Apps to Help Teach Writing

These days it’s not a question of if technology should be used, but more specifically, how technology should be used in our classrooms.

The conversation around technology has shifted from “should we do it?” to “how should we do it?”. Fortunately for teachers today, online teaching resources are everywhere. Most educators understand technology’s role in the classroom is to supplement lessons (and not be the lesson), however, it's the process of effectively incorporating technology into lessons that is sometimes tricky.

Writing is of course an essential skill our students need to learn, and with most new skills, practice is often what leads to success. Using tablets and apps in the classroom is a relatively new concept, so naturally we’re faced with some new challenges and lots of questions. The appropriate use of educational apps and their place in the classroom is new conversation surrounding technology in the classroom.

Many of the apps for writing nicely support Ontario curriculum expectations, a huge bonus for educators of course. Ideally, if we're going to incorporate the use of apps in our classroom they should support our learning goals and expectations.

Using Apps to Teach Writing

Skeptics might be questioning the shift from pen-to-paper writing exercises to online writing lessons. After all, online writing birthed the notorious misspelling of “ur” and “gonna”. But I promise you there is hope. Young learners can benefit greatly from spending time practicing their spelling and grammar online.

Here are 3 examples of apps that do just that:

Toontastic—provides students with a set story arc or narrative from which then can choose characters, create dialogue, and add images.

GrammarJammer—teaches grammar skills in a game format. The usefulness of this app is pretty straightforward, we know that proper grammar is essential to developing good writing skills. Below is a short tutorial video of the GrammarJammer app (see, grammar is fun!).

SuperDuper StoryMaker—Students can craft their own stories using text, images, and sounds.

Each of these apps support the four curriculum expectations for language in Ontario. These apps require students to generate ideas, revise their writing, and write using a variety of stylistic forms for a specific purpose or audience, which is a direct reflection of Ontario's curriculum.

Strategies and Tips for Effective Use

Now that I've (hopefully) convinced you that apps do have a place in your classroom, let’s take a look at some practical ways you use integrate them into your lessons.

Tips & Tricks:

·         Allow students permission to use a tablet or iPad during downtime or if they’ve completed a test or assignment early

·         Set up rotating stations – break the class up into groups, have them rotate between stations (each station focuses on a minor writing task, have one station use the ipads)

·          Have students take turns "testing" certain apps and report their findings to a the class or small groups 

Of course, the above recommendations are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to online writing resources. My hope is that I’ve offered a jumping off point for those of you unfamiliar with using apps for teaching purposes. I encourage you put these methods to test in your own classrooms in order to see what works best with your students and classroom dynamics. As well, feel free to pass along this list to parents looking for ways to practice with their children at home.

If you have any further questions, or suggestions, I invite you to leave a comment below!