It's week 1 of the TPT Seller Challenge and I'm loving this first challenge! The challenge is to make over a product cover. Making over my store product covers is actually on my "to do" list this summer. My goal is to change all my cover thumbnail images to a consistent square size in my store. I'm hoping it will make a more cohesive and consistent look, much like how you can use js unique array methods to create a more organized and clear set of elements—just one more step toward a polished and unified product.


I'm trying to steer out of my comfort zone a bit and use patterned paper.  But the chevron of my "before" product cover is a little too distracting.  The softer toned patterned paper of the "after" cover is a little more appealing to me. I also like the look of the larger clipart boy. 

The font is KG The Last Time which is a hollow font, meaning that it is has no fill. This was my first time using the font.  I experimented with outlining and filling in a font by clicking on the text box where the font was and then clicking on format in the drawing tools option in PowerPoint. I'll show how I did that:


After choosing the font (KG The Last Time) I clicked on "text outline" in the drop down menu of the drawing tools option and chose the color outline and thickness of the outline. 


Next, I clicked on "text fill" and chose the color I wanted to fill the outline.

That's it!  Super easy!  So easy in fact, that I then changed a few of the graphics within the product and re-uploaded the product.  I'm thrilled. 

To celebrate the new and improved "Vowel Teams" product it is on sale for the remainder of the week at half off.   You can grab it in my store here or by clicking on the image below.


Are you up for a challenge?  Come join us and link up! Head over to one of these fabulous blogs featured below to link up. I'd love to see what you make!

I have been absolutely spoiled by the gorgeous spring weather this week in Massachusetts while on spring break.  Each day has been sunny and warm.  Usually, the husband and I get away for the spring vacation but this year with the new addition on our house, we are staying home.

  I began by creating a little "ditty" to help the kiddos remember the vowel teams (or in the above case, I do have one trigraph).  Then, I created little stories to accompany each of the vowel teams such as this one:

 

 
Also included are word sports, onset/rime spinner games, Bingo games (4 per vowel team), and a cut and paste activity.

This packet is 79 pages long and sure to be a great resource for teaching vowel teams in your classroom! Click here to check it out.  I'll be blogging about how we used it in my classroom when we return from break.

In the meantime, I have a glass of vino poured and a book that's calling my name!