Lindsey Roberts-Walstrom's Blog

This Web 2.0 tool enables students to publish their writing online in a web-based program and gives them the option of ordering their books in soft or hardcover that is sent to them. There are backgrounds, characters, props and text boxes that are available for students to include in their text. There are also options where you can scan in the pictures that the students draw and add them as backgrounds to their work. Another option for illustrating their stories is to create a Flickr account and bank pictures on there that pertain to their topic. For example, there is a student who wrote an informational book on the Praying Mantis, so I took some Creative Common photos and put them in an account he could access while creating his book.

I found the program on Tuesday and spent a few days exploring it before presenting it to my students on Friday morning. We have the laptop cart for an hour and a half in the morning. The kids look forward to working on various projects, as well as learning new technology. They particularly love the things that we explore that they can access at home and at school.

The great thing about Storyjumper is that you can set up a free class list. So you tell the program how many students you have, input their names and create a class password and you're set! It literally took me 2 minutes. The program gives them screen names that make them giggle. And then all you have to do is print the class list. It gives you a master list of the kids' pseudonyms and then it prints out a sheet for each child with directions of how to sign on. I have third graders and I was surprised how easy it was for them to get started. All they had to do was trust the answers were on the sheet. It also gives them direction of how to access their books from home. The students were wicked excited to show their parents the work they did.

I set up a picture of a pirate on a ship with the first line saying "There once was a pirate named _____" and asked the kids to finish the book. I was amazed at their creativity. Some students chose to write stories about fairies, magicians, soccer, or insects. This program makes publishing books motivating and easy to do! I was so impressed with how independent they were. I just had to show them how to navigate through the pages and where "the good stuff" was. There were small quirks but my students quickly navigated around them and showed the class how to get around it on the Smartboard. We had a great time. I recorded the process for my one minute message as well as to create a documentary for our district website. This way the district can see how easy it is to use!

The only thing about this program, is that is a program meant for younger children. It is great for second, third and maybe fourth graders, but the graphics are very kid-like. I think it is wonderful for third grade, but it limits the age range that it is appropriate for.

Here are some of the first pages my students created: