Inspirational Sound

Twice last week one of my favorite people for learning about new websites and apps, Heather Moorefield, Education Librarian at Virginia Tech and chairperson for the American Association of School Librarians Best Websites for Teaching & Learning sent out tweets about a web 2.0 application she feels is worthy of exploration.  The original platform Booktrack: Soundtrack for Books was officially launched on January 5, 2012.  The company launched their dedicated education platform on March 21, 2014.  It is called Booktrack Classroom.  In their about section they state:

Booktrack Classroom is an exciting new technology that synchronizes audio with text to create an immersive reading experience.

When first accessing the home page the navigation bar along the top invites you to go to separate pages if you are teachers, parents, need help, want to log in or click on the free to use button.  You can also view a short video about the site, read six research-based features, and visit another page as a student.  At the bottom of the home page you can read the about section, the teachers' blog, a lesson plan library grouped by elementary, middle and high school ages, press releases, university studies, the terms of service and privacy policy (very detailed) and go to the download page.

To begin using the site I clicked on the green Free to Use button.  A new window opens with several choices, bookshelf, create, register, login and help, available at the top.  I clicked on the register tab.  A form pops up asking you for your display name, email address, and password.  You need to read and accept the terms of service and privacy policy.  An account confirmation email is sent immediately.  You should note that students under the age of 18 need to have a parent or guardian read and accept the terms of service and privacy policy before they can use this site.  This was stated in the terms of service.

When your account is created and you have logged in, you can then create a classroom.  For the purposes of this review I will only have a single student.  When I selected the + Add a Class button a new window opens.  You are asked to enter in a class name, country, school, grade year, school year and a rating.

Once you save your class, you can add student first and last names.  I then clicked on the student details tab.  Enter in a student's name, clicking add when you are done. As you can see in the images below you have the option to choose a common password, and select all to block, unblock, delete and change password.  I have added one student.  It shows their name, login name and assigned password.

To continue with my tour of Booktrack Classroom I selected the Bookshelf tab.  At this new window you can view previously created Booktracks.  They are grouped by content, genres, styles, and languages.  They each have star ratings. If you choose to read one the second image below appears on your screen.  When clicking on read the third image appears advising you on the options for reading the selection. Simply click in the middle to start.  

I then went to the top navigation bar choosing create.  Again an overlay with complete, easy-to-understand instructions appears. Click anywhere to begin.  First you type in a title for your chapter, then type in or copy and paste the text.  You can make any of the text bold or in italics.  There is an undo and redo option.  

Before moving to sound I did select save.  Upon clicking on the sound tab a new overlay appears giving you more instructions.  Click anywhere to start.  After your text is highlighted you can choose between music, ambience and effect.  

With your choice made more options appear above the highlighted text.  You can change the track, adjust the volume, the fade in and fade out seconds, choose to loop or delete.  Plus at any time you can view your work in the reader.  Again before clicking on publish I saved my work.

At the publish screen you add a title, the author and creator are entered in for you, a description, genre, type, rating and language.  You retain the copyright of everything which you held prior to creating this Booktrack.  When you select to create a cover, you are adding text with font style options, font size choice, font color and bold or in italics text.  Clicking adds the text box.  Double clicking allows you to make changes.  You can upload a cover image from your computer or browse through their gallery.

  

You can save, publish or delete your final work.  Choosing publish causes a new window to open asking in which class you would like the Booktrack placed based on your rating.  Make sure you place a check mark in the correct library box; otherwise your Booktrack will not appear on a bookshelf.  Once a Booktrack is on a bookshelf it can be read.

This application makes the reading of your writing much more engaging; actually fascinating.  Including sound with your written words gives them an emotional edge.  I highly recommend you give Booktrack Classroom a try.  My Booktrack, because I created a teacher account, is only available to me and my students.  You can go to the site and read other previously created Booktracks.  I do have a question submitted to see if I can make my Booktrack available to others.  UPDATE In order to make a Booktrack available to the public, you need to use the original global platform linked above.

