We’re here with some online writing tools that are sure to bring some fun and newness to writing for your little learners!
Writing doesn’t have to be all about paper and pencils—let’s spice it up with some cool online tools that make the process exciting and engaging.
Imagine your kids creating animated stories, playing with magnetic poetry, or even building their own storybooks! Whether you’re a parent looking to enhance your child’s creativity or a teacher aiming to energize your writing centers with technology integration, these tools are here to help.
Check out these 20 fantastic writing tools online that will transform the way kids approach writing. And for teachers, we’ll also explore how you can seamlessly integrate these tools into your writing centers for a tech-savvy classroom that keeps students engaged and inspired.
1. Magnetic Poetry
When introducing young kids to writing, rhymes will make them more enthusiastic than you assume. This tool offers a selection of words and a blank space where the user can arrange them to create poetry. It’s a fun experience not only for children but also for their parents and teachers. If the user gets stuck, they can ask for new words to be added to the list. The final piece of poetry can be shared via email.
2. ReadWriteThink
Check out ReadWriteThink! This awesome website is packed with printable materials that help young students get organized and enhance their writing skills. The Student Interactives section is a treasure trove of online writing tools designed to boost children’s literacy. Here are some of the standout features you’ll find:
- Organizing and Summarizing: These tools help students break down information and structure their thoughts, making it easier to tackle writing assignments.
- Writing and Publishing Prose: Kids can craft and publish their own stories, essays, and more, gaining confidence in their writing abilities.
- Writing Poetry: Engaging tools that make poetry fun and accessible, encouraging creative expression through verse.
- Learning about Language: Interactive activities that deepen understanding of language mechanics, vocabulary, and grammar.
Each tool is tailored to specific age groups, ensuring that every student finds something that matches their level and needs.
3. My Kids Way – Essays
In order to show your children how fun essays can be, you should show them great samples. At this website, you’ll find narrative, persuasive, expository, and descriptive essays appropriate for different ages. The samples are rather short, but they will give your kid an idea of how a paper is supposed to look. You’ll also find reading and writing activities and worksheets at the website.
4. Toontastic 3D
Toontastic 3D is a storytelling app that allows kids to create their own animated stories. By moving characters around on the screen and narrating the tale in real-time, children learn the structure of stories, character development, and the expressive power of language. The app’s 3D drawing tools also enable them to design their characters, further personalizing their writing and storytelling experience.
5. Storybird
Storybird stands out as one of the best English writing apps for kids that inspires children to write their own stories using an array of stunning illustrations. It provides a platform for kids to become authors, encouraging them to construct narratives around professionally drawn artwork, which can then be digitally published into books.
6. Little Writer – The Tracing App for Kids
Little Writer is a tactile kids’ writing app that serves as the best letter writing app for young children learning to write the alphabet. It includes fun tracing games that teach kids how to write letters, numbers, words, and shapes. It’s an engaging way for toddlers to kindergarteners to start writing.
7. Mad Libs
Mad Libs brings the classic word game to digital life, offering an app for writing letters and creating stories that can be hilariously unpredictable. It’s a great tool for teaching parts of speech and sentence structure in a way that’s full of laughs and learning.
8. Writing Wizard – Kids Learn to Write Letters & Words
Writing Wizard is an app designed to help kids learn how to write letters, numbers, and words through a fun and interactive interface. It offers a range of customizable writing activities that make learning to write engaging and enjoyable.
9. Bubbl.us
Bubbl.us is a good tool for creating visually attractive concept maps. It helps students in conceptualizing complex topics, enhancing their ability to plan essays, structure research papers, and develop creative stories. It’s particularly beneficial for visual learners.
10. Hemingway App
The Hemingway App is a tool designed to improve writing style, streamline language structure, and enrich vocabulary. It helps make writing bold and clear by highlighting common errors, complex sentences, and words that can be swapped for more concise synonyms. It’s an excellent resource for refining writing skills.
11. Grammarly
Grammarly is a comprehensive tool that enhances writing by checking and correcting spelling and grammatical errors. It’s an essential assistant for ensuring accuracy and clarity in your text. The free version covers basic checks, while the premium version provides more advanced feedback on style, tone, and more.
12. Scholastic Story Starters
This tool provides a fun, interactive way for young students to generate story ideas. The student spins a wheel to get a prompt that includes a character, setting, and format, sparking creativity and helping overcome writer’s block.
13. Quill
Quill offers a suite of tools specifically designed to bolster students’ writing skills. It provides interactive grammar lessons, writing prompts, and activities that help students practice and improve their writing in a structured way.
