Jontracation
February 2015
Music Helps Improve Focus
Like many of our students, I often struggle to stay focused when I read. It doesn't matter if what I'm reading is a traditional printed text or a digital text. My mind wanders easily.
Recently, I read that playing instrumental music while reading would help keep one's mind focused on the task at hand. I read the entire article. It took a long time. In the end, I thought I'd put their idea to a test.
Here's what I found. Having music playing while I read does help me focus on the reading. However, it can't be just any music. There are lots of studies that support this idea. The music needs to be instrumental, not too loud, and not too dramatic. Some of the studies I read gave a recommendation for beats per minute, but I got distracted and can't remember the details.
Jesse Edwards -- SoundCloud
Jesse's SoundCloud channel -- Click Here
Text-to-Speech Assistive Technology
Speech-to-Text Using an iPad
Turning on this speech-to-text tool is easy. Select Settings > General > Accessibility > Speech > Speak Screen. From this screen, there are several different voice options.
Once activated, swipe down from the top of the screen and the reading will begin. The video below shows how it works with the Kindle app.
Keep in mind this is the machine reading. Sometimes the reader mispronounces words. It's not perfect, but it's better than it use to be.
Look at the Book
See all the videos from Look at the Book -- Click Here
Christina Jontra
Grace Community School
Email: cjontra@gracetyler.org
Website: gracetyler.org
Phone: 903.566.5661
Twitter: @jontracation