If They Could...What Would They Say?

Speculation about possible conversations between historical figures and fictional characters springs up from time to time in professional networking chats as well as in discussions with students.  Thinking about notes possibly exchanged between Leonardo da Vinci and Orville and Wilbur Wright on the theory of flight would be fascinating.  Maybe tips on survival in northern climates could be shared between Brian Robeson, the main character in Gary Paulsen's Hatchet, with Johnny Raven, Gabe Rogers and Raymond Providence, protagonists in Will Hobbs' Far North.

About three weeks ago I previewed a new application designed by Russel Tarr, Head of History at the International School of Toulouse and author of ActiveHistory called BrainyBox.  BrainyBox, along with Fakebook (reviewed here) are only two of many teaching tools Tarr has available at ClassTools.net . Just a few days ago Richard Byrne, educator and blogger at Free Technology for Teachers tweeted about another new item to be found at ClassTools.net, the SMS Generator! Now writing and research skills can be honed to selecting the best words to convey the most meaningful thoughts through the sending of fake text messages.

Free to use without registration, it's perfect for the classroom.  When accessing the home page click on Fake SMS to get to the workspace.
The image above appears.

Along the bottom from left to right the icons represent:  message from person A, save your message by entering in a password, creation of URL link, HTML embed code, QR code image, or download web shortcut, start a new chat and message from person B.  To begin click on either of the icons on the far left or right.  Once a message is created it can be moved around.  Place your mouse over it until the "cross" icon appears and drag it to a new position.  By selecting the small pencil a message can be edited or by choosing the "x" it can be deleted.  These appear when the mouse is moved over a text box.

If you happen to click on the new icon instead of the right message button, all will be well.  It does start a new message but in a new window.  (Whew!)  I recommend saving your text as soon as possible.  Once you have a password you can save any changes again and again by selecting the save icon. Click the save icon (floppy disk image).

You will be asked to enter in a password.  When the password has been entered, by clicking on the OK  button, a new window is loaded changing the URL at the top of the screen to a unique one for your messages.  (You will want to make note of this URL.) The messages will still remain on the screen at this time.

When you select the URL Link/Embed Code (blue button with a white flower in the center) a small window pops up showing both.  It is the same for the QR Code.  To save the QR Code do a right mouse click, selecting save image as placing it in a specific folder of your own. Choosing the Download Web Shortcut will send it to your download file. (I'm using Google Chrome.)







I highly recommend the SMS Generator designed by Russel Tarr at ClassTools.net for use in the classroom.  It's ease of use makes it accessible to most grade levels.  The messages can be as easy or sophisticated as the user desires.

Students could work in pairs storyboarding the conversation before using the app.  Simple research could be attached to the final product in a separate document.  By creating a message between fictional characters students demonstrate understanding of what they have read.  Placing QR Codes in books with conversations between characters would enhance interest or provide further insights into plot,

Here is my example of a conversation between Kel from Kel Gilligan's Daredevil Stunt Show written by Michael Buckley with illustrations by Dan Santat and David from No, David! written and illustrated by David Shannon. It is followed by the QR Code ready for scanning.

Page By Page

loose-leaf...having leaves secured in book form in a cover whose spine may be opened for adding, arranging, or removing leaves

Merriam-Webster

Yesterday afternoon my favorite source for interesting, professional and personal online or mobile applications, Heather Moorefield, Education Librarian and former chair of the American Association of School Librarians Best Websites for Teaching and Learning, tweeted about a website featuring instant online publication of one's writing.  This same site is mentioned in a post dated November 19, 2011 by Larry Ferlazzo, educator and blogging at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...   Loose Leaves caught my attention immediately for several reasons. There is no registration requirement; writing is a click away.  The site is free of charge.

To begin writing simply click on the point of the leaf, Turn over a new leaf!, indicated by the arrow.  You are taken to a new window, a writing template, for composing your work.  Your first step is to enter in a title.

