Writing Tools
Resources found by Ashleigh Bunten
Retrieved from DonJohnston.com on 12/3/12
Solo 6:
SOLO is a literacy program that helps students with both reading and writing. The software is extremely beneficial to struggling writers because of two programs that are included in SOLO 6. CoWriter 6 is a writing program that is targeted to help writers spell check and correct grammar mistakes in their writing. This program can be used with any application like Microsoft Word, the internet, and email which makes using these programs easier for students who have difficulties spelling. The attribute that is most useful to students with writing difficulties is the word prediction. This helps students who make a lot of spelling errors because the software predicts the words that the student is most likely to use. Word prediction helps students improve their fluent writing because they are not spending a significant amount of time correcting their spelling mistakes. This will eventually lead to a faster writing process by students with disabilities which also increases their motivation. SOLO 6 would help students with illegible handwriting, poor phonetic or inventive spelling, a physical disability that would make typing difficult. It would also help with students who have difficulty translating their thoughts into their writing.
Click here for a short tutorial on how to use the program.
SOLO is a literacy program that helps students with both reading and writing. The software is extremely beneficial to struggling writers because of two programs that are included in SOLO 6. CoWriter 6 is a writing program that is targeted to help writers spell check and correct grammar mistakes in their writing. This program can be used with any application like Microsoft Word, the internet, and email which makes using these programs easier for students who have difficulties spelling. The attribute that is most useful to students with writing difficulties is the word prediction. This helps students who make a lot of spelling errors because the software predicts the words that the student is most likely to use. Word prediction helps students improve their fluent writing because they are not spending a significant amount of time correcting their spelling mistakes. This will eventually lead to a faster writing process by students with disabilities which also increases their motivation. SOLO 6 would help students with illegible handwriting, poor phonetic or inventive spelling, a physical disability that would make typing difficult. It would also help with students who have difficulty translating their thoughts into their writing.
Click here for a short tutorial on how to use the program.
Retrieved from cricksoft.com on 12/4/12
Clicker 6:
Clicker 6 is another literacy software developed by Crick Software. It is a reading and writing tool that helps students with disabilities to improve their writing skills.The program has a helpful word processor which contributes to students’ writing independence. What makes this different from other word processors is that Clicker 6 is designed for children who are learning to read and write and not just adults. Clicker helps students find and correct errors and provides automatic feedback as the students write. Each sentence is automatically read out loud when it is completed. Also every word is highlighted as it is spoken, which helps all students to follow the text and review what they have written. There is also a word prediction which suggests words that fit into the context the students are writing about. This would help to improve the students’ vocabulary. Because of this part of the program, students are able to create grammatically correct sentences with no spelling errors. Students also have the option of using curriculum pictures that could be used in documents, Clicker Sets, the predictor and the talking spell checker with Crick Picture Library 3. This makes it easier for students to illustrate their own books, also this program could help teachers provide illustrations for students who are struggling. This software is available for both Windows and Mac computers which are common in schools.
Click here for a quick guide on how to write into a document using clicker 6.
Clicker 6 is another literacy software developed by Crick Software. It is a reading and writing tool that helps students with disabilities to improve their writing skills.The program has a helpful word processor which contributes to students’ writing independence. What makes this different from other word processors is that Clicker 6 is designed for children who are learning to read and write and not just adults. Clicker helps students find and correct errors and provides automatic feedback as the students write. Each sentence is automatically read out loud when it is completed. Also every word is highlighted as it is spoken, which helps all students to follow the text and review what they have written. There is also a word prediction which suggests words that fit into the context the students are writing about. This would help to improve the students’ vocabulary. Because of this part of the program, students are able to create grammatically correct sentences with no spelling errors. Students also have the option of using curriculum pictures that could be used in documents, Clicker Sets, the predictor and the talking spell checker with Crick Picture Library 3. This makes it easier for students to illustrate their own books, also this program could help teachers provide illustrations for students who are struggling. This software is available for both Windows and Mac computers which are common in schools.
Click here for a quick guide on how to write into a document using clicker 6.
Retrieved from Google.com on 12/4/12
Google Docs:
Google Docs can also be a useful tool for struggling writers. Heather Durnin, a 7th and 8th grade English teacher, has come up with a unique way to integrate this free app from Google into her classroom. This app includes word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and forms. Another convenient thing about the program is that it can be accessed from any type of internet connection. So students are able to work on their while at home. In Ms. Durnin’s classroom, students write their first draft using the word processor part of the program. Students seem to enjoy this because they are writing on the computer and are online at the same time. Then students are able to peer edit each other’s work by simply sharing their docs with their peers. Students type their suggestions right into their peer’s doc using a different color font. To make this beneficial for struggling writers, they can be paired with other stronger writers in the class so they are able to see good examples because their edit their own papers. Teachers must also keep in mind that peer editing can be difficult to understand at this age, so the concept must be reviewed multiple times throughout the year. Using Google Docs keeps the students engaged and motivated to improve their writing. By making this activity more interactive, you are also keeping the struggling writers interested which will help them grow.
