StoryShares.org T3 Technology List

 This blog entry is about a tool of my own interest from the list of T3 Instructing Technologies provided by Dr. Wang. I chose to explore the website: StoryShares. This week we discussed the "Teaching" aspect of TLC, and the 7-Events framework for T3-Instructing. This tool can be used to achieve the Pre-Instruction event of T3.

StoryShares is a website that can be utilized by classroom teachers to help developing readers select books of interest to them. We know that developing/struggling readers tend to have negative experiences with reading and lack interest. However, this tool can be used to find a book that will be at your students reading level AND their interest level. 

The first step is to choose your student's corresponding reading level. They have options 1-5 or "All."

Once this is selected, you choose your student's interest level. This can be anywhere from Late Elementary to Post High School or "All." 

Once these two filters have been put into the system, StoryShares will present you with a collection of books that fit into both categories. For example I will use a high school student with a third grade reading level. So you will input Reading Level "3" and Interest Level "High School."

After clicking "Find Just-Right Books," I was shown 2 pages worth of books that would be appropriate for a high schooler with a third grade reading level. When you hover your mouse over the cover of the book, the author, a synopsis, interest level/s, and exact reading level is shown. 

You will also notice that on the left side of the screen is now the option to further filter books by "Topic" or to search by title or author. I think the "Topic" feature is extremely useful, because there is about 130 different options ranging from "Dogs" to "Love/relationships" to "Skateboarding/Sports" and so much more.

Overall, I found this website to be very easy to use. You simply input your two filters to receive book ideas, and then you can filter the list further by topic if you wish. It is also convenient that hovering over a book cover will display all the information you need so you can browse from book to book much easier.

I also think this tool has a lot of versatility. With wide ranges of reading levels, interest levels, and topics, many students and teachers could benefit from this tool. The only issue I notice is that the lowest "Interest Level" possible is "Late Elementary" so there is not many options for those early elementary students.

And finally, I think the overall likelihood of using this tool in my classroom is high, if I have developing/struggling readers. You can't read the books for free unless you want to sign up for a $12 a month subscription, but you can get ideas for free and it is very quick and easy. There is a chance a book you find is already in your classroom library, or if your budget allows it and a student is interested, the book could be purchased for a cheap price.