self publishing 2018

Now I'm re-writing what I already have, trying to add the missing content and re-formatting it. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hNRSfIhSk81Gq0a0iA42XhGW8eUuExFfQRSks7vVQ40/edit?usp=sharing

Hi Everyone, Just an update... I feel I'm terribly behind with everything. My plan to wake up at 5 every day hasn't worked out at all. I have learned that 3 days without proper wifi, a nasty cold and my usual workload are all against my ambitions to become a writer too quickly. Now I'm slowing down a bit. Reading your work is a huge inspiration! Today I converted what I have into Kindle format, what a tingly feeling it is to see my own cover in my Kindle library on the iPad :D What I have made the most spectacular progress is the cover design. Now, at last, I have some hours to work on this project only.

Hi everyone, Here's a more updated version for you to comment on. Main idea: this for homeschoolers and teachers of VYL. It includes some phonics tips, background info, and 40-50 games / activities to practice early reading and writing. Please take a look at the acitivites in particular! (Margarita - I've noted your comments and added - or resolved - them here. Thanks!) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r8bKXu6ZC3E4H3EiBSKHadWYWRqiqlQeb-X3PQv52rU/edit?usp=sharing

(Hopefully now 'commentable'!) Contents/ structure of DIY Pronunciation https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w_5OGXUgavqdtZY7eudG5UdZYQl6Bu4Lfrd4chUgIT4/edit?usp=sharing

DIY pronunciation introduction chapter (should now be open to comments) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nHxFwaF9meKuR0B4gdFRsf91k_ylK-fjNq4izbXYTa0/edit?usp=sharing

Hello All, this is my Cover # 4 for my ebook first draft. I created it using Canva. I saved both a jpeg version and a pdf file. I really enjoyed using Canva. I included in this version some suggestion made by Dorothy and Kate. I appreciate any comments or suggestions! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oKZ3sHaArZmKGcJCYexzAGFbPPjiHQfA/view?usp=sharing

Hello Dorothy and Barbara, I had a few questions as I go back to work on adding my ebook and re-design my cover. First, how do we give credit & copyright permission for images we add to our cover and pages in our ebook? Also, how do we give credit for the research that our ebooks are based upon? The formatting guide said no footnotes were possible. Thank you for your time!

Hello Again, here is my second cover design for my ebook about "how to read faster and comprehend more". I am going to use Canva on the next version of my cover. I appreciate all of your comments and suggestions. https://drive.google.com/file/d/16gpCU_dzfblSkzDGrtDafCGyBgO1UD96/view?usp=sharing

Hello All, here is my first draft again, but this time with a cover added and the comment window open. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fbzKw639ntF1-e3YUIVii5XJRU8qP3T_/view?usp=sharing

The person who designs my books and also my websites is going to be on some podcast thing, and is raffling off either a book design package or a website design. I think it would be, what, two hours before our class starts? This Saturday. So if you're interested... https://bookbranders.com/spilling-ink-contest/ https://bookbranders.com/spilling-ink-contest/

Now I'm thinking in terms of a series of mini-books. Each will have a lesson sequence and an intro, which is more or less the same in each mini-book. Here is what I have so far: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eofhio6yEfcGLapjZ666chqr1gCDC9yvAKuszVtIQd0/edit?usp=sharing

Works in progress: I've spent this morning working on my cover using Canva. I have gone for the title DIY pronunciation as I hoped it would convey that this is a technique that teachers can use to identify a 'problem' and then fix it themselves. Let me know if that makes sense! Re: the covers, i've made a couple of options based around the the theme of DIY and having a tool (the diagnostics contained in the book) to identify and address the problem. Cover 1: I like the bright colours but wondered if the large tool box image was too confusing given the actual content. Cover 2: This is my most contemporary cover, I felt it was most like the texts I have at home. Cover 3:I like the design of this but it does remind me of maths textbooks from the 1980s! :)

I have been looking int Book Creator a bit. It looks to be a great platform for my high Image (low text) materials. Here is a link. Read around to get an idea of what it can do. https://read.bookcreator.com/aWAhdfUWXPQR1UPW7fJOHnfObsb2/_or2hLPmR3WlS34sPH_WKQ https://read.bookcreator.com/aWAhdfUWXPQR1UPW7fJOHnfObsb2/_or2hLPmR3WlS34sPH_WKQ

