I just started using Toontastic by Launchpad Toys this week with my crew and it has been a huge hit! I love that it teaches the components of a story (setting, characters, conflict, resolution) as it encourages you to create and animate a unique storyline. Users are given the choice to select from custom settings and characters or design their own. In my groups each student selected a character, gave it name, created speaking parts and moved it around the screen. They were able to animate each character using the touch screen. In my sessions once my kids were given the opportunity to move their character, they were hooked. The app also allows you to select music that sets the mood for each scene. This is an awesome way to teach feelings to kids with autism and has opened up conversations about how different characters are feeling different things in the same scene. Another bonus: the emotions are displayed in varying levels of intensity which is great for working on synonyms (frustrated, angry, enraged). 
The first week I let them become familiar with the app and make up silly stories on the fly. I plan to make some additional visual supports/graphic organizers to use prior to creating a cartoon to help them develop more interesting plots, target more specific language objectives and use more descriptive language. I’ll keep you posted…Love it!
Comments on: "Toontastic Review" (7)
Superb write, I am browsing back again more often looking for up-grades.
Thanks! I just heard from Toontastic that they are coming out with updates very soon which include new settings and characters. I also learned that under resources link on their website, http://launchpadtoys.com/classroom/wiki/, they have cutouts of the characters from Toontastic. Someone suggested using these prior to making a cartoon to help with developing and organizing ideas. I thought that was very creative. Still loving the app..
Katie, this stuff is awesome! I would love to talk to you more about it…. I think I could use a lot of these ideas in my Spanish class. Congrats on the grant and the Oregon Live spotlight!
Thanks Kari! I was contacted by Launchpad Toys, the developer of Toontastic, and he sent me their link to a Classroom Community that they are in the process of getting started. It’s got some great ideas for how to use these products in the classroom. http://launchpadtoys.com/classroom/wiki/).
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