjust speed, 4) Adjust volume. You’ve got this!"
Phase 4: Highlighting & Annotation
10 Minutes
Teacher:
"Great job! Next, let’s highlight key words. See this highlighter icon in the toolbar? It looks like a marker."
Teacher:
"Go ahead and highlight the first sentence of this new text."
Teacher:
"Perfect. Now let’s add a note. Here’s the note icon (🗒️). Click it and type why that sentence seems important to you."
Student Response Notes
Phase 5: Dictation Tool
Text to Speech Practice Activity
TTS Practice Activity
Goal: Independent Reading Support
Name:
Date:
Objective
Independently apply the text-to-speech tool to a reading passage and reflect on how it supports your comprehension.
Materials
- • Laptop or tablet
- • Reading passage
- • Shortcut Cheat Sheet
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Select a short passage on your device and open it in the assistive software.
-
Click the ▶️ Play button to start the text-to-speech feature.
-
Adjust the speed slider until the voice reads at a comfortable pace.
-
Adjust the volume as needed.
-
Follow along by watching the text highlight as the software reads.
-
Pause at natural breaks (sentences or paragraphs) and summarize what you’ve heard aloud.
Reflection Questions
1. Which speed and volume settings did you choose? Why?
2. How did using text-to-speech affect your understanding of the passage?
3. What part of the text was most interesting or challenging for you?
4. What is one goal you have for your next independent reading practice using TTS?
Daily Tech Log Journal
Daily Tech Log
Track Your Progress & Wins
Date:
Name:
Which tool did you use today?
Text-to-Speech
Highlighting
Dictation
Confidence Rating
(1 = Low, 5 = High)
1
Just Starting
2
3
4
5
Expert
Why did you give that rating?
How did using this tool help your reading today?
What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Mini-Challenge for Next Session
Think of one small step you can take to use this tool more effectively on your own. Write it below!
Reflections like these help track your growth. You're building powerful skills!
