Writing Process
The writing process can be a very fulfilling task for some students. When a student has a clean, published piece of writing, a feeling of excitement occurs for that student. However, brainstorming, editing, revising, and publishing can be a long process for young writers who have a short attention span. When a young writer finishes that first piece of writing to him or her it is finished. It can be challenging to get them to think of more ideas or even correct spelling especially if they struggle with being able to write in complete sentences.
Literacy Solution: Kidspiration
What is Kidspiration?
Kidspiration software allows students to map their ideas using pictures, drawings, and text into a graphic organizer. The graphic organizer converts to an outline format to write ideas into each text box. Ideas are organized more clearly for students. Kidspiration is a wonderful way for students to work through the writing process from beginning to end with visual to outline to writing. Kidspiration is designed for kindergarten through second graders, however, older students can use it as well.
How can Kidspiration be used?
Kidspiration is a great tool for brainstorming. Students can use this to create a concept map that connects ideas together and then transforms into an outline for writing. This tool can also be used to compare and contrast different types of writing or different elements of a story with a Venn diagram. Students could also use Kidspiration for publishing their stories and include pictures.
What does research say?
Research suggests that students who use graphic organizers such as the ones found in Kidspiration tend to write more words and spend more time planning their writing. (Gonzalez, 2013) Students tended to spend more time planning their writing when a graphic organizer was given to them. “Graphic organizers are helpful at any grade and are known to help students organize their thoughts even at college level.” (Wagner, 2008, p. 8) This in turn will increase their writing skills.
Resources:
Wagner, E. (2008). Using kidspiration(TM): Computerized graphic organizers to assist students' writing organizational skills. (Order No. 1454981, Caldwell College). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 66. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview /193726878?accountid=12598. (193726878).
Gonzalez-Ledo, M. (2013). The use of computer graphic organizers for narrative writing by elementary school students with specific learning disabilities. (Order No. AAI3541787, Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu /login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1433268742?accountid=12598. (1433268742; 2013-99150-591).
Literacy Solution: Kidspiration
What is Kidspiration?
Kidspiration software allows students to map their ideas using pictures, drawings, and text into a graphic organizer. The graphic organizer converts to an outline format to write ideas into each text box. Ideas are organized more clearly for students. Kidspiration is a wonderful way for students to work through the writing process from beginning to end with visual to outline to writing. Kidspiration is designed for kindergarten through second graders, however, older students can use it as well.
How can Kidspiration be used?
Kidspiration is a great tool for brainstorming. Students can use this to create a concept map that connects ideas together and then transforms into an outline for writing. This tool can also be used to compare and contrast different types of writing or different elements of a story with a Venn diagram. Students could also use Kidspiration for publishing their stories and include pictures.
What does research say?
Research suggests that students who use graphic organizers such as the ones found in Kidspiration tend to write more words and spend more time planning their writing. (Gonzalez, 2013) Students tended to spend more time planning their writing when a graphic organizer was given to them. “Graphic organizers are helpful at any grade and are known to help students organize their thoughts even at college level.” (Wagner, 2008, p. 8) This in turn will increase their writing skills.
Resources:
Wagner, E. (2008). Using kidspiration(TM): Computerized graphic organizers to assist students' writing organizational skills. (Order No. 1454981, Caldwell College). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 66. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview /193726878?accountid=12598. (193726878).
Gonzalez-Ledo, M. (2013). The use of computer graphic organizers for narrative writing by elementary school students with specific learning disabilities. (Order No. AAI3541787, Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu /login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1433268742?accountid=12598. (1433268742; 2013-99150-591).