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Saturday, December 8, 2012

My TPT journey ...and tips!

I started on this journey not so long ago. I think my first item was listed at the end of May and I look back and think eeek! It is definitely on my holiday to do list - going back to fix them up to match the rest of my store.

But anyway, the reason I started or even found TPT was a friend of mine. She had a Facebook message about something called Pinterest (lol). **Side note if you do not know about Pinterest, I highly recommend staying safely in the dark. However, if you don't mind developing addictions, here is a good place to start.You could always follow me when you get there http://pinterest.com/brookeychook/

I digress

I joined up to Pinterest and saw that someone had posted a thing called TPT. Intrigued, I clicked on the link and WOW! I was sold!

I just kind of lurked for a little while and downloaded some freebies. Like a lot of teachers, I have dabbled in making my own classroom resources for years (see this post on my old school maths games). I thought to myself, I could make some games to go on this site! 

As I investigated the site, and saw what was on offer, my mind was slowly blown! There are so many creative and awesome teachers out there that are willing to share their ideas, both for free and a small amount of money.

I started creating my first real item, just in time for the teacher appreciation jackpot - it was this one :)

After this I started developing a style and it has evolved over the past 6 months to where I feel comfortable with it now.

I wanted to share a few tips with you incase this is something that you are dabbling in or have thought about or maybe just would appreciate a few tips!

1. Use Powerpoint! It is mega easy to format and use and you can convert the file to a PDF, just by going to File>Save As>PDF.

2. Start off small. Take something you have already used in your classroom and "cute" it up! Buy some fun and engaging clip art and look for some free fonts to make it more eye catching - a great font site for freebies is http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/freescrapbookfonts/

3. Make things that you would use! One of my most popular items stemmed from a need that I had for some hands on games for a particular topic. 

4. Make sure you give credit where credit is due. It is easier to make sure that you list all your sources as you go, rather than get stuck down the line and have to remember whose clip art or fonts you used in your product about ducks - you know?

5. Make sure you have a copyright statement on your product.

6. Make sure you are enjoying creating - I think that if it is becoming too much of a chore, it will probably be reflected in your work.

I'll share some more tips in the new year :)

16 comments:

  1. Brooke, that is exactly how I started on Pinterest, blogging and TpT! A friend posted something to pinterest and I followed the trail.....thank you Pinterest
    Tania
    Mrs Poultney's Ponderings

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  2. Great post for some readers who may be unsure where to start with selling their classroom resources.

    Kylie
    Down Under Teacher
    And what did we do before Pinterst? No idea!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Kylie. I wish it was better received by Australian teachers :)

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  3. What an excellently timed post! I'm planning on getting starte with my own blog and contributions to TPT during these coming holidays. Now I know how to start :)! Thanks Brooke!

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    Replies
    1. Good luck Shab! You will find it an extremely enlightening and creative adventure :)

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  4. Great post Brooke! Funny thing is that my teaching partner has this pack of yours and loves it! In fact I think it was the first thing she bought on TpT!

    Alison

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    Replies
    1. That is pretty funny Alison :) I was so proud of it at the time, that I had actually made this colourful resource that people liked!

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  5. Great post Brooke. I started my blog about the same time as you. I found TPT last year and decided to give it a go selling about April this year. Like you, I am going to go back and 'fix' up my first product. What I like most of all is connecting with other teachers. I have become a better teacher because I have learned so much from very giving and generous teachers. I am waiting for it to take off in Australia. I have often though of contacting the media and trying to put the message out there about how good TPT is, not from a sellers view but for a buyer. Good bye to all those books I have bought from publishers that collect dust on my shelf!!

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    Replies
    1. Its just one of those tricky situations Rhonda, because I know there is a majority of teachers who DO NOT like sharing and I feel wouldn't be very accepting of the idea of making money from resources. I have found it to be such a creative journey :)

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    2. Yes we have a mountain to climb.
      I like to share my work but there are some teachers that never share. I work with some great teachers who share. We are a great team.

      Have a lovely Christmas
      Rhonda

      Classroom Fun

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