OK, I deleted the old file because I'd made so many changes, and nobody had commented on it anyway. So here's the new one! https://drive.google.com/file/d/135jIwZDQb5wnKljqO-2H8FGGbEN9olvn/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/135jIwZDQb5wnKljqO-2H8FGGbEN9olvn/view?usp=sharing

I'm late in the game (the first week of this course was our final week of pre-sessional with nothing but exams, resits and many late nights marking, last week I had a journal issue due out, and this week I was finishing off final corrections on my thesis which was submitted on Thursday!) I hope I'm still able to participate now that I have a week off to fully commit! Today I'm watching lessons 2 and 3, but here's my week 1 HW. Homework #1 Should it be done? •Who would read/use my material? English teachers, teaching students of any level/ L1 and in any context •Why? What would they gain from it? Regardless of teachers' knowledge of pronunciation (something which is often lacking due to minimal training) the book would give them downloadable or printable 'tools' to use to assess (diagnostically) what their learners are struggling with in terms of perception and production of English- there are very few diagnostic tools available anywhere online or in books a...

As promised, here is a larger screenshot that shows a standard copyright text. Put your name and the year, and then feel free to copy this one exactly. Some more examples can be found on this excellent site: https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/01/copyright-page-samples-you-can-copy-and-paste-into-your-book/

Hi, Last-minute Charlie here. I have uploaded a cover https://drive.google.com/open?id=13hcWLvwu5SRy7bjbE_ZqggprvJDIZOUs > and a minuscule sample of my writing https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iU4C2DFMSCh7XmORmAHVDqkMgEbeIQ9q >. Look forward to your comments. I'll keep writing all week. I have also created a .mobi file (Kindle) if you want to download it https://itdi.pro/itdihome/IELTS-tips/IELTS-tips4.mobi >. Thanks. https://drive.google.com/open?id=13hcWLvwu5SRy7bjbE_ZqggprvJDIZOUs

This is Dorothy's version, which I like. I guess the question is, why do I like it? Because the fonts are bigger? Or because Dorothy is awesome? (Or both!) Seriously, in terms of graphic design I have no idea what I'm doing...still fun to play around with Canva, though! Edit: My wife has confirmed that this is much better than my design (which made her laugh after I revealed that it was the one example that wasn't mine — lol). So, I guess that's settled! :)

Version 2 — with frames. I still think Dorothy's version is better, but I'm wondering if this could work.

Thank you for all your comments on my first cover samples. I've taken your suggestions into consideration and here is round #2 :) I've played with fonts, letter colors, hashtags/no hashtags (no hashtags on most covers), header (stray stories) with first letters capitals / all capitals / no capitals (I don't really like Stray Stories with two capital letters S because of the bad connotation. For the same reason, for example, I don't like to refer to students as SS...), various options with my and my daughter's names. What do you think now? P.S. Enjoy the live session, guys! I wish I could join you, but 6 a.m. (Greek time) is really too difficult for me...

Last one. I promise. I clearly had too much fun with this. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ePMwJi8Rm7hKrCkfYlNKHzOz8lJkKBS1

Maybe another cover possibility? https://drive.google.com/open?id=1W-qVoqbLvSz9mEjTCsUexwm064bnABiu

I started to like designing because of this course, this is version 4 for my cover. Thank you Dorothy, thank you Kate for your feedback. https://drive.google.com/file/d/124gLGSBq11W3LdDa6wukMMx7Eglj68mM/view?usp=drive_web

I made the changes in the cover of the book according to your comments Dorothy and Kate. Hope it is looks OK . https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VHipR_mURe0WrrWb2VbKkqerqyv_wkRh/view?usp=drive_web

I haven't made as much progress as I thought I would. Here are the first few pages of my project. I'm not very happy with the cover - it's really sombre. I played around with using a raised hand emoji but it looked a bit amateurish. As I collate activities to put into the book, I keep wondering if I shouldn't limit myself to Business English and that I'd have a wider audience if I pitched it at ELT in general. But then again there are books on virtual activities for ELT and there's nothing for BE/ESP which is the need that I'm trying to address. You won't see the actual activities in the draft. Articulating them concisely (perhaps in the way that Dorothy's done in her book on tips) is something I'm struggling with. I hadn't envisioned blocks of numbered text and that's certainly not how I write activities in my own materials. What do you reckon? Would the first two pages motivate you to want to read more? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1...

