Re-Design+Overview

Re-Design Overview Story-starters are common tools that have been used by elementary teachers to measure writing fluency and organizational skills. They are particularly helpful in special education setting for students with difficulty in oral and written expression. The Lesson Plan that I opted to change adds a few new dimensions. Students have the ability to choose their favorite story-starter from the class and use a laptop/overhead combination in order to edit the story. Next, students utilize Storybirds to publish their story. By fostering healthy competition and publishing results; students become more engaged and motivated to produce their best work. In addition, students are utilizing visual aides to accompany their story-telling skills and help to construct a creative and organized storyline. Storybirds take graphic organizers one step further and expose students to a new tool that is being increasing used in Education.

Storybird Pros
 * Free
 * Easy to access/use
 * Published
 * Public/Private Settings
 * Classroom Settings
 * Available as a model for students, parents, teacher

Storybird Cons
 * Cannot embed
 * Lack of corresonding images
 * Too elaborate for independent use
 * No sound features
 * Cannot upload content