14. StoryJumper
StoryJumper enables children to create online storybooks. Kids can use clip art and photographs to add a visual element to their stories, which can then be shared with friends and family. It’s a great tool for blending visual and written storytelling.
15. PaperTyper.ai
PaperTyper.ai offers a range of AI-powered tools aimed at helping students write better and more easily. It includes a grammar checker, AI essay writer, plagiarism checker, and citation generator, making it a comprehensive tool for academic writing.
16. Night Zookeeper
Night Zookeeper is an interactive online platform that encourages children to improve their writing skills through gamified lessons and activities. It features a magical world where kids can write stories, complete challenges, and receive feedback from real tutors. This tool is excellent for building a love for writing in a fun and engaging way.
17. BoomWriter
BoomWriter is an online writing tool that combines creative writing with technology, allowing students to collaboratively write stories and vote on the best additions to their collective work. It’s perfect for classrooms as it promotes collaboration and critical thinking while enhancing writing skills.
18. Edublogs
Edublogs is a blogging platform designed for educational use, allowing students to create their own blogs. It encourages regular writing practice and helps students learn about digital citizenship, providing a safe space for them to publish their work and interact with their peers.
19. StoriumEdu
StoriumEdu turns writing into a multiplayer game where students collaboratively create stories. This interactive tool helps students develop their narrative skills, teamwork, and creativity. It’s particularly effective for engaging reluctant writers by making the process of writing a shared adventure.
20. NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program
The NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program is an extension of National Novel Writing Month, aimed at younger participants. It provides tools, resources, and a supportive community to help students set writing goals and complete their own novels. This program is excellent for motivating students to engage in long-term writing projects and develop their creative writing skills.
When Can You Use These Online Writing Tools in Your Classroom?
Integrating these online writing tools into your daily classroom routine can make learning fun and engaging for students. Here are some great times during the day when teachers can use these sites:
- Morning Warm-Up:
- Start the day with Scholastic Story Starters to spark creativity and get students excited about writing.
- Use Mad Libs for a fun and educational morning activity that teaches parts of speech.
- Writing Centers:
- Set up a rotation with StoryJumper and Toontastic 3D for students to create their own stories and animations.
- Use ReadWriteThink for structured writing activities that fit various literacy needs.
- Technology Time:
- Incorporate Grammarly and Hemingway App for students to check their writing and improve grammar and style.
- Use Quill for interactive grammar and writing lessons.
- Creative Writing Sessions:
- Encourage storytelling and narrative skills with Night Zookeeper and Storybird.
- Use StoriumEdu for collaborative story creation that engages students in writing and teamwork.
- Quiet Reading and Writing Time:
- Provide access to My Kids Way – Essays for students to read essay examples and practice their writing.
- Use PaperTyper.ai for students to write and check their essays with AI-powered tools.
- Homework Assignments:
- Assign creative writing projects using NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program to inspire students to write their own novels.
- Use BoomWriter for collaborative writing assignments that students can work on at home.
- Special Projects:
Incorporating these tools at various times throughout the day not only enhances writing skills but also keeps students engaged and excited about learning.
How to Integrate These Online Writing Tools Into Your Writing Centers
Set Up a Tech Station
Let’s start by setting up a cool tech station in your writing center. This will be the hub where students can dive into these amazing online tools. Make sure you have enough devices like tablets, laptops, or desktops, and don’t forget headphones! This way, students can work without disturbing each other. It’s like a mini tech haven for budding writers!
Rotational Model
Are you one to one? Why not try a rotational model? This means students spend a set amount of time at the tech station each day. They can rotate through different writing activities using the online tools, so they get a variety of experiences. It keeps things fresh and exciting, and ensures they practice different skills.
Interactive Lessons
Interactive lessons are a game-changer. Use tools like Toontastic 3D and StoryJumper to let students create their own stories. Then, have them share their creations with the class. This not only boosts their creativity but also gives them a sense of accomplishment. Plus, it’s super fun!
Regular Updates
Keep things lively by regularly updating your tech station with new apps and tools. Introduce new writing apps to keep the students engaged and excited about writing. Think of it as keeping the digital bookshelf stocked with the latest and greatest reads.
Starting Building Those 20th Century Skills With Online Writing Tools!
Remember, older students often struggle with academic projects because they lack foundational skills. By starting early and using these fantastic online tools, parents and teachers can help children build a strong writing foundation.
The internet is your ally here, making teaching and learning a breeze with these 20 awesome writing tools.
Happy writing!