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MARKETING MAVEN: The Creative Classroom Branding & Site MAKEOVER

3/31/2016

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// A BRAND IS RE-BORN! //

I'm BEYOND thrilled to announce and celebrate the BIG REVEAL of Ashlyn's new brand and blog REDESIGN at The Creative Classroom!  Meeting Ashlyn and becoming friends has been such an absolute privilege, pleasure, and most wonderful perk of my teacher-blogging venture. We met in person for the first time last summer when we hosted the Make a Splash Teacher Bash pool party in Vegas {OH, the memories!}. Before that, we'd been digi-friends!  

Since last year's conference, we've continued to collaborate and grow our brands together. For both of us that has meant working to find and narrow our niche, growing pains of juggling teaching full time and being entrepreneurs, and having oodles of fun collaborating on various projects. Since last summer, Ashlyn has been building and re-thinking her blogging and TPT brand. I have had the privilege of partnering with her as her designer to bring her vision for REBRANDING The Creative Classroom to life! Hop on over to her NEW SITE with NEW GRAPHIC DESIGN and NEW PHOTOGRAPHY to see our project live!!  

I'll be posting more about my design process, philosophy, MY OWN BRANDING redesign, and exciting things on the horizon very soon. For now...let's keep the spotlight on Ashlyn. Read to see elements of her redesign concept, process, and final product. Also, don't miss the HUGE GIVEAWAY at the end!
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// THE INSPIRATION & DESIGNS //

It was great that Ashlyn had already been working on her niche, product brand style, & had some ideas to work with. Together we created a private Pinterest board where we dumped TONS of color combos, fonts, layouts, imagery, and every other type of fun inspiration you can imagine. Through consultations and our Pinterest design mood board, her logo image began to develop, colors followed, and then all of the fun little details that make her site unique and true to her brand. Now, it's her DREAM REALIZED!
INTERESTED IN REDESIGNING YOUR BRAND & BLOG? CLICK HERE!
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// OUR CLEAN CANVAS //

As both a designer and a teacher reader/customer I believe it is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE to start with a clean canvas. Think about starting a new painting or even applying makeup: START with a clean canvas. Crisp. Bright. Clean. Spacious. This enables your site, blog, and branding images to SHINE on their own. When you watch TV, don't you hate STATIC & ADS?  Too much going on with site design, background, and sidebar DISTRACT from your branding design, products, and content.
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// ONE STOP SHOP //

As a designer, I partner with premium WEBSITE/BLOG CREATORS, both for Wordpress & Blogger platforms (such as Ashlyn's template choice above). We collaborate to choose the best simple layout to apply to your platform (WP or Blogger). Then, I collaborate with the site creator to install your new "canvas" and transfer over your existing blog. This is all complete with customization of colors, numerous layout options, font customization, and finally....the incorporation of our finished branding designs and photography......VOILA!!
INTERESTED IN REDESIGNING YOUR BRAND & BLOG? CLICK HERE!

// CELEBRATE WITH ASHLYN! //

The realization of Ashlyn's branding and blog site design dreams is certainly something to celebrate! Join us both as we thank you ALL for being fans with this amazing giveaway! Enter to win below, and
BE SURE TO ENTER YOUR EMAIL for exciting updates about my NEW SITE &DESIGN SERVICES!!!

{...as well as future giveaways, specials, & MORE!}
*PRIZES: A creative gift basket filled with crafting goodies & $20 Michael's gift card
$50 CREDIT towards logo & branding design by ME!
INTERESTED IN REDESIGNING YOUR BRAND & BLOG? CLICK HERE!
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Last Minute Valentine's Day STEM Activity LIFESAVERS!

2/11/2016

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Whether you’re not allowed to throw Valentine’s Day “parties,” you are throwing a party and need some quick ideas, or you want to weave some sweetheart STEM into your instruction this week, I have easy-to-do, engaging activities that are sure to please even Cupid himself!
​

The key to each of these suggested activities is that they are super simple and most likely can be created with materials you already have in your home or classroom, or can be purchased at any discount or dollar store. Also, these activities are super flexible. You’ll see in the examples below that most of the activities have alternative ingredients or process steps. This is your FREE PASS because basically, you can’t mess these up, and you and your students will love every minute!


// Super Simple Valentine's Day STEM for Your Sweethearts //

Get a SNEAK PEEK of the fun below and click on each preview image to
​read details for each activity on my Scholastic Top Teaching blog post!

NATURE LOVERS

Spread the love this Valentine’s Day by sharing in the celebration by creating winter bird
feeders for the birds outside! The process is easy, and materials that you need can most
​likely be found in your pantry and garage (or found at any store).
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BLEEDING HEARTS

Watch students “overflow” with excitement as they engage in an experiment examining solids, liquids, gases, and chemical reactions with this quick, simple activities using household materials.
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LOVE POTION #9

Experiment with and observe buoyancy and states of matter by seeing how different types of Valentine’s Day candy react with carbonated liquids! This love potion will leave student
​heads spinning and hearts pounding!
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CANDY COATED CRUSH

Candy is a fabulous ingredient for science experiments, and we all know Valentine’s Day has
​candy-a-plenty. Try some of these instant options for Valentine’s Day candy light refraction and solubility experiments that are crowd-pleasers, but simple to set-up and execute.
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POP ROCKS PUPPY LOVE

These crazy little candies are as great for science experiments as they are for eating! You can use the Pop Rocks and soda as substitutes for baking soda and vinegar in the experiment listed above, or try something totally new using the directions below, courtesy of Steve Spangler Science!!
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CREATE YOUR OWN CUPID’S BOW

Valentine’s Day just wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Cupid. I’ve never tried this activity before, but I’m really pumped about adding it to my engaging explorations this year! After searching and scouring, I’m SMITTEN over these three options for students to choose from as they try to engineer their own Cupid’s bows! Scan the QR codes below to access instructions from the original sources.
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LOVE LAUNCH

My fellow Top Teaching Blogger, Genia Connell, “hit it out of the park” with her Valentine’s Day
​STEM activity post with everything you need for students to engineer candy catapults.
Check out her blog post, free downloadable PowerPoint presentation,
and step-by-step photo tutorial by clicking on the image below! 
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TRY THESE OUT TOMORROW! THEY'LL LOVE YOU FOR IT!