Beneath the title is the tool bar including font style, alignment, indenting, paragraph style and insert item.  Your font style can be bold, in italics, underlined or the text color can be altered.  Your writing can be aligned on the left, center, right or justified.  Paragraphs can be indented, outdented, bulleted or numbered.  Their style can be normal or header 1-6 in size.    Images can be inserted via a URL.  If a portion of text is highlighted a link can be embedded with a URL plus the addition of a description which appears when moused over.

In order to change the font color or the paragraph style the text must also be highlighted.

Yesterday a query was sent over Twitter for a simple template for students giving book recommendations.  Loose Leaves presents the perfect opportunity for an easy reader's response.  Based upon a template found at ReadWriteThink.org  they might include a very brief introduction (title, author, illustrator, fiction or nonfiction, genre or subject), the hook (set up the scene including the characters, setting and beginning action or a basic overview of the subject covered), their favorite part, paragraph or line and their recommendation and why.  Have them pretend it's a script for a booktalk.

As I started to fill in the template I discovered when you want to add an image another smaller window appears giving you further options.  You have:  a space to enter in the image URL, the option to alter the size, the decision to have the text flow left, inline, block or right, the choice to have a border or not (if you do it can be solid, dashed or dotted with varying sizes and colors), the option to alter the padding, the opportunity to enter in a description of the image and a space for entering in the link URL.  I am not sure what the open in a new window does because nothing seemed to changed when I checked the box.

If you make a spelling error the word will be underlined in red.  When you have completed all the tasks, click on save (cancel is an option also).  An new screen appears giving you two URLs associated with your Loose Leaves publication.  The first is one to view, to share.  For purposes of editing and managing a second URL is shown. Make sure you write both in a secure location. Or you can enter in your email address to have them sent to you.

When you click on the view URL a new screen appears.  In the upper right hand corner are icons allowing sharing options; tweet on Twitter, share on Facebook, like on Facebook or post on Google+.  When you select the manage URL you are taken to your publication.  Click on the edit button to make any changes.  Don't forget to save.

Once again I feel so fortunate to be a part of the Twitter community.  This application, Loose Leaves, is perfect for use in an educational setting due to the no registration requirement for use.  It is simple to understand the toolbar and options offered there.  A nice feature offered by the creator of the site is a contact option on the right side of the screen.  With a click, it pops out.  Loose Leaves has found a home in my virtual toolbox.

This is the link to my Loose Leaves titled Book Recommendation.  

Rocket Rocks!

Two years ago a little white dog with black spots, cute as a button, and his teacher, rather petite,  bright yellow with wings, introduced readers to the power of combining letters to make words.  In How Rocket Learned to Read (Schwartz & Wade Books, July 27, 2010) written and illustrated by Tad Hills readers are transported to a moment of discovery; knowing words can spark the ability to read.  Being able to read does not happen overnight but when it does, it is a thing of power and beauty.

Since my post linked above I discovered teaching materials at the publisher's site linked here which I successfully used with students last year.  Also since that post Tad Hills's book, How Rocket Learned to Read, received numerous awards including the Irma Black Award about which I posted here.  I was so excited to learn that Rocket and his teacher were returning this summer.

There is nothing better than when friends you've met in a book and grown to love, return.  Last week Rocket Writes a Story (Schwartz & Wade Books) written and illustrated by Tad Hills was released. 

Rocket loved books. ...
Rocket even liked the way books smelled.  When he opened a new book, it smelled like a place he'd never been to, like a friend he'd never met.

With those three sentences found on the first page, book lovers are completely captivated.  We know what Rocket and his teacher know.  We want to see where this adoration of books is going to take these two.

Rocket's love of words leads his teacher to daily ask him to sniff out new ones as he explores.  After finding new words, Rocket goes back to his classroom (the great outdoors) and writes them down.  The ever helpful bird assists when he gets stumped and adds words of her own, posting them all on a nearby tree.

