Myth #1: I can’t create teaching resources because I don’t have time.
I hear this a lot from teachers when it comes to creating teaching resources. I know as teachers, we don’t have a lot of extra time. Most of us take work home when we teach in-person, and let’s not talk about how those who are still teaching virtually feel like they are constantly in teacher mode 😉. But, here’s the thing, there are lots of cool shortcuts that can speed up the process. Yes, you have to make a plan. When you take the time to go through the planning process, it will actually save you time when you are creating it! I’ve created more than 150 digital resources, and I can honestly say that I have developed a streamlined process for creating them. I’ve put together a free workbook if you’d like to try your hand at planning one out. Click here to get yours.
You just have to start with one. You start with one basic digital resource, get a feel for it, and then create another. Baby steps. Holidays and summer time are great moments in the year to try designing your first one without feeling rushed or pressured on time. This is why I am releasing my digital resource designing course right before the summer holiday. It will give teachers time to go through the simple steps, tips, and strategies that I have streamlined for my Savvy Apple community members. If you want to get on that waitlist, click here to get all the info about it.
Myth #2: I can’t create teaching resources because I’m not good with technology.
You don’t have to be a tech expert to create a great digital resource. Everyone, even the big sellers on TpT, started somewhere. They all started with one, and you can too! And, creating teaching resources doesn’t mean you have to sell them. You can create your own personalized templates to meet the needs of all of your students. Templates allow you to create resources quickly and save you so much time. Instead of starting from scratch each time, you simply add new content, tweak the colors and theme, and make it new. Templates make everyone’s life so much easier. Once you have a template, you don’t have to move on to more complicated technology. Templates are easy! This is why I’m including templates in my upcoming course.
After you’re done planning, you’ll use only 1 or 2 platforms to get started. This prevents becoming overwhelmed, and you can quickly become comfortable with this number of platforms. One step at a time takes you from dreaming you could create, to planning a resource, to actually having one to use. Keep it simple, less is more.
PowerPoint and Google Slides are the beginner applications that I recommend. They give you so much creative flexibility. You can take simple tools, like text boxes, along with a bit of clip art, and create a variety of fun resources. These programs are the ones that I’ll walk my students through in my course. They are great for beginners but also work well as you become a more advanced designer. Click here to get on the course waitlist.
Myth #3: I can’t create teaching resources because I can’t draw/design well.
Honestly, I am not the greatest artist when it comes to drawing. With digital resources, drawing is not necessary! Pre-designed clip art and fonts make designing easy and your creations really come alive! We can plan the resources and put them together, and then let the artists do their part for us 😊! Like I mentioned before, you can create beautiful, visually stimulating resources in no time just by using a few basic elements of design (e.g. text boxes, shapes, fonts, tables, color matching, etc). PowerPoint and Google Slides help us accomplish this with easy formats for beginners. The more you create, the quicker you will become at designing and arranging your resource pieces. Start with planning. I can walk you through that process for free. Click here to get the planning workbook.
Myth #4: I can’t create teaching resources because it’ll cost too much money.
I mentioned clip art and computer programs in the last few sections, and some of you might already be speaking this next myth out loud. So, let me debunk this one also. Google is free, and most of us already have access to PowerPoint on our computers. See? Not expensive at all!
And clip art, you ask? When you plan your resources carefully, you can minimize your spending by purchasing only the clip art that is relevant to what teaching resources you are creating. And, clip art can be repurposed. For example, as a math teacher you can grab a set of math images that you can reuse for years! There are even great bundle deals on clip art available. Try planning a resource this weekend. Click here to get your free workbook that will walk you through the planning process.
There are also plenty of free clip art and fonts available! You just need to know where to find it (which I can help you with 😉). In my course, I’ll also provide some BONUS, FREE clip art for everyone to use. Click here to get on the waitlist. Once you get the hang of creating your own digital teaching resources, you can not only make them your own, but you will save sooo much money in the long run from not having to purchase a resource for different objectives or themes.
See how easy it can be to create your own digital resource? The main thing to take away from this chat is that you CAN create your own resources. Keep it simple! Start with a plan. Grab this free workbook to do that now. Then, try your hand at it. Sometimes, you just need inspiration to guide your resource.
Take for example, this past weekend. My daughter, Lily, and I were hanging out cooking breakfast together. She was counting waffles as she took them out of the package. I like to use everyday activities to help her build her math skills. 😊 I was instantly inspired to turn our learning moment into a digital activity! It only took me about 20 minutes to whip it all together! And, viola! A quick, digital resource created easily with a fun, engaging theme. I put it in my shop today at 50% OFF for the first 24 hours! 🎉 Go and grab it HERE before the price goes up.
Need step-by-step guidance on the tech part of it? Sign up to be the first to know when my digital resource creation course opens for registration! You won’t want to miss it. I’ll give you strategies and tips, free clip art, bonuses, and walk you through step-by-step to create your own resource! Click here to get on the waitlist!
Comment below if you have any questions. I would also love to hear what resource you would like to create first!
Have a great week!
Jess @Savvy Apple
P.S. If you missed the news about the Savvy Apple FaceBook Group, click here to join the community of teachers planning their digital math resources for their students. Whether you haven’t yet created one or want to learn some easy tips to make designing easier, join us and share your journey!
Fantastic post! Each point is so true! At the end of the day like with most things, we can easily come up with excuses not do do something
Thank you so much, and great point! As with anything, we can always give excuses for not getting around to it. But if we try it out, we might surprise ourselves with how easy and fun it can be! 🙂
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