Everyone has a story to tell. Digital storytelling allows students to tell their stories, using their creativity, the writing process, and exciting new technology all at the same time. Creative writing becomes even more expressive when students can convey their ideas using images and sounds in addition to their words. Digital Storytelling helps to develop students writing using photos, illustrations, sounds, and graphics into storytelling formats.

Depending on the availability of programs at your school digital storytelling can be done in school using PowerPoint, KidPix, iPhoto, iMovie, Voki, Window's Movie Maker, but also using online programs to express students writing. I hope over the next year to work with my students to have them publish digital stories to share online!

Below are some of my student's independent research projects from the 2007-2008 school year. Each student chose a topic they wanted to learn about and then used the writing process to develop their own PowerPoint. Each student came up with specific questions they wanted to learn about and then read between 5-8 non-fiction books on their topic. The students used post-its to record notesin their own words and then grouped similar ideas together to help them with their draft. Next, the students used a paper template of powerpoint slides to draft their presentation. Each student used revising and editing and a peer conference before meeting with Ms. Whyte to review their slide show. After each student completed their teacher conference the real fun began! We went to the computer lab and learned about the different tools and features in PowerPoint starting with adding slides and building up to clip art, sound effects, and transitions. Finally after each student reviewed, practiced, and proof read their slide show they presented as the "expert" on their topic to the class. They each welcomed questions about their topic from their classmates and all did a great job! We hope you will enjoy their slide shows below:

Grade Level Projects For Elementary Students:

• Create a brief narrative based on what you did last weekend.
• Create a story set in a fantasy land.
• Create a story that depicts an important event in your life and provide two different endings. Let classmates read your story and pick their favorite ending, then tell them which one truly happened.
• Create a story to illustrate math concepts.
• Use PowerPoint to present research on a topic