writing+tools

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GoogleDocs Free and powerful, create and share word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, forms and more

= Mindmapping - Brainstorming = Webspiration - web version of Inspiration and it allows a few extra features. Aimed at older users, it allows multiple people to work on the same map at the same time (no longer free, $39/yr for a classroom) Mindmeister - provides handy sidebar next to the mapping dashboard, and more Bubbl.us - flash-based, it can be shared and added to. It is a free tool. The mindmaps can be exported.

**__[|Skrbl]__**: Sharable online whiteboard to plan ideas and projects with text and images.



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TEXT-TO-MOVIE [|Xtranormal]  lets students create and direct their own animated movies. Students choose a set, actors, and music for their videos. They can choose camera angles, animations, expressions, looks, points, and sounds. They type in the test and the actors speak what they type. The site is easy for students in third grade and up. media type="custom" key="10992236" align="center"

Voki : Talking Avatars

Voki lets you create personalized avatars to use on your wikis, blogs or websites. Voki is a great way to motivate learners of any age, because they are very interactive and provide various options for students to customize them. It’s a great way to improve your students' speaking and listening skills in an engaging and innovative way. Users can add their own voice via phone, microphone, text to speech or upload a file.

How to make a Voki: YouTube movie Engaging students with Voki Resources from Cybrayman on using Voki in the classroom



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media type="custom" key="10992244" Blabberize

Give speech to images with Blabberize. Upload an image is easy. With a few clicks of the mouse, create a "mouth" on the image. Recording voice or upload an audio file. Press a button, and seconds later the image on the screen moves its mouth and speaks the words.

The graphics and instructions on the site are easy to understand and follow.

Ideas for uses

idea: Students could upload pictures of people who they are doing reports on (Presidents, Scientists, Historical Figures, etc.) and do a virtual about that person in the first person. Share information about authors, subjects and books are great ways to use this tool.

(One Warning – Do not allow children to browse the public files, there are inappropriate things on all three of the above tools!)



A handy tool: CarryoutText, a simple way to convert text to speech - No Software Needed. Download the MP3 file.