Update (Sept. 26): I've added a new topic and have reordered the list a bit. Attached is a link to the first few (very sketchy) pages of my modest project. It is a set of "tips for success" aimed at students at my university. The idea is that each "Visiting Professor" would prepare one section, each of which would have 2 or 3 tips that we think the students should know. Content *Am I missing any topics that you feel could / should be included? *Do I have sections that shouldn't be included? (I'm thinking here of the alcohol and sex topics, as you may well have guessed). Format 1 'page' per set of tips (not because I'm thinking in pages, but because I'd like the amount of space each topic gets to be roughly equal). Picture of the Prof. in the upper right corner Picture, space permitting, underneath the text, to serve as a 'natural divider', of sorts. In short: simple. Thoughts welcome! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P1z-Y0mhHO...

Here's my idea for the cover. I originally had a different idea for the picture, but ended up standing in this spot and thought — jinkies, this looks pretty good! The text is not perfect (there's probably a better font + colour combination), but I think the general idea works. Feedback welcome — sorry it's been so long coming!

I share the introduction of the book as google doc.word. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_eozTznoE2v-YwaphX1mUy8jIGqjd_Wt/view?usp=drive_web

Hello All, Here is the first draft of the first chapter of my e-book about how to teach ELL students how to read faster and comprehend more. I welcome your comments and suggestions. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lxeRgUmAAXaXOW-qiXxBXBwLfGcYY1Jt/view?usp=sharing

Hello again, Here's a sample of my epub. Some images are still missing and I need to work on the layout (styles), too. Looking forward to reading your comments. Cheers! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EPJIjEQuR-nB7OefxVJGcZ7yviMWGzyT/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EPJIjEQuR-nB7OefxVJGcZ7yviMWGzyT/view?usp=sharing

Here is the introduction of the book https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LvHKVE2cpflpAzahjyFXtezeupNa38C5/view?usp=drive_web

Hello everyone! Here are my cover samples. You can vote for the upper part and the lower part separately - I can combine the top of one sample with the bottom of another one. Also, notice the use of hashtags on the cover - what do you think? And one more thing - do you prefer capital letter(s) or lowercase in "stray stories" (which is the title of the whole series). First letter capital, all capitals, all lowercase? Thank you!

As you continue to work on your covers, take a break to check out these stock photos and wonder what kind of books they'd go with... https://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/unexplainable-stock-photos https://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/unexplainable-stock-photos

And here's a rough draft of a chapter of my book. If you get easily upset due to foul language, this is not for you. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mm9j7WvZeG8SQ65tH7Dxi7vP_X08ZrTi/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mm9j7WvZeG8SQ65tH7Dxi7vP_X08ZrTi/view?usp=sharing

Here's my cover! https://drive.google.com/file/d/13gJ7aNi_UypNRfsFUms7l2zWFB-9R777/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/13gJ7aNi_UypNRfsFUms7l2zWFB-9R777/view?usp=sharing

Hello, I have been struggling to try to come to an idea for a project for this course. Since I have ( unfortunately) little time to dedicate to this now ( due to the beginning of the school year and the fact that I am teaching full time in six different classes) I wanted to work on something that I might actually need for school, instead of doing something which will not be used by me or by my students. There are a few things that I need to work on for my school and for my classes: 1) I need to write grammar tables and explanation for my students with special needs. The problem is... I need to write explanations in Italian and that might not be a good idea for a project for this class 2) I need to work on material for next year's primary school class which will start a bilingual project. Children will be studying and learning either Art or Science or Geography in English and I will have to prepare material for my coworkers ( primary school teachers). This material will have to incl...

HOMEWORK #1 Hi everyone! This is Alessandra from Italy. -Who would use my material? Esl and Efl eachers and students living primarily in Italy, possibly in Europe. -Why? What would they gain from it? Teachers will have ready to use material for their classes and students would have engaging material to work on -What are they currently using? They are using Textbooks and online material. -Why do I think my material is good? Because it is designed around their practical needs and interests. HOMEWORK #2 What will the final product look like? I still do not have a clear idea, I am here to find out. -How much have I already written? I have written different lessons on different topics but I wanted to start something new. -How much left? I would like to start a new project, therefore it has to be written . Was I supposed to start this course with something already done? -When do I plan to write? I do not have a set time and day. I usually write when ideas come to my mind. When I like what I ...

