Real time collaboration

iEtherPad allows users to word process in real time. Great for brainstorming! CAN also use asynchronously. Users need the URL. Creating an account allows you to have your own iEtherPad url as well as designate yourself and selected others as administrators.

Good points

REAL, real time brainstorming
No advertising
Easy to use
Membership is free
Public pads do not need membership
Administrator can add a password to a public pad
Only Administrators has access to security and can change pad to public and add a password.
Public AND password protected allow anyone with the url AND password to write, so students do not need to join or have email.

Story Writing

The UK has created a site of Myths & Legends and encourages the retelling of these stories. This in itself is a great place to visit when studying that genre! However, there is even a better reason. Story Creator 2 allows students to create their own tales with sound and animation. If that were not enough, you can even register your school to enable you to review and approve student's stories. You can download creations and keep them or put them on your own website. Best stories can be submitted to the site's competitions.

Help with spelling, grammar and more...

Google Scribe is writing tool that helps not only with spelling but also grammar and offers suggestions "predicting" the word or phrase you wish to use next. Great tool for beginning writers and for non-native English speakers.

I used 'scribe' to write the following sentences ONLY with their suggestions.

The following content has been identified by the user as possible while still maintaining the integrity of the information. The results are presented for informational purposes only and should not be considered complete.

It really is pretty amazing, but a bit slow for someone who types quickly. It's a very useful tool. It helps keep the sentences flowing, and stimulates the thought process for the writer who is searching for the right word.

Storybird books

Storybirds "are short, visual stories that you make with family and friends to share and (soon) print." Teachers and Librarians can create free accounts for their class that doesn't require students have email.

Storybird Quick Tour from Storybird on Vimeo.