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Bloomboard is your PBL Mecca

2/10/2016

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As a teacher, I spend a LOT of time searching, researching, reading, making folders (digital or physical) full of useful materials, purchasing materials, scoping out videos, and more...all in search of professional and classroom resources and professional development. Often I’ve thought, “Why are we all running around like chickens with our heads cut off searching for materials, and then starting over again the next time. It’s SUCH a waste of our precious, limited time!”  Wouldn’t it be nice if someone, some magical force, could do the searching for us, sift through the crap, and CURATE awesome collections of resources for educators for FREE? Well, my friends, your resource curator hero is here: Bloomboard.

​I am so pumped about this cornucopia of plenty filled with educational resources to the brim. We’re talking articles, blog posts, videos, printables, and more. The best part is that the site is so easily and visually organized and searchable. CLEARLY the folks at Bloomboard understand the needs, struggles, and time constraints that we educators face on a daily basis. They are here to maximize your efforts and minimize time. For that, I’m extremely grateful and super excited for what this resource can mean to teachers and classrooms all over.
​

Find out the basics, and build your interest by checking out the info directly from the Bloomboard informational page, pictured below. The best part is that once you’re intrigued...you can sign up for FREE (YES--absolutely free) and explore at your own pace, not worrying about cost or limits!
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 //  I AM in PBL HEAVEN!  //

If you follow this blog or my Scholastic Top Teaching blog posts, you know that I have an absolute passion for Project/Problem-Based Learning. I can't get enough of it. Over the years, I've spent countless hours scouring for good resources. Now....I have it all in one place. Bloomboard has an entire PBL category, and within that category, 16+ COLLECTIONS of resources, all with multiple items in each. It's unbelievable!  

​If you're just starting out or are even slightly interested in (or skeptical about) the wonders of PBL in the classroom at any age, their PBL collection is where you should start!  Not only does this collection come jam-packed with everything you need to dive in, but it also has micro-credentials available! Check out what this collection includes, and then EXPLORE for YOURSELF (because there are more provided than what I highlight below!).  As you're exploring, don't forget to RECOMMEND to other teachers using the "thumbs-up" button in the upper left hand corner of each resource, and SAVE FOR LATER using the "plus sign" inside the circle, located in the upper right hand corner of each resource. SO QUICK & EASY! 
Project Based Learning


// CURIOUS about PBL? Just Starting? //

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PBL gets criticism for being FLUFF. It ABSOLUTELY IS NOT. Make sure you can back up your projects with rigor using this resource!

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I LOVE THIS. PBL is a LEARNING EXPERIENCE, both for teachers and students. Watch this PBL FAIL...and learn from other's mistakes!

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// Don't REINVENT the WHEEL! Read, Print, GO! //

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What are you waiting for?
It's FREE.
It's FABULOUS.
It's FUN.
​SIGN UP!


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Link up with Shametria from The Routty Math Teacher on 2/11 for a preview of other amazing collections from Bloomboard!  Shametria has been an elementary and middle school educator in Texas for 14 years. She’s currently a Secondary Math Instructional Coach and is working toward a Doctoral degree in Mathematics Education at Baylor University. She is also a blogger (emerging anyway), professional development facilitator, and teacher-author for all things math!

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TPT SALE GRAPHICS from MARKETING MAVEN

1/20/2016

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MARKETING MAVEN INSIDERS get 16+ FREE TPT SALE GRAPHICS! If you've already signed up...CHECK YOUR EMAIL. If NOT...SIGN UP NOW to snag 4 image collections, installment instructions, & give your storefront & social media INSTANT CURB APPEAL!  bit.ly/MM_INSIDERS_FREE {SIGN UP}

// FREE BLING for your TPT SALE PROMO //

Marketing Maven INSIDERS...get benefits like FREE TPT SALE GRAPHICS!
I've created 4 collections of images for your TPT STOREFRONT & SOCIAL MEDIA that are designed, sized, and ready to drop & go to ready your shop in a snap.  Sign up to 
ENJOY THE FREEBIES, LOVES!
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Learn how to INSTALL these graphics goodies on your TPT storefront and social media channels in an INSTANT! Check out these previous RESOLUTION: SHOP MAKEOVER series blog posts!

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RESOLUTION: SHOP MAKEOVER - FREE Styled Images for Teacherpreneurs!

1/17/2016

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You've been learning how to keep your New Year's resolution to make this the BEST TPT year EVER for you...and I've been posting helpful tips to primp your storefront.  NOW...I want to give you some FREEBIES to make it a snap and help your social media & blog posts, & product covers look STELLAR.
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CLICK HERE to sign up for your FREE IMAGE KIT!


Want a FREE TEACHER ART PRINT, too?

Find me on Instagram @lindseypetlak -- REPOST my original post about the FREE styled images kit and tag a friend! Then fill out THIS FORM to get your email download AND free print!
The print below will be YOURS! Just in time to use in your office or print & give as a
​Valentine's Day gift for teacher colleagues or your child's teacher!

**PLUS: ALL art prints, stationery, & styled images for teacherpreneurs are ON SALE 20% off right now in my TPT store**

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