Miss Alex Hi everybody! This is the second week of class and I am so behind with it already! I came back from England this week and I was there with a group of students and did not have access to a computer. I hope I will have a chance to get back on track! Anyway... sorry about this. My name is Alessandra and I live in Italy. I am a primary and secondary school teacher and I teach English as a foreign language. I am excited about this course because over the years I have prepared a lot of material on my own and I would actually love to be able to share it in a professional way and make it more adaptable to different students. September is the worst month for me as schools in Italy start again and the first month is so hectic and crazy. I am still going to try to do my best for this class, I promise:-)! Shared privately•View activity Dorothy Zemach's profile photo Dorothy Zemach Don’t worry about being behind! Just jump in where you are. And welcome! It’s great that you have some m...

You may have noticed a change in the categories in our community. If you have posted works in progress (WIP), I’ve created a category for your name. This will make it easier for us to see all of your work together, and make it easier to comment. If you don’t yet have a name category, don’t worry. As you post your WIP, I’ll create one and move your posts there. Our live session will be this Sunday, September 23rd at 03:00 GMT. You can check what time this is for you here: https://timeanddate.com/s/3nuy The link for our virtual room is: http://itdipro.adobeconnect.com/spfepiidz/

And here is the cover of the book *as I told before, it is my first time to do it ) , so I need your feedback to improve it and be professional like yours 😊 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FyYOlM2YIoz3FGMFZT7AGUWkdP65s-z3/view?usp=drive_web

Hi all, I just managed to write the introduction of the book, and I tried my best to design the cover of the book (it is my first time to do it ), so I need to practice it more. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LvHKVE2cpflpAzahjyFXtezeupNa38C5/view?usp=drive_web

Cover. As you may know, I changed my topic to literacy / phonics. I'm rubbish at design so have played around and come up with 8! I'd really appreciate your thoughts (positive or negative) on: - the best title - the kind of design (e.g., jolly vs serious) - anything else! https://www.canva.com/design/DADD0UR9jVQ/pjVudw3NQsZm940hQdXwFA/view?utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=email&utm_source=publish

Seeking native speaker advice, everyone :) Do I need "The" before "seesaw" in the second line: You go up, I go down. Seesaw’s so much fun! You go down, I go up. Then we both fall down. ? Thank you!

Hey All, I also am confused about how to "create in epub format" as opposed to using epub to read ebooks. I have started typing text in a Word Document format. I have a Mac Air and I have IBook and am getting IBook Author today. So I can create in IBook Author and convert to epub format? Is that how it works? Then I can also convert that to Google docs to post in our community? Thank you guys for yor time!

Here's what I have so far: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hNRSfIhSk81Gq0a0iA42XhGW8eUuExFfQRSks7vVQ40/edit?usp=sharing

The two potential drafts of the cover for the book:

Cover:

Homework 2 Hi all. Just wanted to share my work in progress and a first shot at an ePub: The link for the content is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kNZf0vGBqxKHHGONQ3lz3KBb9v3U3KmwZUnMFZaOpJg/edit?usp=sharing two potential covers: 1) https://drive.google.com/file/d/17xo9e-dX_oox4QOSWRJ5SiTS0eKXfZAW/view?usp=sharing 2) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qPEdNWMwKoLMS1R6B4fc3dzDuF6QvN3g/view?usp=sharing And the link for the pub document with a first stab at a cover is here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AFHXgokn3ldaypoHZhNY7fsAfzVyI2xR/view?usp=sharing The epub file needs to be downloaded and opened in an e-reader program to be read. Thanks for your feedback in advance

I have been looking into different ways to create epubs. There seem to be some options Pages, iBook​ Author, Word, book creator. I will be creating mine using Pages or Book Creator.

Not really a post for help, but just noting that I need to catch up. I've been on holiday for a week, so I haven't yet caught up on the second session to know what I need to upload to the group. I'll try and get something together this evening or tomorrow and comment on some of the others WIPs that have been shared.

