Amazing StoryBirds Created By Two Fifth Graders Today....How Are You Using StoryBird Too?

When my students finish up with their projects that we are working on in library and technology class, I have a Symbaloo set up with several Web 2.0 tools and websites they can go to.  

I just created a new Symbaloo for the 5th graders that they are really enjoying.  It is filled with several of their favorites and new ones as well.  

One of their favorite Web 2.0 tools is StoryBird.  As the website states, "Storybird reverses visual storytelling by starting with the image and 'unlocking' the story inside.  Explore artists, get inspired, and write."

Today, Maddy and Olivia created two of the most amazing StoryBirds I have seen.  

 Maddy wrote Madam' L,amossa

Olivia wrote The Big Fuzzy Snow Guy

I can't wait to share and read these with my other students.  And I especially can't wait to see the books they create next.

And remember....StoryBird can be used by all ages, for all different subjects.

Students can rewrite a classic by putting a crazy twist on it using the images created by all of the wonderful artists in StoryBird. They can explain a science concept or retell a historical event.  You can team students up to collaborate on one together.....and even bring in parents to collaborate and read their own child's StoryBird.

I have had 6th graders create "Be Safe Online" StoryBirds to share with our kindergarteners and the 4th graders wrote them describing characteristics about themselves.  My social media class filled with high school students even created StoryBirds entitled "My Passion" which showed what they were passionate about.   These were great fun to read.

As you can see, the sky is the limit with StoryBird....just let the creativity happen and their voices be heard.

Tell us how you have used StoryBird too!

3rd Grade Fans of BiblioNasium Skype With Our Friend Marjan, Creator Of This Amazing Reading Website!

The young people at Van Meter are HUGE fans of BiblioNasium.  Ever since we discovered this amazing new "Virtual Reading Village" we have all been hooked.  

And the third graders at Van Meter might be the biggest fans we have within our school!  

Last week during library, they asked me if I could invite Marjan Ghara, founder of BiblioNasium, to  Skype with us during their time with me today.  

When they came to the library this afternoon I surprised them.....

with a very special Skype visit from Marjan!  

The third graders had a wonderful time listening to Marjan tell all of us the background behind BiblioNasium and how to develop a website such as this.  She spoke about reading and finding the right books to read.  

Then it was their turn to ask questions......and they had a lot of really great ones to ask Marjan.  They also gave her some good advice about the website as well.  It was fun to listen to this rich conversation and for them to make the connection to something they have enjoyed using so much.  

I must say it was also pretty exciting to see the view out of her window.....a little different from ours in Van Meter, Iowa.

On October 31, I wrote about BiblioNasium in the post BiblioNasium....An Awesome NEW 'Virtual Reading Village' The Third Graders LOVE!  

You can also read how we are using BiblioNasium with the eBooks within our MackinVIA at Check Out The Way The Students Are Using BiblioNasium With The eBooks.

We hope you sign up for BiblioNasium too....

If you are a young person, teacher, parent, grandparent.....or even have little friends who love to read, we know you will love using BiblioNasium as much as we do at Van Meter. 

Thank you Marjan....We loved having you visit our library.  :) 

Couldn't Wait To Share "The Hobbit" Infographics Created By Our 5th Graders!

I just love what is happening with The Hobbit Infographic Project...This is one of my favorite projects that we have done during this school year!

I wrote about the project before the holidays....The Hobbit Infographic Project....A Great Collaborative Project From The Classroom To The Library.   

We had just started the project after they had finished reading The Hobbit as a class.  A lot of the students and their teacher Janelle Thompson also saw the movie.  

Yesterday was the first day the 5th graders had been to library/technology class since the holiday.  They were all so excited to get back into Piktochart and to their infographics.  I love seeing how much pride and excitement the students have with this project.   They are making choices about the content and design within their infographic. They will be shared within our school but also online with others.  This takes the level of the students work to the highest level as well.  

They will be working on their infographics next week too but I couldn't wait to shared a couple today.