Step by Step: A tutorial for adding a hovering Pinterest icon to your blog images

When trying to follow directions through any tutorial, I am super visual. I want a picture for every step. 

Though I always figure it out, it goes much faster when I have a picture example to follow. 

I wanted to add the Pinterest button over my blog images, but the tutorials out there took a little extra brain power to navigate. When trying to edit my blog template there were so many codes (aka foreign language). 

I hope that this picture tutorial will make it a little easier on you! The pictures under the directions are just close-ups. I thought the images were a little hard to see. 

But, if you want to download the PDF version to keep just click HERE!

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Here is the code: (I know it's a long one)

<script>
//<![CDATA[
var bs_pinButtonURL = "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFyKC_cKWUdSEeWoopoJaryzaufbVP6pZsXHa9coBaBvjQJby72W-S3EMkOmrhCEj9Tch2Ey-rZ4qx7o1VuvZFbvl7cKw4Jvc76pZTh0M7wkiCS8RyofA4Y66uqrDieg5M7B1lHlChP0B/s1600/pinterestx1_72.png";
var bs_pinButtonPos = "center";
var bs_pinPrefix = "";
var bs_pinSuffix = "";
//]]>
</script>
<script src='http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.2/jquery.min.js' type='text/javascript'></script>
<script id='bs_pinOnHover' src='http://greenlava-code.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/publicscripts/bs_pinOnHoverv1_min.js' type='text/javascript'>
// This Pinterest Hover Button is brought to you by bloggersentral.com.
// Visit http://www.bloggersentral.com/2012/11/pinterest-pin-it-button-on-image-hover.html for details.
// Feel free to use and share, but please keep this notice intact.
</script>

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If the link in the picture above isn't working click HERE and it will take you there. 

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Let me know how this worked for you! 

Gettin techy with it! A tutorial for securing clipart for your TPT products.

Trying to navigate all of the technicalities of clipart, products, fonts and being a TPT seller can be completely overwhelming at times. I always want to make sure that I am giving credit where credit is due to be given and protecting the work of others, too. 

So many of you have asked for my simplified sub plans, but I needed to make sure  that all of the clipart was secure. It is important to flatten and secure images EVEN IN A PDF!!! I had no idea, but even when you create a document and save it as a PDF the clipart is still not secure.  I did some research and searched through a few tutorials. After a little frustration and a lot of hunting I came across this gem at the 3am Teacher.

She has an amazing tutorial for Windows users and a link for a tutorial for Mac users. 

There was only one problem for me. Her tutorial for Windows was for products created using powerpoint. I however, use a MAC. Boo, sadsies. The tutorial for the Mac users was for products created with Pages. Danggggg IT! I just started creating all of my products with PowerPoint. 

So again, I was stuck. I could not find any other tutorials that would help so I started tweaking and messing until I figured it out. My efforts paid off for you too because I have a tutorial here for those of you who are in the same boat. I hope that the directions are easy to follow! Let me know if you have questions. :)

Sunday FUNday... Math Technology

Happy Sunday and Martin Luther King Day!

Over the weekend my principal ask me to lead a portion of our upcoming Curriculum and Instruction day. These are those teach inservice days we have been given in place of our prep-time this year.

I was asked to talk with our staff about IXL and how I use it in my classroom. If you have not heard of IXL you are missing out!

For the past two years our district has purchased a license for the site and every teacher and student in the district has access at home and at school. Each student has a username and password. When entering IXL they can practice skills at any level from pre-k through eighth grade. As the teacher you have access to reports that show individual student performance, time practiced, skills mastered, skills student need more practice on and more. Before our district purchased a license I created a 30 day free trial using my email. I loved it so much that I just could not give it up. My students practiced at home and loved when I would get them a specific challenge to complete. When my 30 days were up I have to confess (shhhhh) I created another 30 day trial on another email address. I considered asking families to send $5 for an IXL membership the next year. Lucky me, the district was on the same page and I didn't have to!!

While exploring IXL, I have discovered that :

-You can change your students passwords to something generic and easy

-You can hide the grade level labels so that students don't feel self-conscious about practicing a 1st grade skill when they are in 3rd grade (very handy for me)

- You can print a letter to send home to families with each student's username in password

I am going to share these tricks and several more with my team teachers next week. You should check out the site and create yourself a few 30 day trials too. I am sure you'll love it. Oh yes, I forgot to say that all of the skills and practice are based on CCSS! 

Let me know if you have any questions about getting started. My kids and their families love it!