Prompted by his teacher Rocket wonders what to do with all these words.  Before long he has an idea.  But the blank white page does not seem to fill up with the story Rocket wants to write.

Again the nose knows, as Rocket looks for something to stir his imagination.  He writes all afternoon and returns in the evening to a tall tree, the source of those enticing smells.  He speaks but is not answered.

In the morning on his way to school there is a new word spelled out along his path.  A voice from the tree introduces the word to Rocket.  Not only does the precious pup have a new word but perhaps, the best kind of new.

Day after day Rocket works on his story.  Day after day he succeeds, pauses when perplexed and takes long walks.  Encouraging Rocket with questions, his teacher helps that story to grow.  As the story grows, so too does a new friendship.

A completed story is an invitation.  A completed story can even coax shyness into trust.  A completed story opens up possibilities.

Unfolding the book jacket readers are drawn to Rocket and his teacher, the little yellow bird, as they gaze outward; those eyes are irresistible.  On the back teacher and student are looking at each other completely focused on a conversation.  Without even opening the book you know there is a mutual admiration sensation in this classroom.

Endpapers are covered in a leafy array, a backdrop for small white pieces of paper with Rocket's words and pictures on each of them.  A two page title spread pictures Rocket (in a small circle on the right) bent over writing with his teacher watching from the tree branches.  Hills, using oil paints and colored pencils, alters his visuals from double page layouts to several small, round-shaped, close-ups on a single page, to single pages, always in tune with the narration, complimenting and enhancing.

Employing the use of white space to focus, primary colors, bright but softened, to promote reader participation, and the placement of text, all work to create a delightful, pleasing whole.  I have complete and total admiration for this newest title by Tad Hills, Rocket Writes a Story. I'm almost giddy at the potential for using this in the classroom setting but the appeal to children is undeniable.

A couple of students, living in my neighborhood, stopped by yesterday to stock up on books to take with them on vacation.  One of them noticed my copy of Rocket Writes a Story sitting on the stool where I work on my computer.  Guess what?  How Rocket Learned to Read and Rocket Writes a Story are on their way out West.

Thanks to John Schumacher at Watch. Connect. Read. for pointing me to this interview with Tad Hills about Rocket Writes a Story at School Library Journal.

Update:  August 6, 2012

Rocket responds to the readers who made ROCKET WRITES A STORY a #1 New York Times bestseller! @tadhills twitter.com/randomhousekid…
— Random House Kids (@randomhousekids) August 6, 2012

Free To Be

Sometimes it's hard to point out the obvious.  Sometimes it's hard to do what you want to do.  Sometimes it's not easy to laugh at your flaws.  Sometimes children are so much better at this than adults.

Imagine, if you will, an inanimate object, with the will of a child bent on saying whatever it wants, urging someone else to do the right thing, finding someone with the same sense of free spirit.  Author/illustrator, Frank W. Dormer, has grown such an item in the inventive ground of his mind.  His The Obstinate Pen (Henry Holt and Company) has an agenda of its own and nothing is going to stop it.

Uncle Flood unwrapped his new pen and laid it on the desk. 
It promptly stood at attention.
Uncle Flood shivered with delight.

Uncle Flood fancies himself a purveyor of truth, shouting for quiet at his nephew Horace, before he begins to write.  Pen to paper he starts.  What appears on the paper is not

The following story is all true.
but
You have a BIG nose. 

Three times Uncle Flood attempts to complete his sentence but each time, to his disgust the pen maligns his physical appearance.  So out the window it flies promptly landing on Officer Wonkle's person.  Each time Office Wonkle tries to write sweet Miss Glenda Weeble a ticket the pen tells him, in no uncertain terms, to kiss her. 

Landing in the street after Office Wonkle gives it a toss, Mrs. Norkham Pigeon-Smythe has her chauffeur, Druthers, fetch it out of the tire of her car where it has lodged.  She is so delighted with the unconventional, outrageous statements the pen makes, she encases it in glass.  The pen would rather be free; escaping to be found by none other than Horace.

