Doodle Clip Art (and More) for Commercial Use

Over the past few weeks I've uploaded several new clip art packages for commercial use in my clip art store. I have so much fun creating these and love seeing them used in different products. :) If you are using them in yours, leave a link in the comments to your product and I'll pin it on my Pinterest board!

Loopty-Loo Doodly-Doo Clip Art Frames

My Loopty-Loo Doodly-Doo Frames are quickly becoming one of my most popular clip art packages. It includes over 50 frames in several different styles. All the frames include a fully transparent image (the center & all traces of white are erased), a white center, a horizontal layout, and a vertical layout. Some will include even more options.

Use the frames on different backgrounds for various looks.

Another bundle, which can be purchased at a significant discount or as separate packages, is my Just a Little Sketchy Doodle Frames package.

Just a Little Sketchy Doodle Frames and Shapes

It is the combination of seven different packages of rough doodle sketches in various shapes. These are great for using in school publications (yearbook, newspaper, literary magazine, newsletters, camp brochures, etc.), as well as in your worksheets or other printables for your class. I think they appeal to a wide range and age of students, too.

The package contains the following shapes: circles, rectangles, squares, and arrows. It also has several "frames" packages: fences, criss-cross, little boxes, jagged lines, and squiggly dots.

I created several new smaller bundles of clip art: Starburst Backgrounds & Frames, Rough Lines Borders & Frames, and Glossy 3-D Buttons & Backgrounds: Rectangles. They offer nice clean looks for a myriad of possibilities.

My clip art terms are:

• You may use these images for commercial, personal, and educational use. 

• You may use them in free or priced products.

• You may use the clip art in editable documents, Smartboard, or PPT files for priced products, but NOT for freebies (see next item).

• If you use the image files in a FREE product, please make sure the file is secure and in PDF format so the images cannot be copied.

• The files themselves can not be resold in a clip art/graphics package, but you may use the images commercially if they are used/embedded in your lessons.  

• Please link back to my website somewhere in your document (it can be in fine print): www.traceeorman.com or my TpT store: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Tracee-Orman OR...you can copy this button and use it in your products, if you'd like:

You may copy & paste this button to use instead of a link-back.

NOTE: Some of my smaller packages have more liberal terms that do NOT require a link back. Also, you can use my free clip art graphics in any type of format (Word, Powerpoint, etc.).

You can keep up with all my new graphics and clip art packages by following my "Graphics and More" pinboard on Pinterest. Thanks for stopping by & I hope you enjoy these new packages!

Common Core Journal Prompts: My Resolution to Have My Students Write More

The only way to become a better writer is to write more. And contrary to popular belief, practicing this skill does not have to be painful for students.

I love journal prompts. They force the students to think about things they may never think about, but they also give them an opportunity to pour out their inner feelings and thoughts they may never share orally. They are a perfect way for students to practice writing without realizing they are "working" on their writing skills.

I have a bundle of prompts that I use in my classroom throughout the year. They are based on current events, historical events, authors, literature, art, music, sports, weather, science, pop culture, holidays, and more. Some force the students to think about touchy subjects that question their ethics. Some are silly. Some connect with the units we are currently studying. No matter what they are writing, they are practicing critical-thinking skills, as well as writing skills.

I use journal prompts as my go-to resource when we have a little time left over or when I need my students to settle down. There's something calming about the activity. I used to have my students write three or four times per week, but I've found in recent years we haven't had as much time to devote to the activity. One of my New Year's resolutions is to have my students journal more often.

I've linked a couple of free prompts from my "A Year of Journal Prompts" bundle (which is aligned to the Common Core State Standards). You can also download a sample of the prompts for August {here}. The download doesn't have the full-page slides, but it gives you an idea of what kind of prompts I use with my students. I try to give my students 10-15 minutes to complete their responses, which means I expect them to write more than just a few sentences. My bundle contains handouts that give students more direction, but I usually just project the prompt on the board and students write in their notebooks or type on their laptops. For students who are gone, I print the page or email them a screenshot of the prompt.

Direct link to prompts:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Year-of-Journal-Writing-Prompts-Common-Core-Standards

Clip art used in images:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Doodle-Sketches-Bundle-of-Clip-Art-Graphics-for-Commercial-Use

Fonts used in images:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/KG-Seven-Sixteen-Personal-Use

Homemade Beaded Bookmarks Teacher Gifts

If you are ever looking for an easy but thoughtful gift for a teacher, here's a tutorial on how to make your own beaded bookmarks. I like to make these and give them to my colleagues. There's not a teacher I know who doesn't at some point need a bookmark. :) 

What I love about these bookmarks is that they won't fall out of your book, they won't damage the pages, and they look beautiful dangling out from the pages. I also love their name: book "thongs." Because they go in the crack of your book. 

You can follow the visual tutorial pictures here for making the bookmarks. If you do not have the exact supplies, that's OK. You can improvise or use materials you prefer or are more comfortable with. Feel free to pin the tutorials on Pinterest or link to this post.

Here is the tutorial for making a beaded "dangle" to pretty-up your beaded bookmarks. 

(These can also be used for making earrings, necklaces, fringe, sun-catchers, etc..)

