Storybird is a website that allows users to create short stories inspired by artwork. The stories are interactive and can be shared, read, and printed. The document recommends Storybird as a tool to help reluctant writers get started by providing visual prompts. It provides instructions for teachers to set up individual student accounts or a class account for free. Students can then browse artwork by theme or artist, select a piece, and begin writing their story by adding text to each page. Stories can be collaboratively written and published to share.
1. Storybird Lets Stories Take Flight! A great tool for reluctant writers! By Janine Guida
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4. Storybirds in a nutshell: Storybirds are short, art-inspired stories you make to share, read, and print. Read them like books, play them like games, and send them like greeting cards. They’re curiously fun. From www.Storybird.com
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7. Sign up for a new account here Take a tour of the site here
8. Click here for an individual account Click here for a class account This is the basic sign up page. It’s very intuitive, and the “help” button (top right) is good.
9. 1. Complete this page for the regular account and at the bottom, click on “agree to terms of service”, and “Create your account!” these buttons are not shown here.). 2. You will get an email (to the account you listed) to verify your new account. 3. Verify your new Storybird account and sign into your new account!
10. This is essentially the same as the regular account. You will need to have a name for your class and enter your school as well. (See the large arrow below.) This is very self explanatory. Again, you will be sent a confirmation to the email you supply. This is also a very helpful page.
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17. Chose an artist that catches your eye. Or click on the “See more art” section in the upper right corner. (Green arrow.) Let’s start with “Happy Days” (the red arrow)
18. It’s so simple and addictive! 1. They say to start writing, but I like to pick a picture first! Click and drag your choice to the page. You can put the art on the top, bottom or either side! 2. Add your text here. You can edit later! 3. Add or delete pages here. You can also insert pages and move back and forth between them. 4. Save your work here. You can invite others to write the story with you as well!
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20. Publishing Write a short summary here: Add tags so people can search your Storybirds.
This is the basic sign up page. It’s very intuitive, and the “help” button (top right) is good.
Once you click on Teacher/Class you will be able to enter students’ names and get passwords for them. These can be changed as the ones you get are ridiculously long!
By choosing an artist you will see his or her art and have the option to “Create a Storybird using this art”. Once you choose that you will see all the illustrator’s art. You cannot use more than one artist in a given Storybird however.
By clicking on the “Menu” button at the top right, you can invite others to collaborate on the story. That is also where you will find the “save and close” option and the “publish” option.
When you decide to publish your Storybird, it will default to the “Private” setting. You can change this to public and then others can read and buy it! At the bottom of this page there is a section for audience; for whom is your Storybird appropriate? You can still edit from here and I’ve even edited a published story. Your Story will be saved in your account/library!
On this page you can purchase your completed Storybird. They are a bit expensive. I chose the $1.99 download option for one, though softcover, hardcover and premium hardcover are available. You can also embed the Storybird into other sites.