WRITING ESSAYS
Some children, particularly those with
dyslexia and dysorthography,
or children with intellectual development disorder,
may have difficulty with writing essays.
SCHOOL CHALLENGES
Spelling
- Make spelling mistakes, particularly in the use of specific rules.
- These errors make their writing less precise and detract from the readability of their texts.
Grammar
- Correct choice of verbs, adjectives and nouns, appropriate use of pronouns
- Affect overall understanding of text and give impression of incoherence
Organization of the text
- Structure their ideas logically and coherently, making their writing confusing or disorganized.
- Clearly introduce their subject
- Develop their arguments smoothly
- Conclude satisfactorily
SCHOOL STRATEGIES
Speech recognition software
Voice recognition software facilitates writing essays when children dictate, improves their writing speed, reduces the cognitive load associated with writing, encourages autonomy and boosts their self-confidence.
Thanks to voice recognition, children are better able to express their ideas and work more independently, which can have a positive impact on their self-esteem and academic performance.
NB: some voice recognition software requires configuration and initial training to adapt to the user’s voice.
Some speech recognition software
Dragon Naturally Speaking
One of the most popular and powerful speech recognition programs. It offers high transcription accuracy and numerous features for ease of use, such as automatic correction, word prediction and the ability to customize voice commands.
Google Docs with voice dictation functionality
A free, easy-to-use solution for speech recognition. Using the integrated voice dictation feature, children can speak into a microphone and have their words converted into text in real time. It’s a convenient, easy-to-use option, accessible from any Internet-connected device.
Windows speech recognition
This software is integrated into the Windows operating system, making it easily accessible for PC users. It offers basic speech recognition functions, such as dictation and voice command. Although it may require some initial configuration, overall it is user-friendly and efficient.
Spelling and grammar checkers
Spelling and grammar correction software automatically detects and corrects spelling, grammar and syntax errors.
By offering word suggestions and writing tips, children improve their writing skills and gain confidence.
However, it’s important to stress that such software should complement the teaching of spelling and grammar strategies, and should not replace active learning of these skills.
Some examples of spelling and grammar checkers
Antidote
One of the most popular and comprehensive correction software packages. It offers advanced spelling and grammar checking, correction suggestions, dictionaries and language guides. It is widely used to help children improve their handwriting.
Corrector 101
This software is known for its ease of use and user-friendliness, making it a good choice for primary school children. It offers basic spelling and grammar correction features, tailored to the needs of young learners
Scribens
A popular software program for spelling and grammar correction. It offers a user-friendly interface and advanced features that can help primary school children improve their spelling and grammar.
ProLexis
A more advanced and comprehensive software package, often used by more advanced users, but it can also be adapted for primary school children with appropriate supervision and support. It offers advanced spelling and grammar correction features, as well as writing and style checking tools.