One of my most popular TeachersPayTeachers free downloads is my Math Mania file for the Smartboard. It's one of the very first items I shared on TpT three years ago and has over 30,000 downloads - is that insane or what?! Kind of blows my mind a bit.

With all those downloads, comes a lot of questions and many requests to help those who don't have a Smartboard use the file in some way. So, I thought I'd take some time to do that today.

You need Smart Notebook software to use the file the way it's listed, but I'm sharing some things with you today that will enable to use it even if you don't have access to the software - or even if you don't have any sort of interactive whiteboard at all. Yay! So first, the most common request I receive is to share the pdf of the activity separate from the Smart Notebook file, so here you go! Just click on the picture to download from Dropbox. You don't need an account to download, but you can sign up for one here if you do want to set up a free account. It really makes sharing and saving files super easy.

Now, be kind. I made this at the very beginning of my tpt adventure, so it's not quite as visually appealing as my stuff now, but the activity is still pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. ;)

The interactive notebook file shows how to complete each box on the page and looks something like this:

Now if you don't have the Notebook software, I've turned the whole file into a PDF. So if you at least have a projector you can show each page just as you would see it in the Notebook file. If you don't have a projector, you can perhaps display the pages on the board or use them with small groups. I hope that helps! You can download the PDF of that here.

There are a few ways to use Smart Notebook files with other interactive whiteboards, like Promethean and Mimeo, however I haven't had a ton of success importing these files into their software. Smart actually has a free read-only version of the software that will enable you to use Smart files without having the software.  Unfortunately, I've found that not all of the files translate so well and you tend to lose some of the interactivity, but it's definitely worth a try. You just have to download the files you want to use, then click here and you'll see this:

Click on "Open an existing Notebook file" and then choose the file you're trying to open. I'd love to hear if you have success with it!

I have a few other free Smartboard files you can try too. Just click on the pictures to download them from TpT.

Happy weekend, my friends. I've got a long list of things I need to do around this poor neglected house of mine now that most of the back to school craziness is subsiding. Now let's see if I actually accomplish any of it!

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SunnyDays

I had some great comments and questions on my previous Smartboard Linky Party post, so I thought I'd share a little bit of my know-how with those interested. One easy, fun way to jazz up your Notebook files is by creating backgrounds. First I must start with a disclaimer: Everything I'm about to show you I learned on my own through trial and error. If there is an easier, faster way to do this, please don't tell me because you'll break my heart. Just kidding, feel free to any tips you have in the comments :)

I know the pix are a bit small, but just click on them and they get much bigger.
First, open a notebook file or create a blank page.

Click on the properties tab - the one highlighted in blue below. You'll see the panel open. Now click on "image" fill and then the word "browse" under the little gray window.

Now, for this you'll need to have some files with background images. I get most of mine from Thistlegirl.com. (If you plan to sell these, you'll need to buy both of her reseller's licenses) Once you click on "browse" a window will open for you to choose your file:

Once you click on your choice, then click the "open" button, your page will fill up with that image!  (Im a Mac girl, so this part may look different for my PC peeps). Now, I think that's busy for a background, so I usually create a blank space in the middle and leave this image sort of like a frame.

 To create the frame effect, click on your page and go up to the shape menu and choose a square.

 Now, click on the square you just created, choose "properties" from the drop down menu, click on "solid fill" and choose a color.

 Now stretch and position the square to make a frame.

To make a border around the frame, click on the square again, choose "properties" and "line style". Now you can play with the color, size and style of your line (which is the outline of the square).

 Lock it in place and you're ready to create!

Play around with this a bit and see how it goes. Let me know how it worked for you. If you have anything else you'd like to know how to do ~ ask away & I'll do my best to help out!

*Check out Mrs. Miner's Monkey Business Interactive White Board Linky

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SunnyDays

*Check out Mrs. Miner's Monkey Business for another great Interactive White Board Linky*

Thoughts of a Third Grade Teacher is hosting a linky party about Smartboard lessons. So timely for me, as I've been glued to the couch creating new Smart attendance files for next year for the past 2 days! I actually have had the Smart Airliner for the past 5 years. While I loved it at first, once I went to the big FETC technology conference in January, I was ruined. I went back to school and begged for a real board. Times being what they are, there just isn't money to buy one right now. However, I just learned that through a weird twist of fate, I actually will have one in my room next year! So, I'm super excited!

I've been creating Smartboard lessons for a few years now. It really plays to my creative side. I think I'm a frustrated graphic designer at heart and this gives me a serious outlet! If you have any questions about what I've done to create the lessons below, just ask! I learned most of what I know through trial and error. Although I attended a lot of trainings, none of them really got into the creative stuff that I loved. Maybe I should start a series of tips I've picked up along the way...leave me a comment if that's something you'd be interested in. That would be fun if ya'll are interested!

Most of the lessons I'm sharing here are in my TpT store and a couple of them are free, so be my guest and download them! I linked most of the pictures to the listing so you can download the preview which will show you all of the pages.


Here is one freebie ~ it's called Math Mania. I loooooove this. Basically it is a tutorial for how to complete the weekly math review I created. Each page of the notebook file gives directions and an example for each part of the handout (which is attached to the file if you download it).

Another freebie (but only for a limited time) is the introduction to calendar math on the Smartboard (the first pic). I'm working on a new one for each month (You'll see Oct. below). I'm starting simple and then adding more and more skills as the year progresses. 2nd grade is a bit of a transition w/ calendar math, so this is a great way to hold on to the review of essential skills without boring them with the repetition of things they know. After they are comfortable with the format, this becomes one of my centers.

This next one was a fun one to create. It's like a little webquest. Students can click on the clue notepad and link to other pages within the notebook file or external web links. I was pretty proud of this one!

This one was done with special needs students in mind. A very visual way to learn about emotions. I had this one on the Smart Exchange for a while and I actually had a lot of SpEd teachers contact me about how useful it was for them. That made me feel all good inside, for sure :)

Another great way to use the board every day is with attendance files. This is going to be so much fun next year with a real board! Kids just move their name or number to the appropriate spot as they enter, so a quick glance of the board shows who's absent and present. (Shameless plug: These are now available in my TpT store. 20 pages for less than 50 cents each!)

I'm so fascinated with the software and how easy it is to create exactly what I need. Here are a few more pictures of some of my creations. Let me know if I can help you unleash your inner creative diva!

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SunnyDays