Storybird: a Digital Tool
Expression
for , Creativity, & Learning
Storybird is a free, easy-to-use website that allows you to produce and publish books online. There are expanded capability packages available for purchase. A large selection of artwork is available on the site, and is accessible through the use of keywords or artist name. Using this site, students can stretch their creativity and share a real product. By reading each others’ stories in such a polished and fun format, students may be encouraged to read more and produce more writing. The more they read and write, the better they will become at these skills. They may better understand the power of writing and reading. Access this tool at storybird.com
Opening page of storybird.com
Signing up is easy, too. All you need is an email address and a password!
Sign up here at the top
A
lthough you may have your students begin in another traditional way, such as writing a story, then illustrating it, Storybird has flipped the script by encouraging users to explore the available artwork and then compose writing to fit. Both are valid writing exercises, of course. You might have your more advanced students illustrate and retell a story the class has studied, or invent a story in the same style as your class story. As a “bellringer� activity give your students an evocative illustrations and let them supply a quick back story. The illustrations are not all childish.
Page displaying sign-up button and a selection of artwork.
Instruction bubbles!!
This book is ready to be written.
W
hen the student chooses an illustration, a page such as this page appears. It even has instruction bubbles to let you know what to do. To change out artwork, the illustrations on either side of the page can be dragged into place to supplant the art that is already there. Pages are added by selecting the + button at the lower right of the page.
Add pages by selecting +
Pop-up menu to publish
New pages appear in the layout
P
ages continue to be added, story written. When the student is ready to publish his story, the pop-up menu at lower left supplies the option. Remember that students of all ages can use this tool for authentic storytelling. Publishing the book allows students to share their stories and writing accomplishments with anyone in the world with an internet connection!
Under the Your Stuff tab, authors may keep track of books in progress or published, a record of favorite books found on the site, and there is a place to supply a profile of the author.
The Class tab is for using with the class as a group, and teacherly functionality is available here. A teacher may supply names and passwords for his students, keep track of progress, make assignments, and supply starting points including pre-choosing artwork.
The Following tab is for keeping track of favorite artists and authors. It will alert a user to new material.
The book my “student� produced may be seen at: https://storybird.com/books/lots-of-my-english-words-sound-alike-and-i-also-kn/?token=yuzpjgr4qn