How To Put Links in Your TPT Product Descriptions

I am linking up with Erica Bohrer for her Getting Started on TPT Linky:

How do you use links in your Teachers Pay Teachers product descriptions?  This is a question that I have been getting a lot lately.  Hopefully this TPT tip is one that you can use to promote your products!  The good news is that it is not as difficult as you may think.

To start, pin the image below or bookmark this page for quick access to the product linking code:

How To: Links in TPT Descriptions

Then follow these steps:

Click the green edit button.

Scroll down to the "description" box.

Scroll down to where in the description you want to add the link.

Copy and paste the following code where you want the link:

<a href="INSERT HTTP ADDRESS FOR YOUR PRODUCT HERE" target="_blank">INSERT PRODUCT NAME HERE</a>


Copy and paste the http address of your product (just like you're adding a link to your blog) to replace the first set of capital letters, and type the name of the product where the second set of capital letters is.  Post the product, and check to make sure it worked.  I recommend copying and pasting the code as opposed to retyping, because with html even an extra space can cause the link not to work!  

I hope you enjoyed this tip!  If you have any ideas for other tutorials, leave a comment below!

Currently January

Happy 2014!!!

I hope that the new year is a great one for you!  Although there are many cliche parts of New Year's, the new year is fresh start, and that is something we could all use!  Without further ado, here is my January Currently!

Listening:  To silence!  That has been one of the best parts of break!  Hearing myself think, being able to focus, catch up on what I need to do.

Loving:  Having a longer break than my other working friends!  (Although this does make it hard to find people to hang out with!)  It's times like breaks when I realize how lucky I am to be a teacher.  Don't get me wrong, I love the kids and teaching too, but it is nice to still get holiday vacations and breaks that the rest of the working world doesn't recognize.  I see it as time to recharge my battery so I can be a more effective teacher when we return.  I still do some planning, organizing, prepping, etc., but it is nice to have the time to do this.  I don't know what I would do without my three-day-weekends, spring break, summers, etc.

Thinking:  About things other than school.  Like I said above, I love teaching, but it has been nice to direct my attention to my family, friends, my house (which needed a little cleaning!), etc.

Wanting:  GLUTEN.  Okay, how many of you all are gluten-free teachers?  You know what I'm talking about!  It seems that more and more people are discovering that they have Celiac's or other gluten sensitivities.  Without complaining, let me just say that gluten-free foods are expensive and do not taste the same.  There are some brands that are okay, but they don't taste the same.  Eating out is tough too, and same with potluck luncheons or dinners at school, and eating at people's houses.  It's not the worst thing that could happen to me, but sometimes I just really want to eat a loaf of sandwich bread!  I'd even be willing to eat a spoonful of flour in exchange for being able to eat gluten again!  I'd be up for a gluten-free recipe link-up at some point if anyone has good any good ones to share!

Needing: To finish what I start...  I have had so many questions about future products, such as my Common Core Math Mini Lessons.  They're coming!!!  I promise!!!  I have the other units in the series all started, but they need to be finished.  I only post them after I have used them in my classroom and tried them out, made adjustments, etc.  So I will write the basic lessons as I cover the concepts in class, and then I go back and work on formatting, fonts, clip art, etc. as I have time.  I will really be making an effort to get these finished up (and then discount them for the first 48 hours to thank you all for your patience!).

Memory/Tradition:  Snow!  Where I live, we gets lots of snow.  All winter.  And no snow days, ever.  I get so jealous when I see everybody write blog posts about snow days, and they take pictures and you can see little blades of grass sticking out of the ground!  It's only a dusting!  And they got off school!  Here, I spend hours in the car to and from school, making my way through 8 inches of snow!  It's just considered normal.


You can link up with Farley by clicking below!

New Craftivities + Teaching Blog Round Up

Even though I want my winter break to last forever...I started planning some fun things to do when we get back.  Introducing...

   

Click on each picture to check them out!  As always, I will give away a few to some loyal followers.  The first 2 people to comment with an email address and which craftivity shown above that they would like will receive an email from me :)

Also, I am linking up with Jennifer from Simply Kinder for her Teaching Blog Round Up.  She wanted to do one big link-up so we could all connect.  Click below to link-up!

Love.

"As educators, we remember and honor our fallen colleagues and their students from Sandy Hook School.  We honor them each day in our classrooms in which we continue their dream of teaching our children.  We honor their memory with our service.  Join with teachers everywhere in committing random acts of kindness to show our love for Sandy Hook."   