I made an epub file. It wasn't on communicative functions... like I mentioned in my homework 1 and 2. Instead, I am making a digital textbook for my Level 1 Target Language Course. I am not done... but here is a version one. It is in epub format. I designed it using Pages for apple. One advantage to this format is that it maintains high resolution. My website can't maintain the same quality because of file size. That is one clear advantage of this format. I watched the replay of the video and have found that many of the strategies talked about were the ones I have been leanring to use in my styles format and quite similar to page builders on websites. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1r82dMgfloV_AKsaX5HR17GAxxCC2GJ7t https://drive.google.com/open?id=1r82dMgfloV_AKsaX5HR17GAxxCC2GJ7t

Hi everyone! My ebook is a collection of fun activities for teachers and parents to use in order to teach children how to read (phonics, essentially). I'm terrible at design, so I'd really appreciate your feedback! - Which of these three do you like best? - Do you have any other ideas? - What do you think about the title? (I don't want people to confuse it with EFL reading) - Other thoughts? https://www.canva.com/design/DADDhkolJ2E/share?role=EDITOR&token=iu7pLiIAFDhgHbmBjgQSRA&utm_content=DADDhkolJ2E&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton https://www.canva.com/design/DADDhkolJ2E/share?role=EDITOR&token=iu7pLiIAFDhgHbmBjgQSRA&utm_content=DADDhkolJ2E&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton

This is my VERY late Week # 1 Homework assignment! https://drive.google.com/open?id=15T1DpeRp5ihUsUd32V7p-OPWlIRRLxPN

Hello all, This is my proposed topic for my e-book. This should be paired with/attached to my homework assignment for Week # 1, but I could not figure out how to attach the two documents! Even though it is very late, I still appreciate your comments and suggestions! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z5HPPx9c6p9EbDfZMGoQFgcj-OekFjqT/view?usp=sharing

Hello everyone! My sister is drawing for me. What do you think? I'll change BLACKIE for another name. Any suggestions? Fluffly? Eager to read you! Have a great Sunday! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oMwfAtUkK68XWLvaAgnpa21IEizKJK4C/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t_Ae4fq3LhXokZzqlwBsv2wFVTlo3GGs/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RdwUsMI6Y1IEzBVH3Z43tDH24moIEF-1/view?usp=drivesdk

Hello everybody! I can't download the ebook written by Dorothy Zemach. It says it's not available. Any idea how to do so? Thanks Laura

Homework #1 I’ve had a rethink... I’ve chosen a tips book, which is quick and easy to write. The goal is to be able to spend more time learning the skill of formatting, etc! * What? Who is it for? A book of “50 ways to teach children to read (phonics)”. Much like Lesley Ito’s 50 ways to teach YLs, this is ideas and activities (in 5 categories). Same format. * What do people currently use? I’ve noticed that there are numerous websites devoted to the topic of phonics (mostly written by resourceful homeschooling parents), but no creative ideas in books. * What will the final product look like—text? images? size? format? length? I had a massive writing sprint this week and wrote almost all of it in two days! Size - about 60 pages, with an introduction and 50 tips, like Lesley’s. It’ll be text plus as many photos as possible to clarify the activities. (I already have some lovely materials I made, so I need to take the pics and insert them). Some queries: 1. Photography - what do I need to ...

Here are two easy videos to show you how to write and format a manuscript. 1 https://youtu.be/a4iFRlTkERw 2 https://youtu.be/EXyzUxKnxVs Hope this helps! https://youtu.be/EXyzUxKnxVs

Dorothy Zemach Hi! This is Laura. What do you think about this story instead of Pete the Cat? I wrote it. Eager to read your and all my classmates' opinions. Have a great day! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mtA8irDSw9MdUCYCDcxUZkVcmaQu7IYXEROAR-7RZ7g/edit?usp=sharing

HOMEWORK #1 Hi everyone! This is Alessandra from Italy. -Who would use my material? Esl and Efl eachers and students living primarily in Italy, possibly in Europe. -Why? What would they gain from it? Teachers will have ready to use material for their classes and students would have engaging material to work on -What are they currently using? They are using Textbooks and online material. -Why do I think my material is good? Because it is designed around their practical needs and interests. HOMEWORK #2 What will the final product look like? I still do not have a clear idea, I am here to find out. -How much have I already written? I have written different lessons on different topics but I wanted to start something new. -How much left? I would like to start a new project, therefore it has to be written . Was I supposed to start this course with something already done? -When do I plan to write? I do not have a set time and day. I usually write when ideas come to my mind. When I like what I ...

