Write Along Main

$Math and More$

Write Along Overview Features and Benefits Developer's Corner Professional Development System Requirements Screen Images Downloads Overview of Write Along Write Along is a multi-dimensional word processor and draw program designed especially for young students in grades K-3. Write Along gives students the opportunity to express their ideas and thoughts and provides text-to-speech feedback on their writing. The program provides multiple levels of support as students develop their understanding of written language as a means of communication. Features and Benefits		Provides conventional word processing functions with a graphical user interface which encourage exploration by children and makes navigation simpler.
	Incorporates word processing with a graphics editor, so children can express themselves by writing and illustrating.
	Makes spacing, punctuation, left to right progression, and other writing conventions easy to manage.
	Includes visual and audio feedback so students can be successful on their own.
	Lets children produce their own finished piece that looks like the print they see in real books - something they can be proud of.
	Helps children write naturally, using their own creative expression.
	Gives teachers the option of providing a spell checker.
	Encourages integration with other popular IBM early elementary products.
	Includes graphics from other IBM K-3 education programs including Writing to Read 2000, Stories and More, Stories and More II, Nature of Science Visit Series, Exploring Math Concepts, Math and More 1 and Math and More 2.

Educational goals

Students encouraged to share ideas in writing across all subject areas

Students combine text with original pictures or clip art

Students encouraged to redefine, reorganize, elaborate and change initial ideas in writing and drawing

Students become confident in their ability to write

Students gain understanding of the fundamentals of word processing conventions

Standards

Goals 2000
- Student competency in core academic subjects
- Student academic achievement to compete in the economy of the 21st century
- Parental participation
- Professional development

Developer's Corner

Research in writing development shows much about young writers as they begin putting together an understanding of written language. Early writing by young children combines drawing, invented spelling, copying, and repetition of familiar patterns. Writing tools are the building blocks of literacy. When given opportunities, young children actively construct meaning using written symbols.

Computers are now an integral part of many classrooms. Word processors are additional writing tools students can use to compose stories and write messages. Word processors free young children from concern over letter formation and enable them to focus on expression of their written thoughts.

The Draw Editor was included in Write Along since young, emergent writers do not typically make marked differentiation between what they draw and what they write to communicate their messages. Both are intended to convey intended meanings.

Text-to-speech feedback, one of the features of Write Along, seems especially beneficial for young writers. Children tend to become very excited when they hear the computer read back what they have written.

The design of Write Along was based on research in writing development, with and without computers, and a review of functions that tend to offer children the most support. The specific features built into Write Along reflect an understanding of the developmental needs of young writers.

Write Along can be implemented in a classroom and supports Teaching and Learning with Computers (TLC) .

Write Along naturally lends itself to support writing activities across the curriculum. The Graphics Library includes clip-art from key IBM educational software programs for grades K-2, including Writing to Read 2000, Stories and More, Stories and More II, TLC Mathematics, and Nature of Science "Visit" Series.

Professional Development

Write Along training is a component piece of any beginning writing and reading program. Participants should understand the concepts and practices of Write Along and the role it plays with early writing.

Participants will:

Learn the fundamentals of word processing included in the Write and Draw Editors.

Use the Teacher Options to customize the Write Along software.

Create sample documents which use thematic connections and may incorporate ideas from teacher guides, manuals and other software packages.

The Write Along training can be completed in a half-day training or can be combined with another product to address integration ideas.

System Requirements

* Audio required. Use Headsets or Speakers.
* This product is compatible with Optional Management Systems such as TLC SchoolConnect, Visual CASEL, Novell ZenWorks, and Microsoft's Roaming Profiles.

Product	Supported OS	Workstation	NOS	Disk Space
Write Along	W95 osr2, W98 SE, W2K Pro SP1, XP Pro	P133 800x600 16 bit 32 MB (Audio)	Novell 3,4,5,6 w/ Minimum patch list, WINNT SP4, W2K Server SP2	45 MB for Program 512 KB per user

Write Along

Overview

Features and Benefits

Developer's Corner

Professional Development

System Requirements

Screen Images

Downloads

Overview of Write Along

Features and Benefits

Educational goals

Standards

Developer's Corner

Professional Development

System Requirements

Product

Screen Image
Click on Image to View

Downloads

Write Along Brochure in .pdf

Educational goals

Standards

Product

Screen Image Click on Image to View

Screen Image
Click on Image to View