Write About This

Just downloaded the app and the “back” button doesn’t work once you’re in an image to write. The voice recording also doesn’t seem to save anywhere. Very buggy.

This is a great writing app. It provides pictures and prompts. The only issue I have had with the app is you can not save unfinished work. When you exit the app and save your writing you can not edit your writings later.

Write About This has been a wonderful app for my third grade classroom! My students were engaged and they were able to use the app and explore its features independently. It is a tool that individual students can use as a Daily 5 station, or that an entire class can use as a whole group writing activity. It has also been useful for students who finish other work and need something meaningful to do. My students were able to browse amazing photos, choose prompts for writing, type their responses, and save their documents in a location that is easily accessible. The love taking pictures and creating their own prompts. I noticed them completing these tasks without any of my own instruction because they were motivated and engaged. I found they were able to type their responses at nearly the same rate as they would have been able to write them, and they tend to choose this option. There is also an awesome feature that allows students to share their writing (email to parents). I also use this application in the whole group setting with my document camera. If there are 10-20 minutes to fill, Write About This provides interesting pictures and prompts that encourage students to write. We are able to conduct a search for specific topic or browse through categories that seem interesting. Although we complete other writing projects throughout the week, I love the way that this app encourages students to get their creative ideas on paper. Our "brain drains" have led students to experiment with new techniques in their writing after they hear examples from their classmates. With each prompt, there are three levels of difficulty that encourage differentiation. We tend to choose level 2 or level 3 which at times require a deeper level of thinking. Write About This provides excellent opportunities for the students in my class who are already writers and it provides a spark for those students who tend to struggle. I'm definitely a fan!