Google Docs can also be a useful tool for struggling writers. Heather Durnin, a 7th and 8th grade English teacher, has come up with a unique way to integrate this free app from Google into her classroom. This app includes word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and forms. Another convenient thing about the program is that it can be accessed from any type of internet connection. So students are able to work on their while at home. In Ms. Durnin’s classroom, students write their first draft using the word processor part of the program. Students seem to enjoy this because they are writing on the computer and are online at the same time. Then students are able to peer edit each other’s work by simply sharing their docs with their peers. Students type their suggestions right into their peer’s doc using a different color font. To make this beneficial for struggling writers, they can be paired with other stronger writers in the class so they are able to see good examples because their edit their own papers. Teachers must also keep in mind that peer editing can be difficult to understand at this age, so the concept must be reviewed multiple times throughout the year. Using Google Docs keeps the students engaged and motivated to improve their writing. By making this activity more interactive, you are also keeping the struggling writers interested which will help them grow.
Retrieved from Writingfix.com on 12/5/12
WritingFix.com:
This website is a great resource to help students with peer editing each other’s writing. They give the idea of using post-it notes for students to use while peer editing. These post-its can be used as scripts and remind students what they are supposed to be looking for while reading over another’s work or their own. These post-its range from idea development to sentence fluency and helps students think like writers. This website helps all students with their writing, but would also be beneficial to struggling writers because it helps them look at their own writing in a critical way. Click here for the other four post-it notes.
This website is a great resource to help students with peer editing each other’s writing. They give the idea of using post-it notes for students to use while peer editing. These post-its can be used as scripts and remind students what they are supposed to be looking for while reading over another’s work or their own. These post-its range from idea development to sentence fluency and helps students think like writers. This website helps all students with their writing, but would also be beneficial to struggling writers because it helps them look at their own writing in a critical way. Click here for the other four post-it notes.
Retrieved from teacherspayteachers.com on 12/5/12
Story Mapping Worksheet:
This is a great way for students to map out what they want to write about. This organizer includes all the important parts that all students should include into their stories. This tool would help struggling writers to remember the parts of a story that they should include in their own writing.
This is a great way for students to map out what they want to write about. This organizer includes all the important parts that all students should include into their stories. This tool would help struggling writers to remember the parts of a story that they should include in their own writing.
Retrieved from readingrockets.org on 12/5/12
Digital Storytelling:
Creating these digital stories helps students use their creativity to create a movie that explores other literacies. A digital story is a multimedia text consisting of still images complemented by narrated soundtrack that tells a story. This can become a motivator for struggling writers because it gives them another way to represent their ideas which is an aspect of Universal Design for Learning. This would also help students who struggle with fine motor skills and it affects their writing. By using these digital stories, students are able to find structure in their writing and have fun with it.
Creating these digital stories helps students use their creativity to create a movie that explores other literacies. A digital story is a multimedia text consisting of still images complemented by narrated soundtrack that tells a story. This can become a motivator for struggling writers because it gives them another way to represent their ideas which is an aspect of Universal Design for Learning. This would also help students who struggle with fine motor skills and it affects their writing. By using these digital stories, students are able to find structure in their writing and have fun with it.
Retrieved from nuance.com on 12/5/12
Dragon Naturally Speaking:
The software Dragon Naturally Speaking can be used to interact with your computer by speaking to it. The program comes with a microphone that allows the user to give commands that the computer will follow. Dragon understands what you are saying with 99% accuracy. You can also create documents three times faster by giving voice instructions rather than typing them. Struggling writers could use the software to speak the words they want to write and have the computer record them on a word processor. The program would help students get all of their ideas down before they forget them. This software would be worthwhile for students who need to write their ideas faster.
Click here for a video to show you how to use the program with Microsoft Word.
The software Dragon Naturally Speaking can be used to interact with your computer by speaking to it. The program comes with a microphone that allows the user to give commands that the computer will follow. Dragon understands what you are saying with 99% accuracy. You can also create documents three times faster by giving voice instructions rather than typing them. Struggling writers could use the software to speak the words they want to write and have the computer record them on a word processor. The program would help students get all of their ideas down before they forget them. This software would be worthwhile for students who need to write their ideas faster.
Click here for a video to show you how to use the program with Microsoft Word.
Retrieved from inspiration.com/kidspiration on 12/5/12
Kidspiration:
The Kidspiration software is a visual workplace for students from Kindergarten through fifth grade. Students use pictures, text, numbers, and spoken words to help strengthen their vocabulary, word recognition, reading for comprehension, writing, and critical thinking skills. Students are able to develop their writing ideas into webs and graphic organizers. In writing view, they are able to expand on their ideas into their own words. The Kidspiration word guide helps support vocabulary and reading comprehension and also includes sight vocabulary which is crucial to improve student’s writing. There is also audio support to allow students to express and record their ideas. This program also includes reading and writing activities that support phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, word recognition, and comprehension which helps build struggling students’ writing skills. Kidspiration would help students with writing disabilities because it gives visual representations while students are writing which is motivational but also shows another way of presenting the information.
Learn the basic features of Kidspiration by clicking here.
The Kidspiration software is a visual workplace for students from Kindergarten through fifth grade. Students use pictures, text, numbers, and spoken words to help strengthen their vocabulary, word recognition, reading for comprehension, writing, and critical thinking skills. Students are able to develop their writing ideas into webs and graphic organizers. In writing view, they are able to expand on their ideas into their own words. The Kidspiration word guide helps support vocabulary and reading comprehension and also includes sight vocabulary which is crucial to improve student’s writing. There is also audio support to allow students to express and record their ideas. This program also includes reading and writing activities that support phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, word recognition, and comprehension which helps build struggling students’ writing skills. Kidspiration would help students with writing disabilities because it gives visual representations while students are writing which is motivational but also shows another way of presenting the information.
Learn the basic features of Kidspiration by clicking here.