TpT DIY: User Instruction Pages

I am very excited to teaming up with some of my favorite blogging buddies to give tips and advice on creating amazing products for Teachers Pay Teachers!  I sure wish I had this information when I first started out!  

I have the privilege of talking about User Instruction Pages...

My goal is to always create with the user in mind...to be as explicit and teacher-friendly as possible!

1st up...

Background: Jen Sykes   Frame: Jen Jones   Fonts: Kim Geswein

Why include a Table of Contents?

For me, as a buyer, I LOVE them for two big reasons...

1.) Since packs get disassembled once they're printed...ya know...some pages go to the copier, some to the laminator, etc...a Table of Contents will help you re-assemble your stuff so you know what goes with what.

2.) A Table of Contents helps me save my file in all the right places while the ToC page is open when I save.

For example, if the pack contains a combination of Literacy and Math activities, like in Plenty of Love, I like to save it in multiple folders on my computer and a ToC comes in handy...

While saving, I'd have the above "What's Included?" page open on my screen to my different folders...based on the contents of this particular pack I would save it to these five folders...

Monthly Activities/February

Word Work/Synonyms & Antonyms

Math/Fact Families

Math/Place Value

Language/Sentences

I probably wouldn't save them specifically to my Math/Addition or Math/Subtraction folders because I have so much in those folders already...

Without a ToC type page, in order to save I have to scroll through the pack and save as I go. Sometimes the packs I buy are huuuuge and a ToC makes the saving process so much more efficient.

And being a teacher, I'm alwaaaaayzzz looking for ways to increase efficiency!!!

Can I get an Aaaaaa-men on that??!!

I don't always call it a ToC...as you can see here, too...

 

Sometimes I include mini-pics of the pages, too...but I more often do that in the other part of my topic...

Next up...

Background: Jen Sykes   Frame: Jen Jones   Fonts: Kim Geswein

Some products are truly "print & go." In my opinion, those packs don't need Explanation pages...especially if they are 30 pages or less of use-able content.

If it's not a truly "print & go" pack, put some time into making Explanation Pages...they'll help the buyers that want it tremendously, which will really help your ratings, too!

An introductory page, such as this one from Finding Proof, can help explain your thinking...

So can a page of "Big Ideas" that a unit is trying to impart...

Building STAR Readers Pack is a huuuge pack with several sections...so there are a variety of instruction pages...

Here are some of the pages in the Mini-Lessons Outline...

  

In larger packs, it can really help to have a page at the beginning of each section such as... 

 

  

Simple pages like these can help, as well...

 

Referring to & citing specific Common Core State Standards is helpful for many of your buyers. 

Not all states implement CCSS and not all districts require teachers to cite the specific CCSS, so I tend to keep the list of included standards within an explanation page or two in order to appeal to the majority of buyers...and to keep it simple and uncluttered for buyers that don't use/want the CCSS.

Thanks for sticking with me!!! I wish you happiness and success as you begin or continue your TpT journey!!!

Do you want more amazing tips on how to make your Teacher’s Pay Teachers products sell, sell, sell?

Or even some CLIP ART FREEBIES?????

Click any link below to learn from my sweet friends...

     

      

Erica Bohrer has a WONDERFUL "Getting Started on TpT Post" that you can check out by clicking the picture below...