Web 2.0 tool to use!

While working on my research for Storybird, I came across this gem! Check it out! I would definitely use this tool in my classroom.

http://littlebirdtales.com/

Links to lesson plan, rubric and presentaion

Here are links to my lesson plan, rubric and presentation. The presentation was created to keep materials used during this lesson organized and easy to access, throughout the lesson. Please feel free to review and comment!

Lesson Plan: Web 2.0 Tool Storybird

Rubric

Presentation

Day 3: Finished with Lesson

Today, I've been finishing up my lesson and creating a rubric to use as an assessment tool. I'll share my lesson soon! Tomorrow the lesson will be taught to 3rd and 4th grade students. I will also be using an 8th grade students for the collaboration component. A 4th grade and 8th grade student will collaborate to create a story, using Storybird. Since, I ran into an issue with grade-level appropriateness, I thought that this tool would work great with big buddies! My Kindergarten class, write a page of the story, then our 3rd grade big buddies...until we complete the story. This story could then be shared on our class websites.

I've enjoyed seeing all of your lessons! Great work! I am learning just by visiting your blogs! I've also realized that I need to start using Web 2.0 tools more in my classroom. I created the following to help me use Web 2.0 tools this school year!

Web 2.0 2013-2014

Let me know if I should add more or change! :)

Day 2

Today I worked on my lesson plan, actually two lesson plans. I am considering changing my tool.  Not sure...yet! I need more time! Tomorrow I will be tutoring again and will try my lesson/activity during my sessions. Wish me luck! :)

Day1: Progress

Since June I have been tutoring 5 students who are either entering Kindergarten or first grade this August.  My goal is to use a tool that can be used with these students-which is the reason I chose Storybird. Today I introduced this tool to my soon to be first graders. I am not sure if it was my lack of expertise or the tool itself that caused the issues we had today. I practiced using this tool the night before and felt that pretty comfortable, but today had some issues. I did not find it "user friendly" and the lack of pictures frustrating. However, my students were excited about writing their own stories, after viewing stories shared by other students. Where am I now? Trying to iron out the kinks and finish up my lesson plan! If you have used this tool-feel free to share any thoughts, advice or help in any way! Thanks! 

Click on the picture to read a story written today with one of my students!

IDT 516

Final Project Proposal:  Storybird: Digital Storytelling

Storybird is a site that allows the user to create an online book with colorful illustrations and has flippable pages. My lesson will consist of two parts. Part 1 will be an introduction to the application. Students will be shown examples of stories created on Storybird and publicly shared. Stories will then be created together, with explanation of tools. The goal of this part of the lesson will be for students to become comfortable with creating stories using Storybird. Part 2 of the lesson will be creating stories independently. In addition to creating stories, students will use this tool as a form of re-telling. As stories are read in class, instead of orally re-telling a story, students will use Storybird. 

Part 1: Using Storybird

• choosing between reading or creating a story
• picking a theme or drawing (creating a story)
• adding more pages
• image placement
• changing background color
• What to do when finished 

Part 2: Creating a Story

• deciding on a title 
• deciding on characters
• adding text (with teacher assistance) 
• sharing and reading stories 

Resources:

Storybird app (click on the link to find out more!)

Introduction

Hi! My name is Amanda McIlravy and I am a Kindergarten teacher in Illinois. This blog was created as part of an assignment for a graduate class at Western Illinois University. I am currently in the Instructional Design and Technology program with a Technology Specialist Emphasis.