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

2. Why use Storybird? Do you have writers who can never think of topics? Do any of your students need a “jump start”? Do any of your students write better with a picture prompt?

3. Storybird helps to order ideas and lets students clear out the confusion they can have at the beginning of the writing process for a story. For the student who thinks more clearly from a visual perspective, Storybird gives them that chance.

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

5. So how do you get started? Go to www.storybird.com Click on “sign up” in the upper right hand corner. Or- you can click on “tour” in the upper left corner.

6. You can set up an individual (regular) account Or … You can set up a class account that you as the teacher can monitor! ***The accounts are free!***

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.

11. 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! The Teacher Account section is very helpful too.

12. When you log into your account, you can view Storybirds you’ve created or start new ones. Click on: “3. Make a Storybird” to start.

13. You can: browse through the art to get inspired. Click on the art to see more by that artist or to chose the picture gallery you want to use.

14. Each month Storybird has a contest to create a Storybird about a particular topic. For example June’s was “Fathers”. You create a Storybird and submit it. The entries are judged by a panel and prizes are awarded !

15. Click on a theme to access images associated with that theme. You could have a class all write Storybirds on “carrots”, for example, and see how many different types of stories they come up with!

16. 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.

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!

19. Collaborating and saving 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.

20. Publishing Write a short summary here: Add tags so people can search your Storybirds.

21. Purchasing! After publishing, you can purchase your completed Storybird. Downloaded pdf, softcover, hardcover and premium harcover versions are available Prices for my book ranged from $1.99 for a download to $35.95 for premium hardcover You can also embed the Storybird into other sites.

22. Purchasing!

23. Explore! Let your mind wander and your class explore! Have class topics or individual ones! The possibilities are endless!