Reading Practice is a new feature from Google that is designed to make reading easier for emerging readers, and is available on Google Play Books and Google Kids Space. While using Reading Practice and reading ebooks, young readers have the opportunity to track their reading position, hear what a word sounds like if they get stuck, and lots more.
After experimenting with Reading Practice myself, it’s easy to see how it would be helpful for a new reader and how it might perform some of the functions of an encouraging caregiver or teacher. I particularly enjoyed the “hear a word” feature, which allows readers to tap a word they don’t know how to pronounce. New readers often struggle with words they don’t recognize or know, and, let’s be honest, some adults still need help here and there – how do you pronounce “macabre” again?
