BLOOMIN' BLOGGER SUNDAYS

It's time for "Bloomin' Blogger Sundays" again. Thanks for stopping by! 

Per the request of a fellow blogger, today I will show you how to add a blogroll to your blog and give you some tips on choosing the style of your blogroll.  

So if you're really new to blogging, you may not know....what exactly is a blogroll? 

A blogroll is a list of links to blogs that the blogger likes. It is usually included in the blog's sidebar. Some bloggers divide blogroll into categories. For instance, since I am a special ed teacher, I have mine divided into two categories....regular ed blogs and special ed blogs. 

While my blogroll makes it convenient for me to hop to my other favorite blogs quickly, it is also a great traffic driving tool. With each blogroll that your blog is listed on....is the possibility that readers will click over to your blog. I have found many great blogs by using blogrolls from my other favorite blogs. I figure if it is on their blogroll, it must be a blog worth visiting. 

To add your blogroll.........

Step 1: From your blog webpage, go to design (located in the top right hand corner of your blog)

Step 2: On the left hand side of the page, click on layout. This will open up the layout of your blog. 

Step 3: Choose "add a gadget" from the left or right side of your layout depending where you want your blogroll and the design of your blog. 
Note: If you have a 3-column layout, you can choose to add it on the left or right side. If you have a 2-column layout, you will be limited to one side. 

Step 4: In the "add a gadget" window that will now be open, scroll down to "Blog List" and click on it. 

The "Configure Blog List" window will open that looks like this. Here you will customize how you want your blogroll to look. 

Step 5: In this window, give your blogroll a title. 

Step 6: In sort, choose to display your bloglist alphabetically or by most recently updated. 

Step 7: Choose how you want your blogroll to show by checking  the boxes of your choice.
The picture above shows exactly how I have customized my bloglist. If you like the way my blogroll looks, then select the same boxes as I have above. I have displayed mine a couple of different ways and like my current display the best. As you can see.....
I have checked...... 
icon,
title of most recent item, and 
date of last update. (See tips below for why I chose this display)

Step 8: At the bottom of the "configure blog list" window, click on "add a blog to your list." 

Step 9: In this window, select "add url" to add blogs individually by their blog address. Or select "blogs I'm following." If you select "blogs I'm following," a list of the blogs you're following will appear and you will place a check mark next to each blog you want to appear in your list. 

Step 10: Click add. 
Your blogroll will now appear in your sidebar in your layout screen. You may have to hold your cursor down on the gadget (blogroll) and drag it to where you want it positioned in your sidebar. 

TIPS

Tip 1: When choosing the way your blogroll will display, I highly suggest choosing to display the "title of  most recent posts" and "date of last update" because this allows you to quickly skim your blogroll for posts that may interest you and you never miss out on linky parties, giveaways, or freebies. 

By choosing the date of last update, you can see how recent they made the post. I like this because for example....if the title of their post is a "giveaway" or a "linky party", but they posted it 3 months ago, then I know the giveaway or linky is most likely over and I won't waste my time visiting that post. It also indicates how long ago they last posted. 

Tip 2: If you don't like the way your blogroll looks, 
>follow steps 1 and 2 above, 
>scroll down to your blogroll in the sidebar
> click edit. 
The configure blog list window will open and you can change your design. Play around with it until you get it the way you like it. 

Tip 3: Any time you want to add a new blog to your blogroll, follow tip #2 above to open the "configure blog list" window and follow steps 7 and 8. 

Tip 4: If you would like to put your blogroll into categories as I do, you will need to complete all of the steps above to create a separate blogroll for each category as each will have a different title. 

Enjoy your new blogroll! If you need further assistance with this, please comment below and I will try my best to assist you. 

If you have suggestions for future "Bloomin' Blogger Sundays," feel free to send them to me. 

Have a great Sunday!

FEATURED AND AN ADDITION FREEBIE

Hi! I'm so excited to be featured today on Amanda's BUDDING BLOGGER SHOWCASE SERIES over at "Teaching Maddeness!" 
Thanks Amanda! 
I love her blog.....she has alot of great things going on.
If you didn't find me through her post.....be sure to visit her and read my featured post!! 
If you did find me through her featured post....thanks for hopping over!