Hi everybody! This is the second week of class and I am so behind with it already! I came back from England this week and I was there with a group of students and did not have access to a computer. I hope I will have a chance to get back on track! Anyway... sorry about this. My name is Alessandra and I live in Italy. I am a primary and secondary school teacher and I teach English as a foreign language. I am excited about this course because over the years I have prepared a lot of material on my own and I would actually love to be able to share it in a professional way and make it more adaptable to different students. September is the worst month for me as schools in Italy start again and the first month is so hectic and crazy. I am still going to try to do my best for this class, I promise:-)!

Dear everyone. I'm reposting my story since apparently there is something wrong with the one I originally posted and I can't read people's comments. Very frustrating. Could anyone leave a test comment in the Word document, just to make sure it works this time, and let me know in a comment below this post, so that I can open the document and check if it's there? Dear All, Here's the link to my story with the working title "Toby saves Teddy". I'm open to any other suggestions. I would love to hear from you - how relevant is the story in your countries and would you be willing to discuss this topic with your students? In Greece, the atrocity of dog abuse is something we experience every day. (BTW, at the moment, I feed many strays, but I'm taking a special care of two lovely 4-month-old puppies and I'm desperately looking for families and homes for them. So, if you know sb who is willing to adopt, contact me.) See, this is my reality, and I feel t...

Hello Dorothy and Barbara, I returned from Japan Saturday night. My husband and I had a marvelous time. Unfortunately, between the jet lag and horrible cold with a painful sore throat that I caught, I am pretty much in bed and sleeping. I apologize for further delaying my work and I am hoping to see my doctor tomorrow and start getting better. Once I am feeling better, I will start working immediately on my homework and project! Thank you for your time! Debbie Kellermann

Dear All, Here's the link to my story with the working title "Toby saves Teddy". I'm open to any other suggestions. I would love to hear from you - how relevant is the story in your countries and would you be willing to discuss this topic with your students? In Greece, the atrocity of dog abuse is something we experience every day. (BTW, at the moment, I feed many strays, but I'm taking a special care of two lovely 4-month-old puppies and I'm desperately looking for families and homes for them. So, if you know sb who is willing to adopt, contact me.) See, this is my reality, and I feel that I must do much more than just feed, give water and find a home for a couple of strays when millions of them need help. People in Greece need to get educated, and the best way is to reach the very little ones and shape their attitudes from the start. Sorry for all the talking, but I just can't stop when I bring up the subject. Looking forward to reading your feedback. ht...

Homework #2 Can it be done? •What will the final product look like—text? images? size? format? length? No comic sans, probably will be in arial. I will be getting the images offline and taking them myself as well as online with permission. The length should be no more than 50 pages. It will be in paperback and ebook. •How much have I already written? How much is left to do? I’ve done the research. I’ve just got to start writing it now, so there is quite a bit left to do. •How much of the thinking/planning have I already done? How much is left to do? I've done quite a bit of thinking/planning but I really need to sit my but down and start writing. •When do I plan to write? I’ve done quite a bit of brain storming. I probably could do some more. To be honest, I probably won’t get started until December as I’m busy with my current job and the school year just started.

Homework #1 •Who would read/use my material? Brave teachers, with permission from their schools and students of course, and advanced students (B2+) who wish to study on their own. •Why? What would they gain from it? They would gain and grasp the concept of swearing which can consist of anywhere between 3 to 14% of daily language. They could also learn to avoid dangerous situations and improve social relationships. •What are they currently using or reading instead? Various websites, English as a second f***ing Language books, media, peers •Why do I think my material (or idea) is good? There are some books, but I don't think they go very in depth. I’ll be adding etymology, the art of being a good swearer, and more pragmatic exercises.

Ugh... Sorry for being so late. I just moved to India and got violently ill in my first week here. Anyway, my name is Eileen, and I'm from Portland, OR. I've been teaching English for 16 years in 7 different countries and feel it's time for a change or to have at least some supplementary or secondary income. Most of my focus has been on business professionals and university students. My goal is to create a book on swearing as I've written an article on it and ultimately found it very fascinating and a necessary evil. I would like to do both versions: paperback and ebook. My eyes have a lot of issues, and I actually have a lot of trouble reading screens. So for those few who are like me, they should have access to both. I'm excited to take a class with Dorthy as I briefly met her at a PIVOT ORTESOL conference here in Oregon and was highly impressed. I also just took Ketherin'es class and was also blown away. Very much looking forward to more classes.

Here are three versions of the introduction for my work in progress - Reflectively Recharge Your Teaching. If you have the inclination, I'd love to know which one seems to introduce the ebook clearly? Which ones makes you want to keep reading?

