Tried It Tuesday - Be Funky Photo Editor Chromebook App

Its my first time this summer joining Holly at Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday.

Recently I've found out more about apps available when working in Chrome.

I attended a technology workshop in our district during the first week of summer break, and discovered some really cool apps that can be found by searching the Chrome app store.

This week I'll walk you through an easy and fun photo editing app called BeFunky.

This is what the app looks like once you've added it to your Google collection.

It's FREE!

Once you open the app it's easy to download your photos to edit them.

The app walks you through the process with clear instructions.

Once you have selected a photo, there are MANY options for modifying the photo.

You can add edit the photo, add frames, text, funny touch-ups, effects, graphics, and more!

I added a heart overlay to the picture on this one.

This Chrome app was suggested to teachers so they could have students use it in the classroom, but I've had fun using the app to create photos for my blog and TpT products.

You can find more info about the app here:

BeFunky Photo Editor
Be sure to follow my blog for more apps found in Chrome that I will be blogging about soon.

What have you tried lately?  Add it to Holly's Tried It Tuesday linky!

Monday Made-It - Insect Inquiry Unit and More

It's July and I've finally got my summer *stuff* together enough to join Tara for a Monday Made-It!

First up, I did a little Fourth of July decorating.

The stars are from Target, the mirror is from Hobby Lobby, the Home Sweet Home sign is from Shopko, and I made the straw star.  I just tied three straws together with a clear wire and tied a red polka dot ribbon around the middle. 

Do you get those e-mails from Shutterfly with various free offers?

Well, I've gotten free labels, cards, and now I made a luggage tag!

No - I am not going to Vegas, but I do have a trip to Pittsburgh planned for the weekend.

The flowers were from a picture I took, and on the back of the luggage tag is another sunset photo I took, along with my name and address.

I only paid for shipping, which was about $5.00.

I was out of town in June when it was Makeover Madness week, so I caught up on a makeover today.

I used the website called pixabay.com to get the photo image (for free)!

This was my first TpT project, and it was due for an update.

The Insect Inquiry Unit includes a research project, bingo game, and related books and iPad apps.

It is only $3.00, and you can find it in my TpT store.

Head over to Tara's sight to check out all the Monday Made-Its!

Finally - a Five for Friday post!

It has been AGES since I have hooked up for the Five for Friday linky!

Gotta love summer, and the time we have been granted for blogging more frequently.

Look at the clipart I have for this linky - I think it's been updated since joined up last!  I will use the new logo from Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching next time I link up.

I love to golf, and finally had to chance to play 9 holes this past week.  The weather was gorgeous, and I even hit par on one of the holes.  Don't ask about the other eight.  

I have a very relaxing patio area that is pretty well hidden because of the trees in back.

It's perfect for lounging and reading a book.

I have been getting more exercise in since school started, and love the new Fitbit bracelet I found on Amazon.

One of my students gave me a gift card for a favorite restaurant on the last day of school.

His mom shared the gift card should be from a place by the water, since this boy knew I liked that.  So sweet..

Here I am with one of my besties enjoying the water and lunch outside.

I had time to finish up a product that I started (and used in class) months ago.

This is from my Differentiated Prefix Sort for Words with pre- and dis-.

In this product you will find everything you need to differentiate your instruction with two word sorts for each prefix.

You can check it out here:

Differentiated Prefix Word Sort

Dare to Dream!

 I'm joining in on the TpT Sellers Challenge for Week 2 called Dare to Dream!

Thanks to Third in Hollywood, Teach Create Motivate, Sparkling in Second, and Peppy Zesty Teacherista for setting up these challenges.

I missed last week's Makeover Challenge because I was out of town, but hope 

to catch up with that soon!

I moved into a new house about a year ago, and continue to have ideas about how to 

spiff up the place (thanks Pinterest).

I also have my eye on some new living room furniture.

I love to travel, and would love to do more without worrying about the costs adding up.

I went to Puerto Rico with family over the last Christmas break, and would love to go again.

