How to Make a Simple Frame in PowerPoint

It's Tuesday again!  For a while, the poll was acting screwy, but the votes were all restored just in time!  The winner was "How to Make a Simple Frame in PowerPoint!"

If you want to make a more complex frame, 

be sure to check out my previous tutorial:

   

Anyway... here are the recovered poll results!

Yes, yes, I know it says 5 hours left to vote, so the votes aren't final, but I'm writing this up in NY (it's currently Monday as I type this!) and I'm not sure how much longer we'll have power!  For everyone else being affected by this hurricane... stay safe!

Now, onto the tutorial!

You can download this tutorial as a PDF by clicking this picture!

Note: This tutorial is hosted on Google Docs.  To save it from there, just open the file and click File > Download to save onto your computer!

For next week's poll, I'm going to add how to add an easy border to your pictures... like I did with the pictures on the post about my pumpkin bulletin board!

November/Thanksgiving Borders and Frames!

I've put off making these for way too long... but here they are!  I tried to balance the amount of ink that each frame used and included more frames that use a little bit less ink.  I also added some circle frames this time!

The frames from October (which I listed for free!) were a big hit, be sure to grab them below if you haven't already!

On a total side note, the poll on my blog has reset itself at least 5 times this week and keeps losing all the votes :( Since I have no way of telling which one was the most popular option, I'm going to do the same thing I planned on doing in case of a tie - blogging about the option that's been on the poll for longer. 
Scratch that... the poll fixed itself (just in the nick of time!) and all of the votes were restored, so I'll be going with the option that had the most votes!

Pumpkin Parts Bulletin Board and Craft!

I love the way my new bulletin board came out!

We cut open the pumpkin and explored its insides using our five senses.  Then, I had the kids make these cute projects to show the parts of a pumpkin.  They labeled the stem, seeds, pulp, and shell.

Then, I made this fun 3D pumpkin that showcases each of the parts of the pumpkin.

I just love how it all came out! Does anyone else have a cute pumpkin themed bulletin board?  I've seen a bunch on Pinterest but I'd love to see more.  Leave me a link of your bulletin board!

Managing Your Computer's Headphones!

For some reason it drives me crazy how sloppy all the cords around the computers are... and the headphones are always the worst.  They get tangled, they fall down and somehow they get bent and crooked!  For a while, I had my students put their headphones over the computer, but that just made the computer screen get greasy and sweaty, so that habit didn't last too long!

Well... I finally had an epiphany: jumbo command hooks!

I bought the large command hooks off Amazon - a 3 pack for less than $7... not too bad!  They've held up for about a week now and I love them!  You can click the picture below to see which hooks I bought for my classroom... they seem to be the perfect size for our jumbo headphones!

How to Underline Your Text Quickly and Easily!

If you're a fan of underlined text, then this is the tip for you!  I'm constantly underlining the titles of worksheets or key words in a document... and this definitely saves some time!

This tip works in Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and on Blogger!!!

Give Clipart a Transparent Background in PowerPoint!

When I stumbled upon this last week I just knew I had to add it to the poll right away... and it was a major hit! 

For those of you who have seen my previous post on giving a picture a transparent background in GIMP, I will warn you, this isn't as powerful as that one. 

If you want to give a clipart image a transparent image in PowerPoint, the background must be one solid color!  PowerPoint has a hard time taking out shadows and such.  If your image has a shadow, you're better off clicking the picture above for the previous tutorial. 

Anyway... without further adieu, here's the tutorial!

You can download this tutorial as a PDF by clicking this picture!

Note: This tutorial is hosted on Google Docs.  To save it from there, just open the file and click File > Download to save onto your computer!

 

As for next week's poll, I'm going to add one that I probably should have done along with my tutorial of  How to Make a Frame in PowerPoint... 

 

 

I should have put this along with it but totally forgot... so how I'll add it to the poll for next week: How to Make a Simple Frame in PowerPoint... e.g.:

 

 

Help Your Students Remember Everything!

Do your students ever forget that there's a spelling test tomorrow, or do they forget to bring in their homework?  For some reason... mine always seems to forget that they need to bring their snack from home!  Well... I've been thinking about doing this for a while but I finally did it... I came up with a set of "reminder" bracelets to help them remember all the important things they need to do at night!

You can grab the spelling test labels for free below!  Click the pictures below to load higher quality versions of the pictures, then save and print them!

I originally got the idea of using bracelets from KindergartenWorks.  I absolutely love the set of freebie behavior bracelets that Leslie offers... and I knew my kids would love them!  As the school year started and my class was forgetting simple things (like reading every night), I just knew that adapting her idea would be the perfect solution!

(source)

Be sure to check out her freebie and and follow her blog while you're there!

Using Technology to Improve Instruction! (Free Presentiation!!!)

I have to say... I am the type of person who likes to work days, weeks, or even months in advance.  I never procrastinate at all. Period.  End of story. Well... I take that back.  I only ever procrastinate when it's time for report cards!  Does anyone else have this problem? 

Since it's report card weekend I'm obviously getting distracted!  But... my loss is your gain!  I came across a super fun presentation from a PD I did over the summer!  And obviously it's about technology!!!  Click the picture below to check it out!

The presentation is separated into two sections...

1. "Collect" - where you can collect free resources and ideas
2. "Create" - where you can create your own resources for the classroom.

As for the create sections, I've actually done tutorials on two of the five websites listed, and you can check those out by clicking the pictures below!

Enjoy your weekend!

How to Easily Make Your Text Italic

I just love the look of italic text!  I love that it makes things stand out without making them in your face like bold does.  It's a nice simple way to accentuate something.

Well... if you use italic text in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, or if you use it on Blogger, this tip will save you a little bit of time!

How to Put a Watermark on Your Photo

Thank you everyone for voting on the technology poll!  This week, the winner was How to Put a Watermark on a Photo!!!

Again, more than half of you voted for this in the poll!

I included two versions of this tutorial.  In light blue, you'll find directions on how to do everything right in GimpShop.  Honestly, this is what I tend to do, as I'm pretty comfortable using the program.  For those of you who feel overwhelmed by the Gimp interface, I included alternate directions (in a medium blue) which include a brief portion in Gimp, and the remainder of the tutorial in Gimp.  They both have the same effect, so it's totally up to you! 

Before I start the tutorial this focuses on how to use an image as a watermark.  If you want to add text on your picture, click the picture below to check out my previous tutorial:

Now... onto the tutorial!

Now, for the tutorial that incorporates PowerPoint!

You can download this tutorial as a PDF by clicking this picture!

Note: This tutorial is hosted on Google Docs.  To save it from there, just open the file and click File > Download to save onto your computer!

If you want to grab the cootie catchers from the picture, click the picture below!

As far as next week's poll is concerned, I just came across a MAJOR find in PowerPoint...  Do you remember my previous post on giving a picture a transparent background?  Well... I just stumbled across a way to do this right in PowerPoint!!!  So obviously that will be on next week's poll!

How to Easily Make Your Text Bold

This is probably one of my favorite keyboard shortcuts, mostly because it not only works in Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher... but it also works in Blogger!!!

I love that it makes it so easy to change my text to bold... it may only save a few seconds here and there... but all those seconds add up!!!