Resource Name: Telescopic Texts

URL: http://www.telescopictext.org

Uses: Brainstorm and Organize, Construct Meaning, Write Together, Read and Respond

Teacher Time Investment: IIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

   Student Learning Curve: IIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIII   

Description: Telescopic Text allows writers a chance to share a story just one bit at a time, while revealing small and large thoughts alike in a measured manner. You can best understand this site by checking out the site creator's example (click on the grey highlighted words in his sentence to "unfold" the text.

You will need to know how to write at this site, and you should definitely give it a go before ever trying to introduce it to students. Also, check out this enlightening guide to best practices with this site.

Here's a video that explains the creation process and gives some examples:

Sample Applications for the Classroom:

• Use this site for students to practice elaborating simple texts (see one silly but effective student example). The fact is, elaboration is a tough to teach topic in writing. Telescopic Texts is perfect for tackling that topic in an interesting, unconventional way. If you're looking for some lessons on elaboration, I'd recommend you check out this blog post that references using picture books to model elaboration.
• After reading a biography, students can unfold a story about their famous person that begins with birth and builds from there. 
• After studying a genre, challenge students to create a silly story that changes genre with every extension of the text.
• Assign students the task of describing historical periods in an expanding series of events.
• Have students reveal changes in a character's traits or feelings over time.
• Challenge students to write humorous texts through unexpected twists and turns in the plot.

Notes and Caveats:

• Students should register for their own accounts and learn the difference between saving and publishing (saving allows future edits; publishing does not). If students do not register, all of their work will be lost after the writing session.

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