The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion & Disability Studies Early Reading First University of Southern Maine

Kid Pix® "Workflow" PDF

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Listen To My Story! Kid Pix® “Workflow”

  • Child opens Kid Pix®, selects name and logs in. (Keep a set of name cards and/or an alphabet strip near the computer.)
  • Child creates an image using various art and sound tools.
  • Child creates a text box and types in his/her own name.
  • Child alerts teacher; teacher comes over to hear/discuss story.
    • Ask: Would you like to tell me about your picture? The teacher asks questions to deepen understanding of the child’s ideas.
    • Avoid: Questions that suggest a story to the child.
  • The teacher types the expanded story in correct English, in the text box.
  • Child clicks on "lips" to hear his/her story read aloud.
  • Teacher saves and names the story with the child (some children may be able to save and name their own stories, using a picture dictionary as a reference, and an alphabet strip to help them match upper and lowercase letters as needed).
  • Teacher uses the sound tool; asks the child to say his/her name out loud, and then reads the child’s story. The teacher saves the sound and attaches it to the image.
  • Teacher creates and saves a slideshow of several of the children’s images/stories.
  • The teacher exports the slideshow to QuickTime and saves it to the children's computer desktops with an identifying image on the front so children can select and independently see/hear these stories as a digital book/slideshow with audio.
  • The teacher makes a printed copy of the children’s stories from the slideshow available in the reading area, and for sharing at story time.
  • The teacher makes a printed version available for loan to families on weekends or evenings and/or a digital version that can be burned to a DVD and viewed on a DVD player. A family feedback form can be provided for family members to comment about the experience reviewing these materials with their children.

~End~

This handout was developed by Bonnie Blagojevic, M.Ed., C.A.S., Research Associate, of the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, in partnership with the University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Maine Roads to Quality, for the Portland Early Literacy Collaborative project, funded through a U.S. Department of Education Early Reading First Grant (Award Number S359B050075).

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