TOS Review See N Read

My blog is being scraped again.  If you are reading this on a website other than www.crazyhomedaze.blogspot.com you are reading a stolen copy of my content.

This time around The Crew I was asked to review a product that I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt we would love.  Okay, okay I just really thought we would; but I was pretty sure!  Mostly it was for my 11yo daughter but I can see its uses for all the kids and even for myself.

What is this product you ask?  Well, let me tell you...



Still don't know what it is?  That's alright because I had never heard of them either.  But if you have someone that struggles with reading or does a bunch of reading on the computer, you will want to read on!

Here is what their website says:

See-N-Read® is a practical reading intervention tool....designed to help readers seamlessly see, focus, and remember what they read. It reduces word- and line-skipping and pattern glare.

See: See-N-Read® helps readers to concentrate on and track the text being read while smoothly transitioning between the words that come before or after, thus helping readers to increase their fluency (the capacity to read text accurately and quickly) and comprehension.

Focus: See-N-Read’s clear reading window is surrounded by a non-glare tinted transparent finish that helps readers to focus on manageable “chunks” of information in each line of text.

Remember: See-N-Read® provides readers with a clear reference point that helps control smooth eye movements across the text on a page. Smooth eye movement from left to right and smooth transitions from line to line ("sweeping") enhance retention of information.

See-N-Read’s flexible material makes it easy for readers, young and old, to hold and use it as they read.
 

Here is a picture of what it looks like.

Now, for my take on it.  I love it!  Really.  We have tried so many different versions of this same thing that we could start a support group.  We have tried the colored ones, the fat ones, the skinny ones, well you get my point.  None of them worked.  At least not well.  My daughter would use it but the color would be distracting or they would be too small and she had to move it to see where she needed to move it to.  She would become frustrated quickly and soon abandon them.  She has eye teaming problems and reading is very frustrating for her so we are constantly looking for things to help ease that frustration.

Needless to say that when I was assigned to this review and the product came in the mail, she was not thrilled!  She was a good sport and gave it a try, though.  At first she tried out the See N Read Clear Bar Reading Tool document size and thought it was pretty cool. (They also have a book size that we didn't review but would be pretty cool!)  She noted the way that she could see the writing through the whole thing and so she didn't have to move it to find the next line.  The color muted the rest of the page enough that she wasn't distracted yet light enough she kept her place easily.  She quickly walked away with it and didn't bring it back!

Next, I handed her the Memory Mark See N Read Reading Tool and she just looked at it like it was an alien.  I explained that the part that was cut out was so that she could highlight or underline without moving the tool.  Thus, she wouldn't lose her place and time trying to find it over and over again.  She squealed and ran off with it.  I haven't seen it since! **I did confiscate it for a little while so I could try it out and I think this one is my favorite one!**

I waited a while to show her the eSee N Read electronic reading tool.  I used it and messed around with it before I showed it to her.  I knew that it would be a big hint since we use the computer to read very often. I even loved it!  It just super-imposes over the computer screen and tints all but the reading bar a light gray.  It is a soothing, simple color that doesn't get in the way and cuts down on the distractions on the screen.  This could save my eyes after reading on screen for a while.  It has helped already by easing the stark glare of the screen.  I can even see its uses for my husband at his work. 

The down side would be that it is losable (is that a word? lol).  That isn't necessarily a failing of the product just the nature of small things in general!  With the pricing of these tools, I would think of buying several to have as spares so that we would never be without them.  There are many options in pricing, you could buy in bulk or just individually.  If you buy a 10 pack it is $27.99 or singly for $2.99 for the Book size.  Pricing for the Document Size is a little different but this page spells it all out.  The Memory Mark pricing is much the same way and can be viewed here.  The pricing for the eSee N Read is listed here at $29.99 and is compatable with Windows OS but Mac is coming soon!  The list of computer requirements are spelled out so you can be sure it will work for you.  They also offer multi-user lisences for educational or business purposes upon request. 

We have thoroughly enjoyed using this product and I fully intend on buying more to have as back-ups!  If you want to know what other Crew Members are saying about this product, head on over to The Crew Blog and check 'em out!




**I was given this program to review in exchange for my honest opinion through The TOS Crew.