The Multimedia Writing Toolkit: Helping Students Incorporate Graphics and Videos for Authentic Purposes, Grades 3–8

The Multimedia Writing Toolkit demonstrates how, by drawing on students’ interest in and familiarity with technology, you can integrate multimedia to maximize the potential of writing instruction. In eight concise chapters, author Sean Ruday identifies and describes simple, common forms of multimedia that upper-elementary and middle school students can use to improve their argument, informational, and narrative writing and critical thinking. You’ll learn how to: Incorporate multimedia into argument, informational, and narrative writing through students’ use of video topic trailers, online discussion boards, webpages, and more. Evaluate students on effective use of multimedia through easy-to-follow rubrics and explicitly articulated learning goals. Understand more fully the key forms of multimedia through user-friendly overviews and explanations; you don’t need to be a "techie" teacher to use these strategies! Overcome possible obstacles to the integration of multimedia in the classroom by learning from the author’s concrete, first-hand examples and instructional recommendations. This book is complete with resources designed to provide you with extra support, including reproducible classroom-appropriate charts and forms, links to key web-based content discussed in the book, and a guide for teachers and administrators interested in using the book for group-based professional development. With The Multimedia Writing Toolkit, you’ll have a clear game plan for encouraging your students to become more engaged, technologically savvy learners. Bonus: Blank templates of the handouts are available as printable eResources on our website (www.routledge.com/9781138200111).

Table of Contents:
The Multimedia Writing Toolkit: Helping Students Incorporate Graphics and Videos for Authentic Purposes, Grades 3-8 Table of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Reimagining Writing Instruction Section One: Incorporating Multimedia into Argument Writing Chapter One Using Photos and Videos as Supporting Evidence Chapter Two Connecting to Authentic Audiences through Student-Created Websites Section Two: Incorporating Multimedia into Informational Writing Chapter Three Creating Video Topic Trailers Chapter Four Using Images and Figures to Aid Comprehension and Illustrate Concepts Section Three: Incorporating Multimedia into Narrative Writing Chapter Five Using Images, Videos, and Audio Files as Tools for Characterization Chapter Six Incorporating Multimedia that Captures Thematic Elements Section Four: Putting it Together Chapter Seven Assessment Strategies Chapter Eight Final Thoughts and Tips for Classroom Practice Section Five: Resources References Appendix A Reproducible Charts and Forms You Can Use in Your Classroom Appendix B A Guide for Book Studies Appendix C Links to Web Content

About the Author :
Sean Ruday is Assistant Professor of English Education at Longwood University. He is also the author of The Argument Writing Toolkit (Grades 6–8), The Informational Writing Toolkit (Grades 3–5), The Narrative Writing Toolkit (Grades 3–8), and The Common Core Grammar Toolkit books (Grades 3–5 and 6–8).

Review :
"Whether veteran or novice teacher, we all struggle with teaching media literacy. This book makes it possible for us to cope with the technology as well as the larger issue of why and how we should integrate multimedia into our writing instruction. It helps us re-imagine multimedia as a manageable, organic part of our curriculum that can increase student engagement and improve writing and critical thinking rather than have it be another impossible task thrown on overburdened English teachers. Teachers need this text!" --Robin D. Smith, Assistant Professor of English and English Education Coordinator, Longwood University, VA "The best thing about this book is that you don't have to be a techie to appreciate it! Ruday's Toolkit is ideal for teachers who want to learn practical strategies for the authentic use of multimedia in student writing. Like his other "toolkits," this book is easy-to-read, rich with student examples, and has step-by-step suggestions for teachers. It is designed to capitalize on student interest in technology by fostering critical thinking skills for meaningful integration of technology—not just technology for technology sake!" —Dr. Amy Price Azano, Assistant Professor of Adolescent Literacy, Virginia Tech "The Multimedia Writing Toolkit is a wonderful way to breathe life into (at times) dull writing lessons. Today's students are so focused on technology that bringing the multimedia aspect of their lives into their writing truly makes a real world connection for them. It is this real world connection that helps to create a lasting memory in their brains. Dr. Ruday has created a toolkit that is easy for all educators, from novice to expert, to follow, using real classroom examples and setups. I cannot wait to use this in my classroom!" --Kristen Brady, Ed.S., ELA Teacher, Pasco County Schools, FL "Sean Ruday has done another terrific job of zooming in on the three main genres the Common Core State Standards has our young writers focus on in the classroom. Sean's simple ideas of implementing technology into these genres does not overwhelm the reader and the lessons can be easily adjusted for anyone's classroom. A must read as our students learn more and more how to use technology in responsible ways." —Jeremy Hyler, middle school Language Arts teacher and co-author of From Texting to Teaching: Grammar Instruction in a Digital Age