My StoryMaker
http://www.carnegielibrary.org/kids/storymaker/embed.cfm
I have just found an absolutely wonderful website to inspire students to write in English.
The applications name is My StoryMaker and it is published by Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
The program is free and easy to use.
In this interactive picture book pupils get help on their way through a story. Can a Fox be in love with a mermaid? Nothing is impossible only the pupils’ imagination sets the limits. The pupils have full control over characters and objects and the program helps the pupils to create sentences to the story. When the pupils are done with their story, they can print it out or share it with others.
What you need
You need Adobe Flash Player and Adobe reader, and both these programs are free to down load on internet.
How to use
First you select a main character in your book. Then you decide what the book should be about. When that is completed you choose different characters, items, objects and settings depending what you want shall happen in the book. Only your imaginations set stop for the story.
There is so much you can do; move objects, change feelings for the characters, write texts. When you are finished, with your story, you can share your book with others or print it out. And then it’s time to write a new one.
Why and Who
I have some students that find it difficult to work with different texts. Often it takes stop when it's
time to construct their text. This is a website I think really can help these students. In Lgr 11 it says in the purpose text that the student should be able to; formulate in writing, use linguistic strategies to make them understood and customize language for context.
In the central content it’s written that the student shall work with dramatized stories and fairy tales for children and young people, which I think is well consistent with this interactive book.
Today students are accustomed to make use of different types of technology, it is not alien to them. Many students will be encouraged to work with computers, and it becomes more fun,
which really get them to work more active. I’m also of the opinions that with this program it’s easy to work in different levels in the class, as we all know, our pupils are in different stages in life.
//Lotta Lundberg
Thank you for sharing this tool with us! Your blog post inspired me to visit the webbsite and I got really exited! I agree with you about how this resource will help pupils to write, especially those who have difficulties in writing stories with a good structure. Using the different characters, items, scenery objects and settings will inspire and facilitate the pupils imagination and writing.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you when you point out the connection to Lgr 11. I think there are even more connections than the ones you mention. At page 32 in the English version of Lgr 11, under "Aim" you can read: "Communication skills also cover confidence in using the language and the ability to use different strategies to support communication and solve problems when language skills by themselves are not sufficient." The use of pictures and other tools is a good way for the pupils to solve problems with lack of vocabulary.
In the last part of your post you write about childrens interest and use of computers. I agree whit you this is one of the major reasons to use this tool as well. Later in the aim of the syllabus text can be read "In order to deal with spoken language and texts, pupils should be given the opportunity to develop their skills in relating content to their own experiences, living conditions and interests."
The very last sentence in your post is as important as the rest, I think! A resource which allows different pupils in different levels to work and share their work is very valuable and very useful!
//Malin
What a good finding! This is a tool that is perfect for more than just one subject. I know the type of students that can't go all the way with their story and need lots of help on the way and this is a really good tool. This is - I think - a good tool to use two-and-two as well. And the students get practice in using the computer as well.
ReplyDeleteI had to try it and I thought it was really fun and easy. But I'm 29 and have been learning English for 20 years. It's a lot of English to read when you're just in the beginning of learning a new language. My students are 9 years old and they would be able to do this by them self. But if I had older students I would consider using this website. It's, as you write, a good tool to reach the central content of Lgr11 in the writing content. As a teacher we should use different ways to reach the central content in Lgr11. And as you write many students has trouble with their imagination and needs a push.
What I do like with this website is that you make something that you can save, print and share. I also like to use different tools on our way to knowledge.
//Hanna Fredin