Without the presence of Uncle Flood hovering, Horace looks the pen over carefully, admiring it's finer points.  The park provides the perfect place to pursue one's passion.  And that's exactly what the pen and Horace do.

Frank W. Dormer's characters have been given names right out of the "Quirky, Wacky Dictionary of Names" designed to create a buoyancy to the tale. Word choice combined with pacing give a rhythm readers enjoy reading in their minds or aloud with others.  Insightful and unexpected responses written by the pen generate smiles galore.

Dormer's preferred medium of pen and ink with watercolor shines in this title with loose-lined drawings that flow with the story, colored in a soft palette.  His beginning endpapers show a wall lined with pictures done in shades of light blue but when readers turn to the back those endpapers have been altered to reflect the pen breaking out.  A nighttime scene on the title page shows the pen still in a store window aglow. 

Added details in his illustrations extend the narrative beyond the text; the old style telephone converted into a lamp (a personal piece of his own), all the pen portraits on the wall of Uncle Flood's study, and the placement of frogs in some of the illustrations.  Facial expressions on each of the characters convey anger, frustration, shyness, surprise, delight and finally satisfaction to a  "T"; noses standing out on each. The feeling of fun for the sake of fun permeates each and every one.

One determined writing utensil has his way during this particular day as The Obstinate Pen written and illustrated by Frank W. Dormer is presented to readers with much humor and perhaps, some advice.  Follow this link to see eight illustrations from this book posted at Macmillan.  At the Get To The Point blog, part of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, check out this the inside scoop on Frank W. Dormer's work space and some information about his drawing.  Read this interview at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast about all the steps to making The Obstinate Pen.

Points to Ponder
It might be fun to compare this with The Little Red Pen by Susan Stevens Crummel with illustrations by Janet Stevens.  Or perhaps as a writing exercise students could have the pen visit another character before found by Horace, giving them a special name with the pen writing more hilarious sentences.
Did the pen find Horace or did Horace find the pen?
Why did Horace do something different with the pen?

Discovering More Poetry Fun

Checking all my sources for awakening the inner poet in my students to help us all celebrate National Poetry Month, I have discovered new sites to add to some old favorites.  Follow the link to the official website for numerous resources listed under the For Educators tab.   One of the most remembered activities is Put A Poem in Your Pocket Day which will be celebrated on April 26, 2012. 

Writers seeking to generate a rhyming poem might want to use a website called Write Rhymes.  Simply type in your lines of poetry until you come to a word that you wish to rhyme.  Press down the "alt" key on your keyboard as you click on the word for which you seek a rhyming word.  On the right of the screen a very complete list appears, one, two and three syllable rhyming words.  When your poem is complete it can be saved to your computer, copied to your clipboard or printed.

Instant Poetry Forms is a website originally designed by Alysa Cummings, a certified poetry therapist.  Not many of the informative web pages are still available but nearly eighty templates for poems are.  Select from a list on the left and the form appears on the right ready for an author to begin.  First are blank lines to fill in according to the prompts.  To see what a finished poem might look like, go to the bottom. 

The official Shel Silverstein  website is tailor made for students and educators.  Tabs for users include:  For Kids Only-Let's Have Some Fun, What's New, Shel's Books, About Shel and Ideas for Teachers & Parents.  There are six games and puzzles for kids to try, screensavers and wallpapers to download, three different printable kits and e-cards to send within the For Kids Only tab.  Under the Ideas for Teachers & Parents tab are lessons and activities, event kits and drawing & activity booklets.

ReadWriteThink hosts many interactive poetry generators.  Past favorites of students are: diamante poems, shape poems, acrostic poems, or riddle poems. 

Giggle Poetry, a site designed and maintained by author, Bruce Lansky, is one that my students continue to enjoy each year.  They can read, listen and write.


A blog, Poetry for Children:  About finding and sharing poetry with young people, written and maintained by Sylvia Vardell is fantastic.  I have downloaded all three of the electronic only anthologies which she and Janet Wong co-edited/authored highlighting the work of some of poetry's best known names for children and young adults.

