How to make your very own math coloring sheets...

Making math review sheets like the one below is actually pretty easy. 

Here is how to do it step by step.

1. Create a table on your document. (I like to use a 10 x 10)

2. Highlight the entire table and choose a font and size AND choose to fill it with "transparent."

3. Insert a clipart over top of your table. You actually need it behind your table so...

4. Right click the clipart and choose "send to the back."

5. Print it out and color the picture as close as you can using the clipart as your guide.

6. Now that you have the colors and picture the way you want it. Go back to the digital copy and delete the clipart.

7. Use the colored picture you have made to fill in your tablet to match the colors on your paper.

8. Decided what sum, difference, product, or quotient you want each color to represent. Make your key.

9. Fill in the boxes with math problems that will correspond with your key.

10. Tinker with it to make it pretty! (resize, bold print, etc.)

11. I recommend you print out your final copy and color it just to be sure you didn't make any mistakes.

* I use Google Presentations to create my materials.
* If you don't have time to make your own, but you like my addition turkey. It can be found on my TPT store. Click the icon below!

From Classroom to TPT

Teachers are some of the most resourceful and creative people I know. Seize your qualities teachers!

When I am working with my kiddos, I usually decide that though the resources I have available are good, I know I can spruce it up. I can add to it to make it more meaningful. This is how my Teachers Pay Teaches Store started. I would think, "Hmmm.... I like this worksheet or lesson, but it could be better if...." Like most teachers, I want to make the biggest impact I can during each lesson. I don't want the things I teach to be forgotten by the end of the day, by next week, or even next year. I want my students to take this new knowledge with them. I want the time we spend together to mean something and to make an impact. After all... that is why we teach. Right? Of course it is! (Long summer breaks are like sparkly sticker added to our well designed and organized plan book of lessons.)

If you create supplements for your students, you are taking the biggest step to becoming an entrepreneur. You can turn your passion for your students and your expertise of curriculum into products that will help out other teachers and reach other students.

Here is my most up to date example.

My students and I just completed unit one in our social studies book. I want to review this week, but didn't want to do "another" worksheet. I created a mini-booklet for my children to complete as a review, and we will use it as a study guide too.

I used a template I had already created and used in the past to make this little mini-book.

If this sounds like something you do, you can also be a TPT seller!! Interested? Click on the link below to get started! 

Referral to TPT by Mary Bown

If you are interested in my mini-book, check it out on my store! Here is the link.  

Connecting the Dots- United States of America Mini Bookhttp://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mary-Bown

Tips for Teachers Pay Teachers

If you are thinking about starting to create your own products for Teacher Pay Teachers, here are some basics you should know.

- Definitely purchase the upgraded TPT sellers package. It is well worth it.

-Creating your products in Power Point is very helpful. You can duplicate slides making creating quicker.

-Make sure you change the slide to 8.5 x 11 or 11x 8.5 to enhance printing.
-All those cute backgrounds are super easy to insert when using Power Point or Google Slides. Just select the background option. If you want to insert a design, have one downloaded as png or a jpeg and insert it.
-Where do TPT sellers get their clipart? I like to use mycutegraphics.com for free clipart. After you have started making some money, you can invest in some other clipart. I strongly recommend you buy your clipart from other TPT sellers. We have to stick together! Just be sure you give the artist credit on your product. This stands true for using mycutegraphics.com too. Always give credit where it is due.
-You can use wikipedia images too! You have to give them credit though.

- Create things you would use in your classroom, try them out with your class, tweak them as necessary and post them! Be sure to polish them up. Remember you want to put your best out there.

-Be sure to offer a FREEBIE. This attracts new followers and is a great way to show off your stuff!

-Get your products out there, but posting them on Pinterest. Don't make a rookie mistake of not adding the site in which you want the pin to lead. Insert the link to the product on the pin in the section labeled Source. In order to get here, you have to "edit" your pin.

- Here are some things I like to do:

   - Use Word Art for Titles (You can make it pop)
   - Be creative with font,  but keep in mind what age group will be reading it.
   - Use cute clipart and backgrounds
  - I ask my students what they think! After all, they are the true customers here!

There is so much to tell! If you have a question, just post it, and I will do my best to answer it.

Mary Bown ~ Connecting the Dots

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mary-Bown

Happy Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day will be here soon! How are you going to address it in your classroom?

Instilling a sense of patriotism in your students is very fulfilling. Here are some great ways to embed some patriotic facts into your lessons.

- Focus on The Pledge of Allegiance
  * They know the words, but do they know what they mean?
- Focus on Our Flag
 * Why does it have 13 stripes and 50 stars?
-What is the history of our Nation?
 *Share some information about our first president and our freedom from Great Britain.
 * Use this topic as a jumping point for the history of Thanksgiving.