How to Use Helperbird as a Teacher
A practical guide for teachers on using Helperbird in the classroom. Learn how to support students with dyslexia, ADHD, English language learners, and any student who needs a little extra help reading or writing.
Helperbird was built to give every student a more accessible way to read and write online. As a teacher, you can use it to support students with dyslexia, ADHD, vision differences, English language learners, and anyone else who just needs a little extra help. This guide walks through how to get the most out of Helperbird in your classroom.
Overview
Helperbird is a browser extension and iPad app that adds reading, writing, and accessibility tools to any website. It works on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, and most schools deploy it across their whole domain so students and teachers can use it on any device they sign into.
You do not need to be a tech expert to use Helperbird. If you can open a Google Doc or a webpage, you can use Helperbird.
Getting Started
Before you start using Helperbird with your students, it is helpful to try it yourself on a webpage or a Google Doc. Click the Helperbird icon in your browser toolbar and explore the features for a few minutes.
If your school has already deployed Helperbird, you will be logged in automatically. If you are unsure, see our login guide or ask your IT admin for your subscription key.
If you want a printable quick-start for your class, see our quick start guide.
Features Teachers Use Most
You do not need to know every feature. Most teachers get great results from a small set of tools that cover the most common needs in a classroom.
- Text to speech reads anything on the page out loud. Great for students who struggle with decoding or who understand better when they hear it.
- Dyslexia fonts like OpenDyslexic and Lexend make text easier to read for students with dyslexia.
- Reading ruler and line focus help students track where they are on the page.
- Color overlays reduce screen glare and help with visual stress.
- Immersive Reader simplifies a page into a clean, focused reading view.
- Voice typing lets students dictate instead of typing.
- Translate helps English language learners read in their first language.
If you teach students with a range of needs, it is worth learning the accessibility profiles feature. Profiles turn on a group of settings with one click, so a student can switch to a dyslexia-friendly setup or a focus-friendly setup without changing each option by hand.
Using Helperbird During Quizzes and Tests
Helperbird can stay active during locked quizzes and assessments, but only if it has been deployed by your IT admin. This is important for students who have accommodations on their IEP or 504 plan.
For Google Forms locked quizzes, see our guide on using Helperbird during locked quizzes.
For Chromebook locked mode, see the full setup guide at using Helperbird in locked mode on Chromebooks.
If you are building accommodations for a specific student, we have a walkthrough on assigning Helperbird accommodations to students.
Supporting Students at Home
Students often want to use the same tools at home that they use at school. Helperbird can follow them, either by logging into Chrome with their school account on a personal device or by using a subscription key.
Point parents to our use Helperbird at home guide. It covers all three ways a student can set it up on a home computer or iPad.
Tips for Teachers
- Let students choose their own setup. Every student's needs are different. A dyslexia-friendly font might help one student and distract another. Encourage them to try options.
- Teach it once, save the time. Spend five minutes at the start of the year showing students how to open Helperbird and turn on a feature. It pays back for the whole year.
- Use profiles for quick switching. If you have students with different needs in the same class, accessibility profiles let each student load their own setup in one click.
- Turn features on before a locked quiz starts. Helperbird remembers what was on. If a student clicks Start without turning features on first, they may not be able to change them mid-quiz.
- Ask about iPads. If your class uses iPads, Helperbird works in Safari with a few setup steps. See Helperbird on iPad in the classroom.
Related Guides
- How to Use Helperbird for Dyslexia
- How to Use Helperbird for ADHD and Focus
- How to Use Helperbird for Writing Essays and Assignments
- How to Use Helperbird on iPad in the Classroom
- How to Use Helperbird During Google Forms Locked Quizzes
- How to Use Helperbird at Home
- How to Use Accessibility Profiles in Helperbird
Need Help?
If you want a walkthrough for your school or a demo for your team, reach out to our support team. We are always happy to jump on a call with teachers and set things up for your classroom.
