Adding a "Favicon" to your Blog Address...Something cool, and personalized!

Favicons are little icons that appear at the left of your website address.  For instance, my address is
http://maggieskindercorner.blogspot.com   If you look at the address, there is a small blue MKC icon by it.  Here is a quick way to create a favicon with the standard software on everyone's computer!
To create a favicon:

1.  Create a shape in microsoft word.
2.  Copy it with "PrntScr".
3.  Paste to Paint (a program included with your computer software).
4.  Crop the image and resize to 40x40 pixels (must be a perfect square).
5.  Save the image as a jpg file.
6.  Login to your blog, go to Design, then click on the Favicon "edit" link.
7.  Upload and save the favicon pic you created.
8.  That's it! It will take a while for the browser to recognize and show the favicon.

Kid/Teacher Friendly Avatar generators! These will be safe for school site use :)

I came upon this great blog from another teacher with loads of links for creating your own online persona.  The Voki avatar-type can be viewed on Fran's http://kindergartencrayons.blogspot.com 
 



http://philly-teacher.blogspot.com/2009/08/free-kid-friendly-avatar-creators.html
Happy blogging!

Thank you to all of our teachers for listening so kindly to my "share" sessions today!

Just a couple of things:
*If you want to add photos from an online site, be sure to copy the html embed code from the site.  This also works when posting a video from youtube.
*If you want to "peruse" the teacher site for youtube videos, go to this address:

 http://www.teachertube.com/

Here is another video tutorial on how to create a blog quickly in Blogger

Thanks again for being so nice to me!
Margaret

Here we go...How to set up a basic blog!

Follow this link:  https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=blogger&passive=1209600&continue=http://www.blogger.com/home&followup=http://www.blogger.com/home&ltmpl=start#s01

Fill out the form using a current email address and password you will remember! Then click on "continue".

 Step 1:

 Step 2:

 

   Step 3:

    Step 4:  Go to "View Blog", then click on "Dashboard".  You can make any changes in Dashboard
    such as adding features you want to appear in the sidebars of your blog.  Going to "Add Gadget"
    while in Dashboard will allow you to add things your other favorite blogs, a counter, etc.

    Step 5:  Posting is easy! Just type a title and a short introduction, then click Post!

Here it is! Time to think about creating your first blog!

Hello! I am Maggie, a kindergarten teacher from Missouri, and I hope to help guide you as you create your own blog.   Here is a quick video introduction By author Linda Lee that shares a basic reasoning/philosophy for creating a blog.  A link to my tutorial follows the video, or you can open up the link at the top in another window and get started in Blogger.  



     Soooo, if you want to be part of the "conversation", here is
     how to create a very basic blog in blogger:

       How to Create a Blog

But First! Read the following:


     Blogging is quickly becoming 
     the No. 1 way for teachers to communicate
     with other educators.
     


Blogging can:
     

a.  Allow teachers to share files or 

     promote educational products they have created for sale at

                                              http://teacherspayteachers.com  , or

                                              http://teachersnotebook.com , etc.

                                        

     b.  Help to communicate best practices.

     c.  Be a way to share and support 

          each other as we work through the

          new CCSS (Common Core State Standards).

Some things to keep in mind:

1.  Blogs are not private, so privacy of students and staff should

     be considered when posting photos of projects or classroom

     centers or activities.  When posting photos, many bloggers 

     choose to edit photos in a free site such as http://shutterfly.com , 

     http://picnik.com , or another photo editing program that allows

     blurring of faces (or has shapes to cover faces with).  

2.  Blogs, as any website, should not have personal information or 

     chat that might distract from your job as a professional.  You 

     maintain your professional reputation, so refraining from 

     commenting about students or sharing opinions about your job 

     will keep you in good standing online, as well as in your

     community.  

3.  You are more likely to interest others in what you have to share 

      by keeping posts short and to the point.  Be sure to let your

      personality shine as you write to the online audience.  Blogs

      that are revisited are the ones you find valuable for information,

      and for the share documents you can obtain quickly.

4.  Important Blog Etiquette:

     *Leave comments to thank the site owner for sharing information

     you find helpful in your teaching.  

     *Never post derogatory remarks that may "add fuel to a fire". 

       (Agree to disagree!)

5.  BIGGIE!!! Always make sure the clip art you use when creating

     "share" files is free of restrictions or copyright protection.

      A good example of usable blackline clip art is the art many

      teachers have purchased from djinkers.  At this time (and I am

      placing emphasis on "at this time") you may share a document

      you have created for your class as long as you include credit to

      djinkers.com in the margins, and save that file as a pdf file.

      A safer alternative for clip art is the art found at 

      http://scrappindoodles.com  .  The author/site owner has 

      made it clear in her terms of use which art is allowed.  If you

      plan to create materials for sale, it is worth the time and dollars

      to obtain a license that enables you to share the art for free or 

      for sale.

 That's it for your introductory lesson! 

Now go and click that link near the top to begin creating your own blog!