Well, there, and every other sandy beach in the northern hemisphere.

I love the freedom of summer, and having time to create.

During the school year I reward myself with "creation time" if I get all of my 

correcting/planning work done for school.  

Although schoolwork is really a labor of love for me, the time it takes puts a real dent into product creation.

What do you "dare to dream"???

Rebranding Learning in the Little Apple, and CTP Giveaway Winner

You may have noticed that my blog has a new look (and new name)!

Thanks to Megan for my new blog design!

I will soon be changing over my blog to Guide~Teach~Inspire.

Hope you'll stop back soon for updates.

In the meantime, the winner of the $50 CTP gift card is Breanne Simons!

Congratulations Breanne, and thanks to everyone for entering.

There will be more Creative Teaching Press giveways later in the summer, so stay tuned!

Reflect and Refresh on the Past School Year Linky

Welcome to Reflect and Refresh, a two-part linky party where teacher bloggers share their reflections on the 2014-2015 school year and ways they are planning to refresh their teaching in 2015-2016.

Here's a look at one of my weekly updates slid into the front of a student binder. 

Here is a picture of the dish drainer I use for iPad storage.  Easy and neat!

I hope you'll join in our linky to share your reflections on the past year.

An InLinkz Link-up

Oh - and stop back soon for the announcement about the winner of the $50 Creative Teaching Press gift card!

I'm an Exclusive Blogger with Creative Teaching Press and I've Got a Giveaway for YOU!!

I am honored to be one of an amazing group of bloggers who are ready to share with you some of 

Creative Teaching Press's latest and greatest products for decorating your classroom (and more)!

Creative Teaching Press is proud to be celebrating 50 years of teachers helping teachers. It was 50 years ago that a veteran school teacher named Luella Connelly got the idea to make her creative ideas for fun and effective teaching available to other teachers. And with the success of her “Recipes for Creative Writing,” CTP was born! Since then, generations of teachers have looked to our family-owned, teacher-managed company for the supplementary materials they need to help their students learn and make their classrooms a positive learning environment.

I have loved using products from Creative Teaching Press for years.

This set of Inspire U Posters happens to be one of my absolute favorite items.

I used them this past year as part of my PBIS lessons, and my students have eagerly watched for the messages that promote positive behaviors and relationships.

Most of the time I place the posters in a prominent area of my classroom near our weekly poem.

This poster was paired with our class picture early in the year.

I decided to share these posters all over our school building.  This one was perfect for greeting 

students and staff each day.

Teachers need some inspiration too!  This one can be found in our supply/work room area 

in plain view over the copier.

The message on this poster was perfect for right outside the gym.

Of course a quote from Albert Einstein needed to be placed near the science supplies.

Common areas are a good spot for helpful hints to students.

Some of the posters in the pictures are from this set of Inspire U Chalk Posters.

And now, how about sprucing up your current classroom decor with some bright new eye-catching colors??

My current color scheme includes a mix of black, gray, and lime green accents.

This picture shows the side of one of my bulletin boards where I used the BW Chevron border from Creative Teaching Press.

I hope to update the look of my classroom by layering new borders from the Painted Palette Collection with  the BW Collection from CTP.

Yes - I am a chevron addict.  It looks fantastic with the.....

Painted Palette Ombre Lime green Scallops Border!

And how cute is this border called BW Collection Posies paired with the...

Painted Palette Ombre Yellow Scallops Border ??

I also love this BW Doodles and Dots border layered with the very pretty...

Painted Palette Poppy Red Herringbone Border

You can win $50 worth of products from Creative Teaching Press by entering my giveaway below.  

Entries will be accepted until June 7, and winners will get their pick of $50 worth of amazing products from CTP.  What a great way to get your classroom decor gears turning for the coming school year.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And guess what???

You can earn even more chances to win Creative Teaching Press cash by visiting the sites of other exclusive bloggers!

Visit my friend Jessica's blog at Tales of a First Grade Teacher to see more inviting products from Creative Teaching Press.