Gil Warzecha - resources

CafePress Questions ...

2010-10-18T17:40:00.000-07:00

So, here’s a good one for you … LAST January CafePress automatically billed my credit card for a website that I no longer wanted. Billing the credit card was quickly resolved. However, they took the cash balance that I earned through my sales and applied it to the credit as well. It’s been TEN months since this error occurred and they STILL haven’t returned the money to my account – even though I’ve been told that this money should have been returned to me a number of times. If you have experienced the same or similar problem, PLEASE SEND ME A NOTE! I want to see if this is a common practice by the company.

Since I have been calling more often, I’ve also started noticing that not all of my images and products appear in the Market Place. All of my photos are tagged with my name, so there is no reason why they shouldn’t be appearing. If you sell products in the market place and have noticed the same error, please SEND ME A NOTE.

I really am interested in seeing how wide-spread this problem is. Thanks!!!

Internet TESL Journal

2010-10-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

Internet TESL Journal is one of my personal favorite sites for flash quizzes. (A flash quiz means that each time students access the site, the questions are introduced in a different order.) I prefer this kind of an online quiz because students can be tested on the same information but STILL be seated next to each other ... The other advantage to using this site is that students don’t become accustomed to the order of questions and memorize the answers. From my experience, it really seems like a better way to use the same system to test the student’s understanding of the points.

Sheppard Software

2010-09-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

Sheppard Software: The first few times I stumbled across this link, I didn’t include it in any of my resources; the colors of the site are quite bright, the titles of sections are titled “Kid’s Corner”, and even some of the pictures were of children. I was concerned that including the information would make my adult learners feel as if they were not viewed as a mature individual.

However, after taking a closer look, I realized that the site is evolving. The developers realized the information was not only attracting their initial audience – elementary aged students – but it’s also beginning to attract a wider audience. At the bottom of the page, the information is divided into levels, such as what would be interest an elementary, a high school, or an adult student.

One of the problems that many of our students face is loosing academic time while they are acquiring the language skills; thus, the students spend the time learning English rather than the specifics of geography. This site could possible link the two areas if the students are specifically directed to the specific subject. As teachers, we know that students learn faster when engaged and interested in the topic!

Before introducing this to students, pre-screen the site. Be sure that the link that you send the students includes more of the mature material. Thus, sending them to the “Painting Activities” page really wouldn’t be helpful. Nevertheless, the resource is DEFINITELY worth looking into!

FREE On-line Product Printing Resources

2010-08-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

There is a whole plethora of on-line printing resources for people to use. However, many of the sources require an upfront fee in order to post posters or other products.

• This most well-know source for printing images of products is Café Press. The nice part of this site is that the link allows users to upload images for free. The MAJOR drawback is that the source only allows one image per store. For an example of this, CLICK HERE. If users want to have multiple images on the same page, they must pay and monthly or yearly fee. As well, as long as the store is posted, the fee is automatically applied to the credit card. To avoid this, the store must be deleted – thus, negating all of the work that was done to create the store. In addition, there are trillions of images uploaded to the site. So, it’s easy for your images to become lost in the mix.

• Another source is Zazzle. It’s a newer site, but I prefer this to the above link because it allows users to upload as many images to the same store as desired. Plus, the link has some fun products, such as keys chains, skateboards, and shoes. To be forwarded to the site, CLICK HERE.

• The final site Image Kind. This site is geared more for photographers, painters, sculpture, or arts who want to sell printable versions of their images. This isn’t a site that is for everyone. However, the site has VERY competitive prices and is extremely easy to work with. Users are able to use ten key words and have two different galleries at no cost. For an example of this, CLICK HERE.

How do these sites make money? Well, whenever a product is sold, they take a percentage or a base price. The nice part is that the user just needs to keep uploading images and revising key words, if needed, to keep the store fresh and active.

Granted, there are MANY more of these types of stores online. If there is another source that would be a great addition to the group, please add a comment at the end of this blog. As well, feel free to comment on sites that you do NOT prefer or should be avoided. (As an aside, I still use all three resources!)

English Pronunciation for ESL, ELL, EFL, or ESOL Students

2010-08-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

I just finished another lens. This one is geared to help ESL, ELL, ESOL, and EFL students. All of the specific language information was requested. If there is a language that you would like added to the lens, please feel free to add a comment at the bottom of the page, in the “Reader Feedback” section. To go to the link, click on the title of this blog or go to http://www.squidoo.com/gw-english-pronunciation.

Sites for Mothers

2010-07-31T19:11:00.000-07:00

I’m interested in creating a series about how we – mothers – TRULY look after childbirth. This is a series that will probably take a lifetime to complete because anything besides the Hollywood perfect image is seems to be simply unacceptable in the overall culture. Also, I'm learning how to balance being a mother, working, and all of the other details that have now become of my daily routine ... In the process, I found found a few groups that seem to focus on these areas.

dA Mommies is a group of artists who are mothers. I really like this group because it is a wonderful platform for mothers to share their stories, artworks, and get advice about any of the two.