I hope you will be able to use this FREEbie that all of you inspired me to make lastnight. I am new to design, but if I must say so myself......
I'm getting better!!!

You can go {here}to get the Freebie!

FEBRUARY MONDAY MADE IT!

So excited to link up with Tara for Monday Made It again..........especially since it is only once a month now. I am getting so many fabulous ideas and goodies from all of you wonderful bloggers out there! It has truly been very inspiring! I have become obsessed with making things! 

Here are a few of the things I have been making.

First, I made these computer log on cards for my students. With all of our programs, the students log in with their name and their student #. The log on cards I had before were not working so well because the font was too small. They were also very flimsy and printed on regular paper. These are much larger and on laminated card stock. I spaced each number so that the students can follow each number easily when typing it in on the keypad.

1-10 Valentines Count & Match

These are heart die cuts from Carson Dellosa that I just happened to find when going through some of my junk last week. For the dots I used a hole puncher. I had a pic for you of the whole set, but accidentally deleted it........that's typical of me. Me & technology are not the best of friends!




I have one student that cannot seem to master her math facts no matter what I do! So I made these for her nightly homework practice......let's see if this works! Click {here} to grab these!

Magic Money Pictures Center Folders

I love these! What a fun idea from Karla @ "The Connected Teacher." As students count the money in each rectangle, they color in that amount on the mystery sheet to reveal a picture when they're done!
Karla uses them in sheet protectors, but as you can see, I made them into center folders. I used green folders from Office Max and laminated them. Students will color in the mystery picture with a dry erase marker. I have been using these for a couple of weeks and it has really motivated my students to learn money.

Winter Fun Count & Match

This is too cute! And came from Amy @ 3am Creations. She has some wonderful creations! I was able to get it free from Freebie Friday, but it is available at her TpT store for only $2.00. Go {here} to get it. Even though you're getting away from winter themes now, you can get it for next year! Students count the buttons & match to the correct number. Although I did not design these......there was some assembly required. Cut, fold, glue, & laminate to end up with your cute little matching cards. I then put them in coin envelopes like below for my centers. I prefer these over baggies and use them for everything that will fit and they come in many sizes!

A cute Valentine poem to give your students for a "No Homework Day!"

Last, I put together four more math centers!
If you haven't visited www.K-5mathteachingresources.com, you need to! This site is loaded with free hands-on math centers! I just print them on cardstock, laminate them, and place them in a folder with the required manipulatives in a baggie that I staple inside the folder.

Oh, I almost forgot to show you one other thing I made! My "BLOOMIN' BLOGGER SUNDAYS" button.




This is a weekly blog post where every Sunday I post a tip or how-to for new bloggers. Stop by and check it out! 

Well that concludes my Monday Made It. Can't wait to see what everyone else has been making!! 

BLOOMIN' BLOGGER SUNDAYS & FREEBIE

It's that time again for "Bloomin' Blogger Sundays!" But first, I have a FREEBIE to share!

My students really struggle with adding word endings. They aren't sure whether to add 'es' or 's', when to change the 'y' to an 'i', and when to double the consonant before added 'ing'.

So today I made these word ending posters to hang in my room to help them. I am going to print them on cardstock and laminate them for durability. Feel free to download them {here} and use them in your classroom. If you download, I'd love for you to leave a comment telling me how you organize your clipart. I really need some help with this and how to keep track of who to credit. 

Visit these blogs to link up your FREEBIE & get lots of other FREEBIES!

If you read my Currently......you'll know what I'm talking about......

I finished my Para Interview ?'s. I am sharing those as well, in case any of my special education teacher buddies can use these. It is in MWord format so that you can edit the questions to meet the interview needs for your classroom. You can go {here} to get the interview ?'s. 

One last thing before your Bloomin' Blogger Sundays tip.......