#Love4SH

Cyber Monday(!) and a Good Cause

Happy Cyber Monday eve!  I am sure your email account has been full all weekend with deals from stores for the big day tomorrow.  I didn't go out on Black Friday this year, so Cyber Monday will be when I take care of all of my gifts.  With so many stores opening at various times on Thursday, I figured that all of the doorbusters would be gone by Friday morning.  Also, I hosted Thanksgiving this year, so I couldn't kick my guests out so I could go on Thursday!  Long story short, I am a huge fan of Cyber Monday.

Even though I take care of most of my gift-giving, I also take advantage of the incredible deals + free shipping to buy a few things that I have been wanting or needing for awhile.  I like to clean out my wishlists on various websites.  If you are looking to cross a few things off of your TPT wishlist, then be sure to stop by for the big Cyber Monday Sale!

Here are some of the most wishlisted items from my shop:

  

  

  

While you are filling your cart, please consider purchasing a bundle from the Central Illinois Tornado Relief Fund.  All proceeds will go to help the victims of the November 17th tornadoes in central Illinois.  These bundles will be available December 1st - 31st.  A big thanks to Amanda Pauley for letting me know how I could help with this!

Here are the two bundles I am a part of:

A holiday bundle with products from Amanda Pauley, Deanna Jump, Miss Kindergarten, Teacher at Heart, Cindy Feeney (Kinderkay), Melonheadz, Jen Jones - Hello Literacy, First Grade Blue Skies, Kindergarten Smiles, Vicky Moore, Nicki Thigpen, Karen Rowland, Liz Fowler, Kindergarten Squared, Ms. Arnold, Smart Chick, Teach 123, Teachery Tidbits,  Brittany Hutchinson,  Kindergarten Smorgasboard, Andrea Knight, Khrys Bosland, Lovin’ Lit, Charlottes Clips, and Pink Cat Studio

A winter bundle with products from Kim Adsit, Cara Carroll, Lori Rosenberg, Teacher at Heart, Lory Evans, Anna Brantley, Melonheadz, Meet Miss Parker, Live, Laugh, I LOVE Kindergarten, Regina Berns, Rebecca Anderton, KTP on TPT, Primarily Au-Some, Kyp McLaren, Vickie Plant, The Write Stuff, Lovin’ Lit, Charlottes Clips, and Pink Cat Studio

Happy Shopping!  

(P.S.  Anyone else wanting to take a personal day to shop Cyber Monday in their jammies?!)

Last Minute Craft = Last Minute Sale :)

In the fall, holidays come one right after another, would you agree?  Fall starts, and there is Christopher Columbus Day, Fire Safety Week, Halloween, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving, oh my!  I had not planned on making a Veterans Day craftivity, but after a few requests, I ended up making one last minute!  So here it is!

I tried to include as many branches of the military as I could as I have been told that many schools split them up among classrooms or grade levels.  I know that Veterans Day is only a week or so away, so I put this pack on sale (it's under $3!) for the next four days!  Would you like to win one?  Leave a comment with your email address below and I will pick 2 lucky winners to receive this craftivity set free!  

Target Dollar Spot Alert!

*Alert*  The Target Dollar Spot is Teacher Heaven right now!  It is filled with back to school goodies.  They have their usual assortment of workbooks and flashcards, along with some other items.  Check it out:

The ever-popular Target dollar spot mini pocket charts.  What am I going to use them for?  Not sure.  Bought 10...I can always return them!  I can always use them to display our daily schedule, spelling words, vocabulary words, class jobs...any other suggestions?  Did you notice that they changed the shade of blue?!

These are those tiny metal buckets...except now Target makes them with a little chalkboard!  I was tempted to buy these for my pencil buckets, but I already have a closet full of these tiny buckets!  Any more and I would feel a bit like a hoarder!

Okay, so these were $3, but still in the dollar spot.  I had heard rumors of bright colored tape dispensers at Costco, but I have searched long and hard and have not found them.  And by searched long and hard, I have done the whole have employees look it up, call stores, etc. thing.  These aren't Scotch brand, but for $3, they aren't bad!  These will definitely brighten up my teacher desk.  

Fancy file folders...pack of 3 for $1.

They also had these little fabric drawers for $1 (along with some closet organizer and hamper type things for college), but the key word here is *little*.  They are pretty tiny.  Like 7 inches by 7 inches.  I picked up a few, but decided they were too small to use for centers and put them back.  I tried to take a picture, but because the dollar section was taken over by a crowd of teachers ferociously and aggressively sifting through items politely and gracefully viewing products, it got a little tight.  So photo credits go to Target.com for this one!

