Upholzer-Storybird

> ==Abstract==
 * ====**What:** Storybird- A New Literacy Tool for a New Generation====
 * ===**Web Address:** http://storybird.com===
 * ====**Students Name:**Rachel Upholzer====
 * ====**Grade Level(s):** K-12====
 * ====**Content Area(s):** All====
 * ====Storybird is an online writing tool for grades K-12 that helps students enjoy writing and focus more on the words than illustrations. The website gives teachers the ability to create a classroom account where each student will have their own account they can access from school or home. The student will then, either using a computer, IPad or IPhone, choose pictures they would like to use to create their story and then will begin writing their story. The website prides itself on being very user-friendly and that the students will "focus on writing and reading, not endlessly fussing and clicking." There are several features beyond the actual writing process that make this program so great to use in the classroom. The first one is that the students can share their writing with their classmates and receive immediate (positive and encouraging) feedback. Having this feature will give students the chance to be more involved in their own education and will promote participation in the classroom. Another positive feature of this website is the ability to email the stories created by the students to their family, print out copies to create classroom books, and post stories to classroom websites. This will help create a great home to school connection and give the students recognition for their hard work.====

Personal Experience

 * ====I found this website to be very user friendly and inviting to use. It has very eye-catching illustrations that students would be excited to include in their stories and write about which would help with students that struggle with knowing what to write about. I could see myself using this in my kindergarten classroom towards the middle to the end of the year on my IPad and even try and get the computer teacher involved in using this program during computer class. The most difficult part for my kindergartners would be that they are not quite used to using a keyboard, and the process may begin with the teacher doing the typing. I will be moving to grade 2 next year and will definitely use this program as a part of my Daily Five program. I think this is a great way to promote literacy in the classroom in a new and exciting way that the students will want to use and not feel as if they are doing the same old writing over and over again. When setting up the classroom site, I found it very easy and quick to add each of the students names and have their accounts created for them. It will be nice to have the students have access to this website from home as well which will promote practice outside of school.====