By Diane Kozak
3rd Grade Teacher
Wakaw School Horizon SD
Saskatchewan, Canada

A Love for Writing Through Creativity

I have used WriteReader in my classroom for several years. Over and over, group after group, the kids are excited to use WriteReader. The program is easy for them to learn. They can create a book in a short amount of time. They can edit easily. They are able to choose from thousands of photos and it seems like they have endless options on topics.

They are proud of their finished projects. In my room, kids typically get to choose what they want to write about. I use it during group time where kids are working independently. However, it could also be used to draft a final copy of a work or used for a research project.

Supporting All Learners

One year, I had students work on a pencil and paper research project. One student in particular could not get past the first page, because he wasn’t happy with the drawing he had made. WriteReader and the photo options made this task easier for the child. Kids can work at different levels with WriteReader. More advanced students can make longer, more complex books.

Writing That Doesn’t Feel Like Work

I was talking to my class about writing. They informed me that they never write in my class, even though they work with WriteReader on a regular basis. They don’t see this as work, but something fun. Kids can read all their peer books. They use ideas from other students and build and practice their writing in a very safe way. It does not feel hard, even for kids that have more challenges in their writing process.  

Students around the world find WriteReader fun and engaging.

Tracking Progress and Celebrating Growth

WrteReader has recently introduced Writing Insights. This helps track things like word count, spelling accuracy, level of complexity in writing. Documentation of improvements in writing at a touch of a button. Also, highlights kids that are not working efficiently during independent time. Once they knew I could easily look that up, they were working more consistently. This is a new feature that I have only started to play around with, but it is easy to use and gives helpful information.   

Last school year, I had 15 kids in my class. At the end of the school year, my kids had created 250 WriteReader books. These books were not all printed off. Many of the books were kids trying out writing ideas. Many kids will delete a book once it is printed off, so the total number of books made by those students was much higher than 250. Those kids did a lot of writing!

A Tool Families Value Beyond the Classroom

This year, my students were talking about WiteReader books that their older siblings had made in my class from years ago. Several families have kept those books and enjoy re-reading them.  

Kids enjoy accessing WriteReader at home. I have had kids make books about their dance friends, hockey buddies, family trips, family members, pets, homes, etc.  

I am not a person that uses much technology personally or professionally. Typically my students use 2 or 3 websites through a school year. I will continue to use WriteReader in my classroom.