Some Pointers & Currently

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I know how hard it is to get started blogging…and so many things seem like a mystery.  
I struggled in the beginning and had to do a lot of investigating to solve some of the mysteries.  
And then factor in TPT and TN…creating documents…WOW- that was a learning experience.  
Well, I was thinking the other day how it might help some of you out there if I shared a few things that alluded me in the beginning.  And you pros out there, you already know all this I bet! =)
1.  When you comment on a blog, it helps if you provide a link to your own blog under your name… you can do this by typing the following code below your name
(or copying and pasting it off a ‘sticky note’ on your computer desktop):
<a href=”PUT IN YOUR BLOG ADDRESS”>PUT YOUR BLOG NAME HERE</a>
2.  If you are curious as to how folks create a picture that has all the small shots of their documents’ pages (as shown below), and if you are using a MAC , then all you have to do is open your document, and press control, command, and the number 4 you can take a screen shot of  whatever you are looking at.  The screen shot will come up as a picture on your desktop and you can insert it into a new document along with all the other pictures of pages from your unit.

3.  This is a good one that I recently found….  If you use Pages (in Mac) to create your documents…(before you convert them to pdfs) you can go to “file” and then scroll down to choose “Reduce File Size” and this will compact all your pics, inserts, etc into a smaller size.  It still looks great, but will make your document SO much smaller.  My last unit was like 180MB…it reduced it to 8MB! Why does this matter?  Well, when you are trying to upload it to TPT, it will go MUCH faster if it is smaller.

4.  I get a lot of questions about clip art.  Here is the most important thing you need to know: CHECK THE TERMS OF USE..and then know that the seller can change those terms anytime they choose…so be aware of what you purchase and from whom.  Sellers may or may not give you permission to use the clipart (even if you paid for it) for things you sell…or things you use as freebies.  You may have to have a commercial license for either of those purposes.  So check and then check again.  When in doubt, email and ask specifics.

Hope that someone out there might find those tips helpful!

And then there is the March Currently…
3 words…has to begin with the first letter of your last name…
First word–How students would describe you
Second word-How family would describe you
Third word–How friends would describe you

Can you tell I had a hard time with “W”?? lol
Join Farley and link up:

37 Comments

  4. Jennifer,

    Thanks for the tips… I had been wondering if there was a special way to create a picture with all the small shots from a document! I have also been wondering… what program do you use to create your documents? I have been using word, but sometimes I can't move things to the exact position I want them and it is frustrating! Do you use Pages for all your stuff and do you think it is better than Word?

    Thanks!

    Molly
    Lessons with Laughter

    Reply

  10. Thank you so much for these tips! I have been wondering how all you bloggers create the multi-image picture for your items. I've been a follower for a while and I love your blog:) Thanks for helping us newbies out. I am going to try and add a link back to my blog on here…lets hope it works.

    Lou

    Pencils with Pizzazz

    Reply

  14. What a great idea to share these tips! I too was using the screen shot method, and still am for many things, however I did learn something new not long ago so I thought I'd share it too!

    If you are creating your units, activities, etc using powerpoint, when you go to save, click "save as pictures" it was create a file on your desktop of each slide as an image! For me this saved some steps compared to the screen shot method!

    Hope others find it helpful!

    Erin
    Creating & Teaching
    Creating & Designing

    Reply

  19. Thank you SOOO much!! I had NO idea how to link back to my blog when leaving a comment. Now I do!! And, thanks also for letting me know how to reduce the file size. This is so helpful. Do you know if you can change the page orientation for different pages you create when using Pages on a Mac?

    Thanks again!
    Kerri BTeacher bits and bobs

    Reply

  21. @Kerri and Lindsey: I emailed you, but just in case…"Yes, I do. Go to File…then page set up and choose either the man that straight for portrait or the one that is sideways to make landscape."
    Hope that helps!
    Jennifer

    Reply

  28. I think so, but then I have never used Powerpoint for that- only to make PP's…but I know that Pages is easier to use than Word (to me) and then whatever you create can be converted into a pdf immediately while in Pages. (But then again, I haven't used PP)

    Reply

  33. Good idea giving newbie tips. Maybe you should start a Saturday School… hint hint.. (I'm being a little desperate with this whole Sat. School thing.. I know.)

    When you find a way to get more weekend and more sleep, please let me know!
    ❤ Dragonflies in First ❤

    Reply

  35. THANK YOU so much for the tips! I'm a newbie blogger and have learned so much over the last month. I'd love for yout so stop by some time and check it out! All tips appreciated and welcomed!

    Thanks, again!
    ~Tanya

    Reply

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