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Writing & Digital Storytelling Treasures

This week we feature writing, poetry, and digital storytelling tools for you and your students. December includes the birthdays of authors Emily Dickinson and Rudyard Kipling, as well as the publishing of the holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. Explore our collections to find resources to celebrate these occassions and more!  

Grades 9-12

Rudyard Kipling Society

Engage your students in the works of Kipling. Find a biography, listings of books and poems, and links to related resources and publications. Use this site to teach about Kipling, as part of an author study, or for research.

Grades 4-12

MapHub

View the short tutorial to learn how to create personalized and interactive maps. Bring stories to life by highlighting locations within a novel or hometowns of authors. Challenge students to create their own maps about books they read.

Grades K-12

EasyWrite

Simplify any text. Type or paste text into the text box and this unique tool highlights words not found in the 1,000 most commonly used words in the English language. Use to retell difficult text using more commonly understood words.

A Trio of TeachersFirst Treats

This trio of resources includes an archived virtual workshop about digital storytelling, our editor's choice picks of the best digital storytelling sites on TeachersFirst, and our Power of Poetry guide to how and why poetry is a powerful teaching and learning tool.  

Grades K-12

OK2Ask: Introduction to Digital Storytelling

If you are new to digital storytelling, this is an excellent starting point. View this archived virtual workshop to learn more about what digital storytelling means, how to use it, and the best tools. A thorough resources page is included.

Grades K-12

Digital Storytelling Resources

This curated list features our editor's selection of the BEST tools for digital storytelling. Read each review to find a complete description and classroom ideas to infuse technology in your class.

Grades K-6

Common Core Connections: The Power of Poetry

Learn the power of poetry, related to Common Core or any standards. Article topics include: Key Ideas & Details, Craft & Structure, Text Complexity & Range of Reading, Fluency, and Resources. Find useful tips, tools, and more.

Writing Tools for Elementary & Beyond

Get your digital pen ready! These resources are ideal for elementary students, however tweens and teens will also find them helpful.

Grades 1-8

Story Map

Help students organize their thoughts with these great graphic organizers. Simply, fill out and print graphic organizers for characters, setting, conflict, and resolution. Writing prompts are provided. You can't save, so be sure to print!

Grades 2-12

Flipgrid

Even your youngest students can use Flipgrid for reflection about a story, science concept, or self-introductions. With a simple click, students can easily share responses using this video discussion tool. Students don't need an account to respond.

Grades K-12

Adobe Spark

Personalize your story with text, slide shows, links to outside resources, and more by creating a story page using Adobe Spark. Follow the prompts to add your own images or select from thousands available online. Young students can work with a partner.

This Week at TeachersFirst

Join our #OK2Ask Twitter Chat on Thursday to discuss Student Voice and Choice. Register for our Winter 2018 Series of virtual workshops. And, tell us if your class reads A Christmas Carol in our weekly poll.