At Swallow Union Elementary, third-grade students are confidently stepping into the roles of authors and publishers thanks to the thoughtful instructional approach of Mrs. Keegan, a veteran teacher of GDRSD whose career has impacted generations of students in the Swallow Union Elementary community. By integrating the digital learning platform Book Creator into her writing instruction, Mrs. Keegan has transformed a core component of the Units of Study into an engaging, student-centered publishing experience that highlights both strong writing skills and impressive student creativity.
As part of the third-grade writing curriculum, Units of Study focuses on informational writing. Mrs. Keegan structures this work to build both content knowledge and organizational skills, while also honoring student choice and voice.
“Part of our Writing Units in third grade is Informational Writing. Students select a topic they know well, such as soccer, cooking, Pilgrims, video games, or cheerleading, and organize their information using nonfiction text features such as a table of contents, chapters, and a glossary." Mrs. Keegan continued, "They learn to organize each section of their writing into chapters with headings.”
To support this process, Mrs. Keegan uses Book Creator, a digital publishing tool, to help students move beyond traditional paper-based writing. The platform enables students to combine written text with drawings, images, and voice recordings, creating a finished product that reflects both their learning and their creativity. The level of independence, attention to detail, and pride students demonstrate throughout this process is impressive.
“I like to use Book Creator so they can show off their booklets. Students can add, draw, and upload text, images, and voice recordings to bring their writing to life. It enables students to act as authors and share their work with others, which builds confidence and a sense of pride. Book Creator makes writing, reading, and project-based learning fun and personalized.”
An essential part of the writing process in Mrs. Keegan’s classroom is the opportunity for students to share and discuss their final published work. Students eagerly present their books to classmates, explain their thinking, and reflect on the choices they made as writers and designers. Seeing students so happy and excited to share their learning and discuss how they used digital tools to bring their writing to life was the highlight of this author's day!
By positioning students as authentic authors, Mrs. Keegan reinforces the full scope of the writing process, from planning and drafting to revising, publishing, and sharing with peers and staff. The digital format provides students with a meaningful audience, increasing motivation and ownership of their work.
Through her continued commitment to effective instructional practices and her willingness to embrace purposeful digital tools, Mrs. Keegan exemplifies how experienced educators can blend tradition with innovation. Her work with Book Creator not only strengthens writing outcomes but also leaves students with a lasting sense of accomplishment as learners and creators.
