Book Creator (an awesome iPad App) is coming to the web

Book Creator is an iPad app that provides a simple way to create ebooks and since its creation in 2011 has been one of the best-selling Education apps in the App Store.   Book Creator can be used in any subject area with any age from 4 year olds to adults.  It can be used to create resources to share with your class or better yet, put the creation in the hands of the students.   It is an open canvas that allows students to create by adding text, images, annotations, sound, video and voiceover.  Use the app to create interactive stories, digital portfolios, poetry books, science write-ups, research journals, etc.

The possibilities of what you can create are endless.  The only limitation today is the device you can create on...book creator is only available as an app on mobile devices.   However, this summer that all changes.  Book Creator will be launching a web-based version that will allow users to create ebooks on ANY DEVICE (Chromebooks, Macs, Windows devices, Android, and iPhones).  The web-based version will be as fully featured as the mobile app:

• Add text, images, drawings, shapes, audio and video
• Create awesome comics with built in comic templates
• Publish and share books online
• Work collaboratively and combine books from multiple authors (this is an awesome feature for the classroom)
• Access all your books on any device (work on a book using in school on one device and get home to work on it on another device).

Put Book Creator on your radar to check out this summer for use in your classroom.  

GOOGLE SLIDES FEATURE UPDATE: Add Google Drive Videos into Google Slides Presentations

Over the past few years, I have been utilizing Google Slides more than any other platform for presentations.  I love being able to access it from any device and the ability to add collaborators is second to none.  One of the major down sides to using Google Slides however, has always been with adding video.

If any of you have tried embedding video into a Google Slides presentation, you will know that the only option has been to embed a video through YouTube.  This in my mind has provided limitations to the videos I wanted to embed, often times adding additional steps if I wanted to use my own video or forcing me to use links.  

I am excited to say with a new feature in Google Slides this is no longer the case.  This new feature will now allow you to embed video stored in Google Drive into a slide presentation.  Once the video is added from Drive you can access Video Options to specify where you want the video to start and end, enable autoplay during a presentation and toggle audio on and off.  

Please note a few things:  

1. Adding video to a presentation through Google Drive is only available on the web version of Slides, but viewing them is possible on both web and mobile.  
2. If you've shared your presentation ensure your video is shared as well.  If the video is not shared, those users who do not have permission to view the video will have the option to request access. 

12 Apps and Websites for World Read Aloud Day

World Read Aloud Day is this week...Thursday, Feb 16th.   So what is World Read Aloud Day?

World Read Aloud day was started by LitWorld to bring attention to the power of reading stories aloud to children.  Research shows when children listen to stories read aloud they can become stronger readers.  I recently read an article that shared some great resources to use for World Read Aloud Day (don't be afraid to use them any day) and thought I would share them.  Here is the list of 12 Apps and websites:

1. EPIC (website and app):  gives elementary-school aged readers access to thousands of books. Users can set their preferences, browse the collection and earn badges for achievements.  
2. One More Story (website): This is an online library with plenty of fiction titles that would be great for read alouds 
3. Speakaboos (app): The free version of this app provides 3 free books to download with access to many more with the upgrade.  The stories are engaging with audio and interactive features
4. Blue Planet Tales iOS/ Blue Planet Tales-Android (apps):  This interactive reading library provides lots of choices for students
5. Storyline Online (website):  This is a website you should be familiar with.  Presented by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, stories are read by well known actors reading picture books aloud. 
6. Oceanhouse Media (apps):  Offers dozens of apps from Dr. Seuss to the Little Critters series and plenty of nonfiction titles.  The apps let students read independently by swiping from one page to the next or listen as the books are read aloud. Available in iOS and Android
7. Brainspace (print with app): This educational print magazine is interactive with iPads, iPhones, Android Tablets and smartphones.  The pages come to life with extra content for 8-14 year old students by scanning the page with the augmented reality app Blippar
8. PlayKids Stories (app):  Terrific eBook library that lets you download stories on an iPad.  Kids can listen to a story read aloud or read by themselves
9. Reading Rainbow (website and app):  Reading Rainbow has plenty of titles for independent readers.  Students can work on any device to explore stories independently or with a partner.  
10. Caribu (app):  This app connects two reader (down the street or across the world) so they can explore a picture book together (long distance read alouds...cool). 
11. Goodnight Safari (app):  This is an illustrated interactive book that children can explore independently
12. Shout Science (app):  Interactive book that tells the stories behind science discoveries using nonfiction text features.