Digital Literacy Side-entry: Story Planning and Story Boarding

Prewriting Apps:

Looking at these apps really got my creative juices flowing!  I noticed that these sites are excellent mentors and their ideas can be adapted to self-created lessons, instead of having students make tons of accounts.  However,  using the actual sites may break up the Google monotony. Here are my reviews: 

 StoryPlanner-  This site seems to be geared toward professional writers or those who aspire to be.  The paid version could be an excellent addition to a creative writing course if your school is willing to foot the bill.  That said, there is free content that is an AMAZING resource for teachers looking to make organizers for storytelling or character development.  Students can work on one project at a time using the free plan.  I could see myself using the content on this site as a mentor to develop pre-writing organizers on GoogleDocs.

Makestoryboard: This site would be excellent for students who are making a visual media product for your classroom.  Here is a youtube of how the app works- it was much more instructive than what is on the website demonstrations.  With the free version, the student can make one storyboard and send the teacher a link or PDF of what they have created.  One could even have the entire project be on Makestoryboard by making it a photography project- simply have students photograph their scenes and attach them to the picture feature of the storyboard.   Students then add dialogue ideas and directions for the scene in the storyboard boxes.  This is a very cool tool. I think I could recreate this ideas in Googleslides as well!  Simply create a template for students to enter a picture and include a place for dialogue and directions.  This way, we are not relying on a website or making tons of accounts.  

Handwriting Apps

  This is something I do not teach as a secondary teacher, but I will soon have to address with my toddler.  

Homer:  This app is decently wholistic, focusing on basic reading, math, and writing skills.  I have been impressed with the letter tracing feature, which lends itself best to this review.  The app shows a video on the letter, how to draw the letter, and has a "connect-the-dots" practice feature that little fingers can trace.  There are also matching games that help toddlers identify letters- a skill that my little guy is still working on.

Blobblewrite:  This is a no-frills, paid app, that uses simply animations to help students learn how to trace letters.  The app shows a smiley-type face demonstrate how to trace the letter, and the student can trace below.  I like that the example and the task are on the same screen. I also like that students can hear the phonetic sound of the letter as they draw.  There is a motivational "you did it!" after the student completes the letter.