Wordle for Writing

The Web 2.0 tool sweeping through my district is Wordle. (http://www.wordle.net/create) Basically, you can either type into the box provided or paste text into the box. Then when you click "Go," your word cloud is created. The more often a word is used, the bigger it appears in your Wordle. One way to use it in your classroom would be to have students paste in their journal entries, writing prompts, or other writings, and they will be able to visually understand which words they are using the most in their writing. (Many of your students may find they use the word "like" way too much in their writing.) You can change the font style and color, layout, and style of your Wordle. Then, you can add it to the Wordle gallery if you like. To save the Wordle to your computer, simply do a "Print Screen" and paste it into a document.

Here's a few tips for Wordle:

• It is a good idea to send directly to the "Create" page, as not all content in the gallery may be appropriate for the classroom.
• You need to "Copy" the text in the box before clicking "Go," as you can't go back and edit your text.
• Post your students' Wordles in your classroom blog so the world can see your students' accomplishments!