Penultimate in Action

Scaffolding through stick figure. 

Photabulary with TypeDrawing

This morning's work email brought this gem from my Associate Principal who also happens to be a Writing Project Teacher Consultant.

Photabulary

I read it quickly and got ready for the day.  My freshmen students were struggling with some of the vocabulary in The Odyssey.  I realized that I should have preloaded some of the vocabulary that I take for granted.  My EL students definitely know the word BIRD but they may not know the word GULL.  I need to be more aware of this as a teacher.  I decided that I needed to read the test pulling out these sorts of words.

I remember the email.  Clicked the link and took a three buck plunge on the app called TypeDrawing.  During my prep, I sat down to figure out what I could do.

I figured out how to give my students some basics about boats so that they could picture some of the stuff Odysseus had to go through.  I did a quick Google image search for Odysseus and Sirens.  I remembered that there was a good ship pic from some pottery somewhere out there.  Grabbed it.  Used it as the background in the app and added the words.  You add words with your finger or a stylus.

The idea is clearly elementary, but the app is genius for making the process of creating this image so easy.  I'm positive that I can make one of these in less than 60 seconds now.  WOO!  

It gets better.  

How many words for wind does Homer happen to use?  Enough to confound many teens.  

Observe.  TypeDrawing + an Image of a Sky + a little experimenting:  

I cannot wait to show my students this.  It works so well with concrete nouns!  

TypeDrawing:  $2.99 and so worth it.  

I believe that there is a free version available for the iPhone as well, if you want to test drive it before you commit.  

Newspaper Blackouts with iPad

I saw this in the latest O Magazine and took a picture of the idea with my iPhone.  Once I got my iPad, I realized that I didn't need markers or paper to make some newspaper blackout poems.  I just needed a few apps, some patience, and time.  

Apps:  Genius Scan and Penultimate. 

1. Use Genius Scan to make a pdf from a picture of a page from a book.  
2. Next:  Save, email to self, then open in a Penultimate notebook.  
3. Then:  Use a pen to mark the words that will make your poem.  
4. Finally:  Black out the rest.  
5. Be prepared to be embarrassed by your composition. 

Page 46 of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games Blackout Poetry

Page 116 of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby Blackout Poetry

I printed and posted the Gatsby one in my classroom window.  It intrigued some of the students.  They wondered what dark story is coming.  

I still pondering standards-worthy applications of something like this.  If you have thoughts, please comment below.