Let's start with the later. Tagul is a wonderful Website for your Tech Toolbox that has taken those Word Clouds a step further by allowing the user to not only select the shape, but text color, font styles and animation as well. And best of all it is free and (here's the kicker) unlike Wordle, you can save your work. Your students will need an email to create accounts.
What can I do with Tagul and Word clouds?
Sight Word- Word Cloud Taguls!
As part of my curriculum, Kindergartners are introduced to the Keyboard. My lessons start off basic: understanding that the letters on the keys are in QWERTY order and to slowly become familiar with where they are located- and not so much on form.
Anyway, we typically practice typing our names and then I slowly introduce sight words into the mix. We first type them in Microsoft Word (using a pre-created form like this one here) for formatting reasons, and since it may take the little ones a few classes to generate a good list. We start off slow, typing words like "we" {simply because the letters are next to each other on the keyboard} 5 or 6 times and then eventually add longer sight words, typing them 10 or 12 times.
When their list is complete, I will copy and paste it into the editing section of Tagul and have them select their shape, up to three colors and font style. I typically print and save their Tagul Word Clouds as well.
Aside that, you can use them for spelling and vocabulary units, character names in novels, Character Education, key terms in Social Studies and Science classes, writing classroom or personal goals and expectations, create a gift for your student's parents etc.
How would you use Tagul?
