Writing is a complex process involving motor ability (handwriting, keyboarding) through composition (written expression). Writing tasks cross into many areas of a student's education including generating ideas, constructing words and sentences, sequencing and organizing ideas, spelling, grammar, copying, note taking, completing worksheets and assessments, and more. Consideration of the student's specific areas of need is key:
Digital Writing Supports - Chrome Extensions:
Read&Write - text & picture dictionaries, speech-to-text, word prediction, highlighting (Free for 30 days, then annual subscription). (iOS app also available) (request a free educator premium license)
Co-Writer Universal - Word prediction and speech-to-text (Free for 30 days, then annual subscription)
Keyboarding Practice - Chrome Apps:
Typing Club
Typing Lessons
Type Scout
Keyboarding Practice - Websites:
Dance Mat Typing - 4 levels of practice
Rapid Typing - download these free keyboarding programs
Fingerjigger - a 6 minute typing game/test with random words
Free typing games - free games to play online
And more free typing games - more fast-paced online games
Handwriting Practice:
Handwriting for Kids - free printable paper templates and worksheets
Spelling, Grammar and Writing Support:
Grammarly - grammar support
Ginger - spelling support for all applications, free trial, then purchase
Ghotit - spelling support
Digital Graphic Organizers:
Popplet - free online or app brainstorming and mapping tool
Webspiration - subscription-based online brainstorming and mapping tool
Mindomo - free online brainstorming and mapping tool
Gliffy - free online brainstorming and mapping tool
Bubbl.us - free online brainstorming and mapping tool
Writing Support Add-Ons for Google Docs:
Find and add Google Docs Add-Ons - short how-to video
- Look for: Mindmeister, LucidChart, Grammarly, EasyBib
ReadWriteThink Interactive Mapping and Organizing Tools:
ReadWriteThink Essay Map - interactive graphic organizer
ReadWriteThink Mapping Tool - interactive graphic organizer
ReadWriteThink Graphic Map - interactive graphic organizer
ReadWriteThink Persuasion Map - interactive graphic organizer
ReadWriteThink Biography Cube - interactive biography builder
ReadWriteThink Story Map - interactive story builder
Dictation Tools:
Google Docs Voice Typing
Dragon Dictate for iPhone and iPad - this is a free app through iTunes
Digital Story Telling:
Glogster - create online, interactive posters
Voice Thread - capture audio for online digital storytelling
Animoto - create fully customized videos
Blabberize - create talking photos, EASY
FotoBabble - create talking photos, EASY
Storybird - collaborative storytelling, beautiful graphics
Little Bird Tales - digital stories with audio recording option
Story Jumper - read, listen or create books
Photo Peach - create an easy Photo Story
Story Maker - download this application and use with reluctant writers to create a fairy tale
ToonDoo - Online comic strip creator
Make Believe Comix - Online comic strip creator
Wacky Web Tales - an online "madlib" tool
More Digital Writing Supports:
Online Note-Taking Tool - (one of the interactive Read/Write/Think resources - do not use with Chrome Browser)
Sutori- collaborative, online Time Line tools
Writing Fix - Interactive Writing Prompts
Scholastic: Story Starters for Grades 1-4 - Students spin lever to get a writing prompt, or change prompt.
SnapType - iPad or Android app used to complete worksheets on a tablet
StoryKit - iPad app to create digital storybooks
Word Clouds:
Wordle
ABCYA Word Cloud
Wordcloud