The Shape of a Mother is a site where mothers share images of how they REALLY look – rather than the nip-and-tucked version that is smeared all over the media. A while ago, I submitted an article called “Beauty, Art and Post-pregnancy” – which the above link will forward you to.

Pregnant & Beautiful is a group of artists who focus on women, their bodies, children, and other images. This is a new group that I just stumbled across …

Does anyone know of other groups that are platforms for mothers? I’m also interested in areas where mothers can network with other artists.

BASIC Vocabulary for Students Learning English

2010-07-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

This resource is intended for students who are learned English as an ESL/ELL student in the high school setting, an adult student in a community education program, or a student just beginning to learn English as a Foreign Language. All of the resources included in this link are free! If there is an area that you would like to see expanded, please feel free to leave me a note either just below this blog or in the “Reader Feedback” section of http://www.squidoo.com/english-vocab .

Writing 5-Paragaph Persuasive Essays

2010-07-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

For students learning how to structure and write a five-paragraph persuasive essay, http://www.squidoo.com/college_writing is the link to use. The objective of this lens is to provide developing writers with ideas how to structure their persuasive essays as well as explain the various parts of essays, such as introduction, thesis statement, topic sentences, analysis, conclusion, and so forth. Also, if there are questions or you would like more information about a specific topic, please add a comment to this blog or in the "Reader Feedback" section at the bottom of http://www.squidoo.com/college_writing add a comment in the section.

Free Resources for the Online Writing Tutor

2010-07-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Free Resources for the On-line Writing Tutor, at http://www.squidoo.com/online-tutor , include links to citations rules and examples of papers using these methods (such as APA, MLA, Chicago …); links to lists of grammar rules and free online tests; and additional links to different types of writing (such as persuasive essays, memos, business letters …)

Common Writing Errors

2010-07-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

The page, http://www.squidoo.com/Teachers_cheat_sheet , is developed to show teachers some new common that developing writers in the college setting make. Even though the lens is geared to the developing college writers, it is still very applicable to teachers working in the middle and high school levels.

In this link, there are examples of various types of errors that developing writers and ESL/ELL students make in the college setting, such as in grammar, identifying plagiarism, and other areas of the writing process. Please, feel free to add to add your advice so that other instructors feel that they have the needed resources.

Teaching Links for the ELL/ESL Instructor

2010-07-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

This link, http://www.squidoo.com/teaching-links , is a collection of on-line resources for ESL/EFL/ELL instructors. It includes helpful links to free on-line resources, such as how to cite papers, improve listening comprehension, edit grammar, refine pronunciation skills, increase reading proficiency, develop writing skills, foster students’ vocabulary, and other interesting free on-line source. As well, there are examples of books that can be helpful resources to have in the classroom or to use with students. If there is any additional information that you would like added to this page, please send me a note in the "Reader Feedback" section or send me a comment in this blog.

Top Five Highlights in Sichuan, China

2010-07-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

Sichuan Providence, China is well-known for its spicy cuisine, panda breading center, and, more recently, the devastating 2008 earthquake. However, most tourists are so busy visiting the well-know sights, that some off road trips are often passed. This page focuses on some of the wonderful sites in Sichuan, China such as Leshan's Gaint Buddha, horse back riding in Songpan, the The Gaint Panda Sanctuaries in Wolong Valley and more. Go to http://www.squidoo.com/Sichuan_China for more details.

New York City’s Commonly Missed Attractions

2010-07-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

New York City’s Commonly Missed Attractions, which is located at http://www.squidoo.com/NYC_Sites, discusses sites that most travlers miss.
The Statue of Liberty ... Rockefeller Center ... Times Square ... Central Park ... These are just a few of the common places that people travel when they visit New York City. However, most of the interesting sights are often missed as tourists dash from one over-visited location to another. The city has so much more to offer - especially for those who believe that they have seen it all in NYC. Are you interested in history? The city also has castles? Are you traveling with kids? There are some wonderful attractions for children. How about those who like nature? The city also has many parks that are unknown to many travelers. This lens focuses on some of those overshadowed locations that a well seasoned traveler may be interested in visiting.

Free! Grammar Rules & Quizzes

2010-07-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

Do you have problems editing grammar in your own writing? Most writers do! The objective of this page is to provide you with additional information about various areas in grammar as well as FREE online quizzes. ALL of the links at http://www.squidoo.com/esl-links are FREE via the World Wide Web and easy to access. Because this is a page that is evolving, I would like your feedback as well. If there is an area in grammar that you would like additional information, please send me a note at the bottom of the page in the "feedback" section. Once the information is included, I can either email you or check the site often for updates.