I really began to use Rewordify extensively when writing passages to differentiate instruction. My Day in History units (see end of article)provide a 9-10 grade level passage, an 8 grade passage, and a 6-7 grade level passage on a topic related to something historical occurred each day. I usually begin writing the most difficult passage, then use REWORDIFY to help me change the passage to an easier reading level. The more I used this tool, the more I realized how beneficial it is for students.

The site is free at www.rewordify.com. It is a powerful tool for teachers and the features are far more robust than I first realized–all for free!

The feature I first used was to copy and paste (or enter) a text into the yellow box and hit the button labeled “rewording text.” Voila!  A simplified text appears to help the reader quickly understand the text.

URL

In addition to entering or copy/pasting an article into the Rewordify box, the URL can be entered and a webpage can be reproduced with a more understandable vocabulary.

Highlighting Feature

As you view the new version of the text, you will notice there are highlighted words.  Clicking on the highlighted words will allow you to hear the word read and will provide a synonym. You can change the highlighted feature to be used in the following ways:

• clicking will display the original word
• rewordify would not occur but the definition would be displayed when a word is clicked
• the “inline” option which will display both the original word and the synonym within the text
• the “two column” version which will display both the new and old versions of the passage side by side.
• display the original version with a vocabulary column which will include the difficult highlighted words defined the first time they are used in a passage.

Learning Session

To utilize this feature, you will need to log into your account. After pasting a passage into the box, the system highlights difficult words then gives you an opportunity to grow your vocabulary in context. The software will tell you how many “hard” words it has located and ask you how many you would like to learn–or allow you to self-select the words you want to learn manually. Another alternative is to click at any time the “My Learning” page and scroll down to “Words I’m Learning.” During the learning session you will see the words, hear the definitions, see them in context, and type the word and select the definition.

Students can chart their learning and the system will keep track of the words they have learned and are working on.

Educator charts and reports

Creating student accounts allows teachers to track student activity. It records the number of minutes students read, the words they are learning and errors made during the learning session by student or class.

Revisit and Share

If you are logged in, each text block you have used with rewording is stored. To review or share a document, click on history and then use the Share tab. You have the option of sharing publicly or in a password-protected environment. If you would like to group together two or more documents, there is an option to create a “book.”  Linking two or more documents (publicly shared documents only) creates a book and table of contents so your students can easily access your materials.

Prepared Materials

More than 300 selections of classic literature (including Shakespeare) are available. After clicking on the title, select the chapter and all the features of Rewordify are at your fingertips! There is also an extensive library of public documents.

Readability

If you Rewordify a passage, both the original and the new version of the text are given a READ score (Rewordify.com Estimated Average Difficulty Score) which enables teachers to evaluate the complexity of the text.

Many Print Options

With just a click you can print the original text, the Rewordified version, a vocabulary list (with or without definitions) a word quiz, matching sheet, or close activity (with or without answer keys). These are real time savers for busy teachers!

Flashcards

Electronic two sided flash cards provide another avenue for learning words. Flashcards include an audio component where students can hear the words.

Games

Rewordo and Hangman are available with difficult words to challenge you to improve your vocabulary.

Parts of Speech

Clicking the parts of speech button identifies nine major parts of speech categories and highlights each word in the correct category. As an option, you can turn on only the parts of speech you want. For example, you could highlight only all the verbs.  This function only works on the original version and not the rewordified version of a passage.

So Why Use Rewordify?

After introducing this tool to your students (have them bookmark the site for future access), it becomes a tool they can easily use independently as a tool to enhance their own learning. It also makes differentiating in the classroom attainable.

Looking for Differentiated Passages?

Check out my TPT Store.

Here you will find passages related to a historical event which occurred on each day. Questions for each passage appear in standardized test format, helping students to prepare for high-stakes testing. Each passage contains these types of questions
 Main idea
 Vocabulary
 Organizational patterns
 Inference
 Summarizing

Each passage is completely stand alone and appropriate for any day of the year. Mix and match by purchasing the topics you want or save with monthly bundles and give your students daily opportunities to develop background knowledge and improve their comprehension.

Passages have been evaluated using a minimum of 5 different readability formulas. The first passage is the most challenging, with an average reading level of 9th-10th grade. The second passage has an average readability of 8th grade. The third passage averages a 6th-7th grade level. With teacher introduction and background information, the passages have been used successfully with younger readers.

One subject for the class with differentiated passages allows the teacher to discuss, develop background knowledge, show a video clip or engage the full class yet provide for individual differences.

Students and teachers using multiple passages can assess student progress. Diagnostic charting shows teachers and students patterns of errors with main idea, vocabulary, organizational patterns, inference, and summarization. Compiling data is easy and motivating with student completed charts.

Included in each lesson:
➢ A nonfiction passage written at three different grade levels
➢ Questions over the passage for each level.
➢ An answer key
➢ A chart to monitor progress and collect data in the five assessed areas (main idea, vocabulary, organizational patterns, inference, and summarizing)

Click here to check out the Day In History passages from Reading Specialty!