And finally...in case you need a laugh...

I did not purchase this!!!  Why not, you ask?  Look closely.  16 divided by 4.  Yes.  That is what I am going to work on with my three-year-old...   Who made this???  

Favorite Pins Friday!

Happy Friday!!!

I am linking up with the fabulous Cara from The First Grade Parade for her new linky party:

Pin #1:  My first pin comes from Maria at Kinder-Craze:

She gives many ideas for working with Pre-A readers.  She uses traceable alphabet books (perfect use for those old alphabets!), her high frequency readers, and gives you great advice on which emergent readers to use.  Reading this made me feel motivated to get back to school believe it or not!

Pin #2:  Ultimate Center Organization Solution from Mrs. Prince:

I cannot stand crumpled papers and gameboards!  My #1 center pet peeve!  I will be on the lookout for some of these flat bins this summer.  If anybody sees them at a reasonable price, let me know!  I am thinking Wal-Mart or Target.

Pin #3:  The ever-popular "New Student Bag" posted by Angie:

Every year I say that I am going to do this, and then I don't and pay for it later.  For example, I will have exactly 20 students, so as I am printing labels, I think "Oh perfect, twenty labels on a page!" and don't make any extras.  Wouldn't want to have to start a whole different page for a couple "extra-in-case-I-get-a-new-student" labels.  I figure I'll take my chances...and then I always get new students!  I am making myself do this this year!  No excuses!

Pin #4:  Tizmos from Christina at Sugar and Spice:

What a lifesaver!  By just accessing this one webpage, your students can easily click on the sites that you want them to use.  You can switch out the sites at anytime.  On this page, you add up to 8 links (for free...you can add more if you pay $0.99) to websites that you want your students to access.  Think about the possibilities...Listen to Reading, Literacy Centers, Math Centers, Computer Lab, Classroom Website, etc.  Christina has many more great tech ideas on her...check it out!


Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!

Currently July!

I was waiting until July 1st to post this, but it seems like I am already late to the party as there are already 304 people linked up!  Wow!  Farley sure is popular!  The number was around 125 when I first looked, and then I went back to link up and several more bloggers had joined.  I wonder what the record is for the largest linky party...

Here it is...my Currently July!

Listening: Let's just say it has been a long time since this teacher went running!  Whew!  The best part of today is that I know my time can only improve.  I am trying to make an effort to work out more, and since July 1st is a Monday, it seems like the perfect day to start up a new workout routine.  I am sure many of you understand this one...working out is always the first thing to go when I get busy!  I am hoping this routine lasts at least until school starts!

Loving:  The breeze!  I feel like such an old lady saying this, but after the heat and humidity we have had these past few days, it feels so good to have the windows open!

Thinking:  About how to schedule out the rest of my summer!  Can't believe June is already over!  Only a few more sweet weeks before it all starts again!  I am so thankful that we get our summers off though.  I can't imagine going all year long.  Summers are needed for mental health!

Wanting:  A way to make sure that what I buy online will fit me when I get it!  I am such an online shopper; it is just so much more efficient than walking into a crowded store and browsing racks.  Only problem is when the cute fitted dress arrives and looks like an over-sized sack.  Not attractive.  It works out okay when there is a specific brand and fit that you know your size in, but not when you're buying from a new online boutique.  I wish the online shopping process could be perfected...

Needing:  iOS 7!!!  Have you seen the video?  I don't know what it is about Apple products, but they make me truly love technology!  (Until it doesn't work, but that's another story...)

Tips, Tricks, or Hints:  Do what you love, and love what you do!  I truly love teaching and designing teaching materials, and I try to make every product I design reflect this!

100 Followers on TPT = Freebie (Coming Soon)

Hey there!  I am writing a quick post to let you all know that I recently made it past 100 followers on TPT!  Woohoo!  I am so excited.  I never thought I would have that many followers.  Ever since I began creating products, I have enjoyed making new friendships and working with wonderful educators.  To show my appreciation to all of my followers, I will be giving away a FREEBIE to EVERYONE who is following me on TPT!  Check your inbox this week for details ;)  If you are not a follower yet, you still have time...I will be sending out the freebie alert sometime this week!  I plan to do this periodically because I want to make sure that you all know how much I appreciate YOU!

Thank you so much for following!  :)