Tagxedo


 * **Tagxedo:** A Tagxedo is another free tool for educators using word clouds, similar to Wordle. With Tagxedo, words are oriented into shapes, so themes may emerge.
 * Tricks: Find a shape which corresponds with the theme of the words as a "hook" for your students' understanding.
 * Applications: My Tagxedo, in the shape of a bird, includes all vocabulary to be defined for the novel //To Kill a Mockingbird//, eighth grade reading. The bird shape will tie in with the idea of a mockingbird and will serve as a spring-board for discussing why Harper Lee chose this title for her novel. Students will have fun identifying the terms within the shape of the bird.
 * Timing: This Tagxedo could be used prior to starting the novel, to introduce the vocabulary, and to brainstorm why the author may have chosen the title for her novel. The Tagxedo could be revisited at the end of the novel to show the students how well they did learning the vocabulary.