Can somebody help me out here? I’m quite certain I saw something on this bulletin board; however, I can’t seem to find it in my searching. I’m looking for software that will enhance 2nd and 3rd grade creative writing. I have some students that sit down at the computer and NOTHING HAPPENS! They don’t know where to begin, get stuck and frustrated Then they become angry and hopeless which get us nowhere! Thx. for any help.
Re: Creative writing software
Kidspiration is good — KidPix Studio Deluxe is also very popular and I think this one has neat creative ideas to get kids writing unless it’s “student writing center.”
I’m not sure Kidspiration has prompts… I think KidPix does.
Re: Creative writing software
Take a look at Story Book Weaver Deluxe below are some reviews.
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/technology/storybookweaver_review.html
http://education.qld.gov.au/tal/liu/unitplan/rev-10.htm
Helen
Re: Creative writing software
We just got Kidspiration (inspiration.com) for my dd, per her reading/writing tutor’s instructions, but she hasn’t started working with it yet. Her tutor (Orton G) is great though!
My dd got Kidpix Deluxe from Santa Claus last Xmas as one of the toys she really wanted. I didn’t even know there was a writing component to the program, all my kids do is fight over this CD Rom b/c they love creating the pictures.
Re: Creative writing software
I am pretty sure there is, htough I might be remembering the wrong piece of software. It will probably come to me in the middle of the night — and then I cna post it ;)
It is in there-
you can type text to go with your pictures (neat typewriter sounds) and the program will read to you. We are doing a very cool set of projects making “functional literacy” talking books with a group of learning impaired students using the slideshow feature. You take your pictures with the text you have written and paste them into slideshow. You can have the computer read the text or record your own voice if your computer is set up for it. There are some background effects that are fun too.
Robin
A great program for pre-writing (webbing and outlining) is Inspiration. My son’s school introduced it in third grade. I believe there is one called Kidspiration for younger kids but I don’t know much about it.
Another one that my kids have used with great success,both at school and at home is the Ultimate Writing and Creativity Center. It’s listed as for ages 6-10.