Want to make your flipchart sparkle?

     Just came across some fun sites that allow you to create some great graphics for your flipcharts (or any other project you're working on), thanks to Lisa Dubernard of Promethean Planet.
     Sometimes you find a really cool font, but it is not universal and doesn't show up the way you expect if that font is not available on the computer you're working on. Here are some fun sites that allow you to create your own graphics to be added to your flipchart.  You can create these and then put them in your resource library for use in future flipcharts as well.  They do take a little time, so you probably want to use them for titles, headings, and the like.  I wouldn't create an entire page of text this way.
     You can animate your text at the Create Glitter Text site or create 3-D text at Background City. There is also a site called Cool Text that has some pretty interesting options.  Don't forget about Word Art, too. 

I'll present a coaching session in the coming weeks on how to create these to add to your flipchart.

Spelling City and new handwriting and writing activities

     Looking for a way to get some handwriting lessons into your curriculum?  Use your spelling or vocabulary words and www.Spellingcity.com . Spelling City has a handwriting worksheet that you can create. Start with a list, then choose handwriting and print worksheet. There are options for type size and style.  Two birds with one stone, handwriting and spelling.
     There are also new writing features on Spelling City.  You can have your students write sentences using a list of words.  Or, you can require that they write a paragraph using all the words from a list.  You can also write your own directions; ie: have students write definitions for each word in the list.  These can be printed out or emailed to the teacher.  If you have the premium ($) version you can save and score student work online.  Here are links to two short videos demonstrating the possibilities. 

	Handwriting Worksheets for younger students
	Writing Practice Activities for older students