Rewordify.com: Where have you been all my teaching life?

I suspect this tool has been around for a while but having recently discovered Rewordify.com, I simple cannot get enough and neither can my reading students!

Rewordify allows students to enter complex text into a template. This can be copied in or typed. By clicking "rewordify text" the  passage is immediately rephrased into simpler terms. Students can adjust the level for the needs such as selecting familiar words to skip. In addition, key words and phrases are highlighted which not only helps with comprehension but also models highlighting skills. 

This is a free online software that does not require downloads or other installations so it is easily accessible to students from a variety devices. What I especially like is that this program was developed by a special education teacher and former computer programmer for the purpose of helping students read complex passages. Technology that focuses on students with diverse learning needs gets my thumbs up. 

There are many uses in the classroom and beyond. I had students look up essays from The Electric Typewriter and copy complex text into the template. They appreciated the simplified text and highlighting tool. They were then asked to re-read the complex text to gauge comprehension. 

This is a great tool for instructors who would like to know the level of a text as well.