If you are interested in making the personalized charms, which can be attached to the jump or split ring, I blogged about making the charms in a separate post HERE. 

Creative Writing "Happy New Year" Activities

Happy New Year! I know it's been some time since I've blogged, but we've been traveling to see family, creating new lessons, relaxing, and enjoying the holidays. I hope that you, too, have been able to enjoy this time with family and friends.

I wanted to let you know about a free download I have for teachers to use this new year. It's my "2013 New Year Creative Writing Activities." Hopefully this will help with your lesson planning when you return to school after break.

It includes four short writing activities for students that also practice critical-thinking skills.

The first is writing a new-year resolution. I defined a resolution for the students and prompted them to think about what they wish to achieve and HOW they will go about obtaining that goal. I think it's important to include the "how" because some may resolve to do things that they could not possibly achieve. On the last page of this packet is a variation of his writing exercise that can be used for the first day of school or first day of the semester with a new group of students.

After your students finish writing about their goals, file them away for the rest of the year. Bring them back out on the last day of school and let them see how much they have achieved over the past few months. Students love looking back at things they've written.

The next activity is writing a list of the top 20 things they want to do in 2013 and the top 13 things they hope to avoid or not do. An example might be "Earn an A in class" for top 20 and "Turn in late work" for bottom 13.

Another activity is writing an acrostic poem using the numbers 2-0-1-3. It forces the students to think of the number as separate words. An example might be:
  Two months of searching
  Zero purchases
  One goal
  Three prospects for the perfect prom dress.

The final activity is a classroom scavenger hunt. Students are prompted to find certain things based on the numbers 2-0-1-3. Then they have to create their own clues for their classmates.

These activities could be a nice addition to a time capsule or writing portfolio. I hope you and your students enjoy them. If you do, please consider checking out my other creative writing and critical-thinking activities:

 Creative Activities for ANY Novel or Story

These new products are aligned with the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. Please see their product descriptions for the full list of standards alignment.

Character Cell Phone Activity

Character Trading Cards Activity

Coping with Tragedy

On my Hunger Games Lessons blog, I've written about my free Mockingjay Acts of Goodness download, which has students recording random acts of kindness they see around them each day. It seemed appropriate in light of the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary.

For older students, we've discussed gun control and teen violence many times at school. In fact, we have a Friends of Rachel club and I have shown the movie "Bowling for Columbine" to my upperclassmen. Michael Moore is encouraging people to watch it–free–through his link via Twitter here: Bowling For Columbine

Several years ago I created a "Bowling for Columbine" handout for my classroom. I uploaded it to TpT and promptly forgot about it. Yesterday I downloaded it and was a little embarrassed at the quality; it was an older version and I had since updated my personal file. I added my improvements and then additional information about donating to Sandy Hook School Support Fund. I decided to donate 100% of all proceeds toward the Sandy Hook Fund.

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

I can't imagine what the people of Newtown are going through, but it breaks my heart as both a teacher and a parent. Please keep the community in your thoughts and prayers as they try to cope and recover from this tragedy.

12 Great Books for Gift-Giving (12/12/12)

Happy holidays! Have you finished your holiday shopping? Or started it? I have to admit we have no presents under the tree yet. This is a busy time at school (as you all know) so I'm always one of those last-minute shoppers. If you have any book-lovers on your list, here's some great books for gift-giving. I included a mix of young adult, contemporary, and a classic thrown in, as well. (Images courtesy of www.Amazon.com)

For The Hunger Games fan:

1. The Panem Companion by V. Arrow

For anyone (especially those that like tear-jerkers):

2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

For females who enjoy dystopia love-triangles:

3. The Matched Trilogy Box Set by Ally Condie

For the conspiracy-theory fan:

4. 11/22/63 by Stephen King

For fans of The Giver:

5. Son by Lois Lowry

For those who love suspense-thrillers, with some twisted reality thrown in:

6. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

For Gary Paulsen (a.k.a. adventure, survival) fans:

7. The River by Gary Paulsen

More for The Hunger Games fans:

8. Blood Red Road (Dustlands, book 1) by Moira Young

and the sequel to Blood Red Road:

9. Rebel Heart (Dustlands, book 2) by Moira Young

For the Divergent fan:

10. Free Four: Tobias Tells the Divergent Story (Kindle edition) by Veronica Roth

For Stephanie Plum fans:

11. Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

For anyone (especially those who appreciate the timeless classics):

12. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Worth mentioning:

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (This deluxe pocket edition is so cute.)

The Chaos Walking Trilogy (Kindle edition) by Patrick Ness (Includes The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer, and Monsters of Men)

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (Don't expect a book like Harry Potter, though!)

Threat Vector by Tom Clancy

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson

The Mortal Instruments Box Set: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Finale (Hush, Hush series) by Becca Fitzpatrick 

For more suggestions, check out my pinboards on Pinterest for book lovers:

Books Worth Reading: http://pinterest.com/mrsorman/books-worth-reading/

YA Literature: http://pinterest.com/mrsorman/young-adult-ya-literature/

Books for Boys: http://pinterest.com/mrsorman/books-for-boys/

Books for Girls: http://pinterest.com/mrsorman/books-for-girls/

Do you have book suggestions? PLEASE post them below! :)

Happy Holidays, Friends!