First Grade Fairytales is hosting a 300 follower giveaway. She's giving away books, a $25 Amazon gift card, and "The Awesome" pencil sharpener!!! Congrats Kelly on 300 followers just since July!!! Go {here} to enter!

Now onto..................

Since I started blogging I have seen a couple of people asking how to link up with Farley's Currently, which was also a question I had when I first began blogging. Yesterday, when I saw another blogger on Farley asking this same question, I decided what a great idea that would be for today's how-to post! 

What you will need:
PowerPoint 
Oh Boy Fourth Grade

Step1: Go to Farley's "Currently" post. You can go to February's Currently by going {here}. 

Step 2: Right click on the BLANK Currently that Farley will always provide, and click >copy image. 

Step 3: Open up a blank slide in ppt. Change the slide to portrait view. To do this, in the ppt. toolbar, click
>design
Then, just below to the left, 
>slide orientation, and change to portrait (These directions are from ppt. version 2007, so if you have a different version, steps may vary). 

Step 4: Right click on the slide, and click paste. 

Step 5: Your blank Currently should now be on your slide. You will need hold down your cursor and drag the image to fit the entire page. 

Step 6: In toolbar click,
>insert 
>then just below to the right, click text box.
>click on the image where you want to type your text, your textbox will appear, and you can begin typing your Currently. 

Step 7: When you are done with your Currently, go to the ppt home button in the top left hand corner and click 
>save as PowerPoint presentation

Step 8: The save as box will appear. Choose,
>where you want to save your Currently
>name your Currently
>in the "save as type" drop down menu, choose jpeg
>click save and close your Currently.

Step 9: Now go to back to Farley's Currently post and link up. 
If you do not know how to link up, let me know & I can assist you with this. 

Good luck! Hope to see you on Currently! If you link up with the help of my directions, be sure to mention "Bloomin' Blogger Sundays" & paste my button on your post so others that may need help can find me! 

STAY TUNED NEXT SUNDAY FOR ANOTHER BLOGGING TIP! HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY! :)

FEBRUARY CURRENTLY

I'm linking up today with Farley's monthly "Currently" at Oh Boy Fourth Grade.

Listening to Hard Core Pawn. Not that I like the show, but my husband left it on when he left for work. Little too much drama and arguing between the brother and sister for me. Eliminate that from the show and it might be ok.

Loving that I don't have to take my son into town now. He's into woodworking and made a toilet paper holder for his aunt that he wanted to ship out today. Luckily we called first and they closed at 1pm and now I get to stay in my jammies.

Thinking that I need to go to my classroom and work for a few hours, but have so much to do at home too. I usually put in 2-3 hours every weekend in my class to prep for my week and prepare my centers. When I don't, I feel so unorganized come Monday.

Wanting a Starbucks coffee!! I ran out of coffee creamer yesterday and forgot to pick some up so I didn't get my morning coffee today. I may just have to take off my jammies and go into town after all!

Needing to finish my interview questions. I am interviewing a new para for my classroom Tuesday and this is the first interview I have ever conducted. When I was hired in my classroom, the para's were already in place. Now that I have the opportunity to "pick & choose" I want to make sure I am covering all of the essential questions to help me choose the best candidate for my room and students. 

Pet Peeves, lack of communication. The para that I am replacing is transferring to the library to become a library aide. She did not even tell me! I had to hear it from another aide on campus and then later from the office manager after it was already finalized. HELLO.....shouldn't I have been the first to know?? I lost all respect for her!! So, that's my biggest pet peeve right now. I don't appreciate things being done behind my back! Just be honest & open with me.....I don't think that's tooooo much to ask! And this will certainly be included in my interview questions!!

***Update***.....after following Farley's rule of 3, I realize I have another pet peeve to add! Having to enter those silly codes in the comment box to prove I'm not a robot. Half the time you can't even make out the code. If I don't get the code right the first time, I don't bother leaving a comment. And the other one that gets me is....."your comment will be visible after approval".....seriously?? People, please take this off your blog. It is so annoying! Does anyone else agree???