The Indian Trail Middle School PAWS Pack mentor group has a new tool to help students level up their academics.
The Peers Assisting with Studying (PAWS) Pack program is designed to support students academically, socially, and emotionally by pairing them with peers or older students who can guide and encourage them.
The group recently learned how to use Google Read&Write, thanks to Nicole Mattix, District 202 Assistive Technology Specialist for Blue and Green houses.
Mattix taught the mentors how to use the program so they could share the universally designed learning, or UDL, tool with their peers.
“The goal was not only for them to understand how the tools support reading and writing, but also to prepare them to confidently model and share these tools with peers during tutoring opportunities,” Mattix said.
Google Read&Write offers tools such as text-to-speech, speech-to-text, digital dictionaries, digital grammar, and spellcheck features.
Mentors worked on their laptops in the school cafeteria to put Read&Write while Mattix worked in front or walked around to guide them.
It is important for students to teach other students this technology because it normalizes tool use, increases student confidence, and promotes independence, Mattix said.
“It also empowers students to take ownership of their learning while strengthening collaboration, empathy, and leadership skills within the school community,” she added.
Indian Trail Principal Mason Luebbing, PAWS Pack has been using the new technology successfully when they meet with students.
“It’s been very helpful, and no better way to implement a new tool like this than to put it in the hands of the students,” he said.
“They are very tech savvy and intuitive when it comes to new technology.”
