Student-Created Comics

So, our state 4th grade writing test is coming up in the next couple of months.  Starting next year, it will all be online (no paper and pencil---blah!).  We're supposed to get them used to typing in a text box for this.  Uh huh, with all that extra time we have to just stroll on over to the computer lab. 

In any case, I'm always on the lookout for websites that sort of simulate this.  I posted one about storybird recently:  http://storybird.com/

I've now found a new website that allows students to use a variety of comic-style backgrounds and thought bubbles to create and publish a story called makebeliefscomix.com.

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/

It takes a little clicking and dragging, but it's pretty self-explanatory.  I plan to put it on the SmartBoard and play around with it next week to introduce it to students, and then add it to my Literacy Center choices.

Storybird--Helping Reluctant Writers and Artists Create!

I read about this website on a blog recently.

http://storybird.com/

It is so cool!  It's a FREE website where you can get inspired by art to write mini stories.  After you choose your art theme, you create an online book.  It's really similar to online scrapbooking, and there's an extensive gallery of pictures from which to choose.

Here's a peek at something I made just playing around: