Storybird.com: Inspiration for Creative Writing By: Laurel Taylor HASL Fall Conference 2011

Storybird for Schools No student s required Safe, secure, and private Unlimited classes Assignments Beautiful class libraries Foreign languages Signing up takes less than 30 seconds!

Curriculum Link AASL “Use the writing process, media and visual literacy, and technology skills to create products that express new understandings.” AASL Pursue personal & aesthetic growth…social exchange of ideas. HCPSIII Language Arts Writing Conventions & Skills

Description Storybird is an online literacy tool to develop students’ stories. Thousands of illustrators donate their work to Storybird. Users select which illustrator’s artwork they want for their storybird. Each storybird begins with a blank canvas. Users drag and drop pictures onto a page and write their story. Publish and share. Comment and “heart” others’ stories.

How Students Used It Grades 4-6 class. Teacher/Librarian might assign a topic such as bullying. Students create a storybird related to preventing bullying. Select an illustrator. Create text for the illustrations selected. Determine design layout. Share drafts. Critique each other’s stories.

Assessment Tool CriteriaGreat stuff!Nice work!Need help! CharacterClearly describes what the character is thinking and feeling. Describes what the character does but not what he/she is feeling. Names the character but needs to describe what he/she is doing and feeling. SettingClearly describes where the story takes place. Names the place where the story is set but doesn’t describe it. Does not say where the story takes place. ProblemClearly describes the problem that the character has to overcome. Mentions the problem but needs more details about why it’s a problem. Does not mention the problem. PlotClearly organizes what happens as the character tries to deal with problem. One or more details are missing from the plot. Many details are missing from the plot. ConclusionClearly describes how the problem is solved and it makes sense. Says how the problem is solved but it doesn’t make sense. Doesn’t say how the problem is solved. IllustrationsAll illustrations match the text. Most of the illustrations match the text. Few of the illustrations match the text.

Prerequisites Basic keyboarding skills Basic web navigation Understanding structural elements of a fictional story

Skills During Usage Click Drag and drop Add text

Hardware/Tech Access Computer lab Internet access

Trouble-shooting Tips Allow students 10 minutes for initial login. Ideally best to only have 1 class on at a time so page loads quickly. Keep your own file of students’ passwords.

Questions? Storybird.com Laurel Taylor Library Media Specialist JK-6 Sacred Hearts Academy

Thank you!