For years I have used several of the teacher's guides found at the website of poet, Kristine O'Connell George.  A student favorite are the lessons using her book, Fold Me A Poem.  

Do not forget the memorable Gotta Book blog maintained by Greg Pincus.  Once again he is hosting 30 Poets/30 Days.

Author Kate Messner has penned a new poem, In Honor of National Poetry Month..."Poetry Speaks".    It is written as if poetry is a character speaking before a group of listeners/readers.  This would be a wonderful way to start a discussion about poetry.

Making a Story

Several weeks ago John Schumacher, librarian and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read, mentioned in a tweet that his students were using an application named My StoryMaker.  This application has been available for several years housed at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh KIDS page.  It is funded by a generous grant from The Grable Foundation.

To begin follow the link referenced above.  Users are asked to click on the button in the center of the book.  When the page opens type in your name and click okay. 

The next page opens asking you to set your goal by first choosing the main character from a series of caricature thumbnails.  Defeat, find, love, make friends, rescue, travel and want are goals that your main character is seeking.  Another character needs to be selected to participate in the storyline.  Then click okay.

The application displays a title which the author can accept or reject.  A glowing arrow at the bottom right corner of the page invites you to continue.  The work space for the first page of the story appears.

Authors can play instructions or start their story.  To begin click which characters, objects, items and settings you want to be on that first page.  Click and drag to move parts of the story around on the page even those which need to move within the story; the dropping of a ball as an example.  To erase click and move the item out of the story to the right.

Characters' feeling, actions and interactions can be altered by clicking on them (character) in the upper left corner and toggling through the options.  To add text to the story click and type below the illustrations.  Or when you pick actions and interactions they are written in the text below. To begin a new page simply click on the arrow just as you did to get to the original page.

Users can move from one page to another by clicking on the images located above in the strip.  To preview your story click the Preview tab; to save and print click the tab labeled End.  Stories, due to space, will only be saved on their server for about a month.  Clicking the clear button will wipe the page clean.  Any time help is needed click on the little animated helper located in the right corner at the bottom.

When you wish to save and print your story you are asked if you wish to share it or not.  When share is selected you are given a "magic" number for accessing your story, the ability to print, preview or start a new story is shown along with that number.  If you do not wish to share your story no number appears; you are done until you begin another story.  It is recommended that story lengths are kept to ten pages or under.

Engaging, fun and learning are a winning combination. Users of My StoryMaker will experience all three plus getting to save and share their work.   

Get Those Minds Thinking, The Writing Will Come

On September 21, 2011, Kelly Tenkley of iLearn Technology posted about a Tumblr blog called Writing Prompts.  Currently there are 323 prompts which consist of visuals with comments and questions geared to get the wheels turning in readers' and writers' minds.  Due to the nature of the visuals and the text I would agree with Tenkley that this site would best serve students in the upper elementary, middle and high school.

As soon as you visit the site you are greeted with the author's purpose for these prompts on the right:


The first page hosts ten graphics with words that will stimulate thinking, generate opinions, be a cause for discussion.

You can navigate to earlier posts by clicking on the blue highlighted next with the back arrow key at the bottom of the page.  If you click on home in blue you go back to the top of the first page.  By selecting archives in blue you can view thumbnails of posts in any given month spread across the screen in their entirety scrolling down month by month.  There is a search option at the page bottom also.

Mr. Luke Neff has created a blog that can be read daily via an RSS feed.  His images coupled with appropriate text are sure to be an enjoyed feature with students.  I'll bet the most of his students can hardly wait to get to class each day. 

It might be a good ongoing assignment for students to look for visuals that would promote creative writing.  An individual classroom might set up their own in-house blog for a year long project.  After contacting Mr. Neff by email requesting his permission to use a couple of his visuals in this post his response was:  Absolutely.  Please share.  They are there to be shared.  Thank you, Mr. Neff.