Teachers and Kids Using Aubrey Pace Storybook Weaver

Teachers and Kids Using Aubrey Pace

Storybook Weaver Deluxe �Developer: MECC/The Learning Company �Grade Level: 1 -6 �Subject Area: Language Arts

Storybook Weaver Deluxe provides you with tools in order to: �Write open-endedly �Actively engage yourself in the writing process �Author or illustrate stories �Explore graphic/multimedia features

Learning Objectives �Use students’ inherent creativity to write and illustrate a story �Explore the writing process using a simple word processor and a variety of graphics �Create illustrations that depict their storyline �Write with a purpose �Share writing with an audience �Enhance vocabulary by associating a word with its picture �Develop story-sequencing skills

Main Menu Options �Lightbulb - "Story Starters" button � Provides ideas to get started with stories �Story - "Create a Story" button � Start creating a new story �Glasses - "Read a Story" button � Allows you to open a. SWD file, or a story that was previously created, to read (changes may not be made to the story with this option) �Arrow - "Getting Started" button � Simply provides a visual overview of the operation of the program �Bookcase - "Load a Story" button � Allows you to open a. SWD file, or a story that was previously created, to edit �Door - "Exit" button � Close the program

Create a Story Options Offered �Border button - Choose border for this page. �Background button - Choose background for this page. �Object button - Choose objects for this page. �Object Editor button - Change or create objects. �Color button - Change object or text colors. �Send Back/Front button - Bring object to front. �Make Bigger button - Make an object bigger. �Make Smaller button - Make an object smaller. �Flip button - Flip an object horizontally, +Ctrl to flip vertically. �Music button - Choose music for this page. �Sound button - Choose sound for an object. �Record button - Record voice for this page.

Create a Story Navigation Options �Turn Page Back button - Back one page. �Current Page button - Go to page. . . �Turn Page Forward button - Forward one page. �Save button - Save story. �Print button - Print story. �Delete button - Delete selected object or text. �Return to Main Menu button - Close story.

File Menu �New - Create a new story. �Open. . . - Open a saved story. �Close - Close this story and go to main menu. �Save - Save this story. �Save As. . . - Save this story with a new name. �Save As Web Document - Save story as a World Wide Web document. �Revert To Saved - Load last saved version of this story. �Preferences - Set Storybook Weaver preferences. �Program Sound - Turn all sounds and music on or off. �Print. . . - Print this story. �Print Setup. . . - Change the printer and printing options. �Exit - Exit Storybook Weaver.

Edit Menu �Undo - Undo the last action. �Cut - Cut the selection and put it on the clipboard. �Copy - Copy the selection and put it on the clipboard. �Paste - Paste contents of the clipboard on page. �Clear - Erase the selection. �Select All - Select all objects or text on this page.

Goodies Menu �Restore Color - Restore object to original color. �Ideal Size - Restore object to original size. �Remove Recording - Remove recording from current page. �Delete Page. . . - Remove this page from story. �Insert Page. . . - Insert a blank page before this page. �Copy Page. . . - Copy this page to a new page. �Swap Pages. . . - Swap this page with another page. �Go to Page. . . - Go to another existing page. �Spell Check. . . - Spell check words on this page. �Thesaurus. . . - Look up synonyms for selected word. �Text to Speech - Have story text read by computer.

Font! Menu �Face Name - Change font type. �Point - Change text size. �Font Style - Change font style. �Default - Option to set choices as default font.

Help Menu �Storybook Weaver Help - Display Storybook Weaver help. �About Storybook Weaver. . . - Display program information.

Some possible applications to curriculum in which to integrate Storybook Weaver Deluxe: �Individual or collaborative writing and applied skills �Storytelling �Reading aloud �Integrating literature

Storybook Weaver Deluxe can involve more than Language Arts! Use this program in your units for subjects such as: �Science �Plants, animals, etc. �Social Studies �Regions of the world, presidents, etc. �Library �Fairytales, biographies, nonfiction/fiction, etc.

Positive Aspects �Opening scene is catchy and fun �A variety of tools are offered �Fun sounds and music are played �Options are easily identifiable �Good walkthrough of software provided �Help option available �Spell check offered �Thesaurus offered �Sounds offered �Printing options offered �Choice to use premade graphics offered or your own illustrations �Can freely engage in exploration and self-expression

Negative Aspects �Younger children may need more guidance through this program �Requires active support from teacher for effective learning �Graphic tools may distract from the objective to build writing skills �Does not offer features for peer editing

Final Rating: A I believe that this program deserves an “A” for the variety of options it offers and its appliance to many aspects of the curriculum. It also deserves an “A” for allowing students to become involved in self-expression so freely.

Thanks for learning and using Storybook Weaver Deluxe!