Toolshed

Literacy Tools 

Literacy tools are designed to make reading, listening, and learning more accessible. They provide practical support for learners at every level, helping to build confidence and clarity in navigating the written word.

📂 Browser

Browser tools let you search, recall, and organize your online activity. They work across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, with Edge offering the most seamless integration. Edge also includes a powerful read‑aloud feature, allowing visitors to listen to the entire website and many of its documents — making literacy resources more accessible to all learners.

📖 Immersive Reader (Microsoft Edge)

“Available natively in Edge. Provides read‑aloud and definitions directly on most pages. Chrome has a desktop‑mode version, but it does not render definitions.”

🌐 Google Translate (GT)

“Google Translate works in both desktop and mobile modes. On smartphones, GT can do everything Edge’s Immersive Reader can — translating, reading aloud, and supporting vocabulary growth.”

📄 Adobe Reader

“Definitions are trickier to access in Adobe, but clear instructions are provided on the Adobe page. Read‑aloud is supported, and there is a free version available.”

🤖 Copilot Companion

“Unlike the other tools, Copilot Companion is not just functional — it’s conversational. It can answer questions, explain concepts, provide examples, and guide learners through the site’s resources. It adapts to each user’s needs, whether clarifying a definition, brainstorming ideas, or offering encouragement. Think of it as a sidekick: part knowledge resource, part creative partner, part friendly conversationalist.”

💻 Microsoft Word + Immersive Reader

“Requires download and export of documents (typically PDFs) into Word. Once there, the Immersive Reader offers more extensive features than the standard Edge version. Read‑aloud can be difficult to locate, but step‑by‑step instructions are provided. Word also has a free version available.”