Word+Clouds

=media type="custom" key="6610993"= = = =Generate "Word Clouds" with:= =ABCya!= == =[|Wordle]= A program that allows the user to paste text into the website and create instant "word clouds". It is an amazing tool that then takes the pasted text and removes the articles of speech and analyzes the remaining words for frequency - making the ones that appear most often the largest. You can randomize the content as many times as you like and it really does an effective job of showing the theme of a document, essay, or poem. A simple and really amazing tool.

media type="custom" key="5826883"

[|How to make a word cloud with Wordle] [|How to...Screen cast]

[|Wordle Training Videos]

media type="custom" key="6214601"

=WordSift= Word Sift is a fascinating website that, like Wordle, will allow teachers to insert text and play with the results. Whereas Wordle makes word-clouds, Word Sift takes the most used 50 words of the passage you insert and allows brings up Google images that correspond to any word that you then click on. You also get to use the Visual Thesaurus word-cloud web on that page, as well as see the words that you select in their original context. The possibilities for word study using this site are endless. Word Sift is a great educational tool and a fun learning toy as well.

[|Ideas for classroom use of WordSift]

[|WordSift Training Videos]

=Tagul= [|Tagul] is a free word cloud generator that offers one clear difference compared to other word cloud generators like [|Wordle].

Similar to Wordle, but allows for some unique shapes, search capabilities, the tag clouds are embeddable, and there is no gallery to worry about inappropriate content in. Another difference between Wordle and [|Tagul] is when you create a word cloud with Tagul, every word in your word cloud is linked to a Google search.

[|Tagxedo- Word Clouds with Style]

** __Possible Classroom Uses:__ **
 * A terrific visual tool to share on an interactive whiteboard or projector.
 * Paste in a passage or URL for a political speech to visualize the politician’s “message.”
 * Analyze advertising propaganda by visualizing the language used in TV or print ads.
 * Create word clouds of historical texts of inauguration speeches as time capsules of the issues of the day.
 * Use as a way to help students see and memorize text, especially visual learners.
 * Use it also when writing poetry or reading passages of great literature to “see” themes and motifs of repeated words and images.
 * Have students paste in their own writing to spot repeated (and monotonous) language when teaching lessons on word choice. Students will be surprised to see what words appear to be dominant.
 * Have students work in groups to create word posters of vocabulary words with related meanings, such as different ways to say “walk” or “said” and decorate tour classroom with these visual reminders of the richness of language.
 * U se this site during the first week of school. Have students create word clouds about themselves and create a “word cloud bulletin board” introducing your students (and yourself).
 * Evaluate primary sources
 * Compare and contrast speeches


 * Use for I Am poems


 * Summarize brainstorming sessions


 * Condense survey data


 * Create clouds of competing ideas or philosophies such as democracy / theocracy


 * Overview of upcoming units


 * Provide summary of an article


 * Create “historical” resumes of famous leaders


 * Introduce new vocabulary
 * __Word Clouds could be used…__**
 * as a **vocabulary development** tool (eg how many synonyms can you think of for “big” or “said”)
 * as a **summary tool** (eg. paste in an article, story or essay and see what words are the largest)
 * as a way to **brainstorm** new and reviewed topics
 * as a tool to **conclude** a topic and assess learned knowledge
 * as a **getting to know** you tool. Students could create a Wordle about themself to share with new classmates.
 * as a **presentation** tool for classroom or book work
 * for creating **word list posters** outlining misspelled words or words on a spelling list
 * a **guessing game**. The website [|Guess the Wordle] has a new Wordle every day for students to guess the topic. Or you could make your own!

[|Top 10 Ways to Use Word Clouds for Classroom Lessons]



First Day Idea //As a class, make a list of "We believe we can" statements and paste them all into Wordle. Then print out the wordle for the class bulletin board. You can do the entire activity on an interactive whiteboard or projector! media type="custom" key="5826915"//

[|Word Clouds- What is the best software?]