The assignment for this week is to convert your file to .epub and/or .mobi. Before you do that, you're going to want to share the doc here to get some feedback on content. To do that, you'll need to upload your word doc to Google Drive, and then get a shareable link that allows comments. Share that link in the category "Works in Progress". Google community only allows us to share links, so documents need to be stored somewhere online, and Google Drive works well for this. After you upload your doc to Google Drive, click on "get shareable link" and then make sure that you choose the permissions option that says "Anyone with the link can comment". Just in case you aren't familiar with how to do this, I've attached a short video tutorial that I hope is helpful. (It's actually from last year's course, just in case you wonder why the community looks different.) If you are still having problems after watching, please let me know so we can...

Extra resources for working with "styles" in Word. Remember that if one video seems confusing to you, just try another. It's a matter of finding the person who explains it the way you want to learn! Also, styles can work differently in different versions of Word, so if you're using an older (or newer) version, you might need for search for what you need. 1. For PCs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2lES-5Ynbk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfZdwiR1iOA 2. For Macs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i3AncFaqTA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj9KyXTUHFc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2lES-5Ynbk

Hello Dorothy and everyone, I'm really sorry, but it was only today that I managed to sit down to do all the work, and only today did I notice that the deadline was Thursday! I hope I can be excused just this first time. I promise to stick to deadlines till the end of the course :) The project I would like to work on is a short story for (very) young learners, a reader / picture book, aiming to raise awareness on the topic of stray dogs. I imagine it as a series of stories and I would work on the first one in this course. In each story a child faces some kind of a problem and a stray dog helps out (e.g. in the first story which I have almost ready, the child protagonist loses a teddy bear in the park and a stray dog with his super nose helps the child find it). Homework #1 Should it be done? •Who would read/use my material? Teachers of (very) young learners, mothers (they may use it as a bedtime story), children on their own. •Why? What would they gain from it? Raising awareness In...

HOMEWORK #3 I'd love to read your comments. Thanks! Laura Perrotta https://drive.google.com/open?id=1WwW3u7IQT4RIIcctu_nTrqjl_lvddLu5 https://drive.google.com/open?id=1WwW3u7IQT4RIIcctu_nTrqjl_lvddLu5

Homework #1 Should it be done?  Who would read/use my material? Teacher with no or little experience of preparing students for IELTS; teachers who are looking for new ideas on how to prepare their students for the test  Why? What would they gain from it? They will have a better understanding of the test itself, feel more confident about doing it and will be able to do it more effectively (I hope)  What are they currently using or reading instead? They probably rely on teachers’ books that come with the coursebooks they are using, IELTS official website, youtube video tutorials and lessons for students  Why do you think my material (or idea) is good? Teaching exam preparation classes can be daunting if you know little about the exam itself. It’s also a type of course where students have very specific needs (a required band) that need to be achieved in a limited span of time, so there is often a lot of pressure. Homework #2 Can it be done?  What will the final product look like – te...

Tips For The IELTS Speaking Test Homework #1 Should it be done? Who would read/use my material? Any IELTS candidate practising for an upcoming test Why? What would they gain from it? Tips from examiners on what they can do to maximise their rating by looking at simple procedural and attitudinal elements in addition to language areas. What are they currently using or reading instead? Practice tests online, from past papers and from IELTS preparation textbooks. Why do I think my material (or idea) is good? Quite often the practice material lacks test participation advice, and when it does the info can be erroneous. For example, many teachers tell their students to memorize texts for regurgitation in the exam, or lead them to overuse certain cohesive conjunctions. My approach will be knock this on the head by demonstrating with examples how such practices bend an examiner towards a lower score. Homework #2 Can it be done? The potential? Yes. There are obstacles, of course. The biggest bei...

Hw2#can it be done? What will the final product look like, text? Images? size? Format? Length? It would be a text including videos and images, printable worksheets and recommended links. It would a small guide. How much have I already done ? How much is left to do? haven't started writing yet. How much of thinking /have already done? How much is left to do? Actually the idea was always in mind as many new teachers ask me how to manage their time and how not feel exhausted in the class and how to cover the curriculum on time, but when I joined this course the idea became very clear to me and I could start the outline. . When do I plan to write? Early morning two hours before work.

Hw1# some tips for new teachers in their first year in teaching English (a small guide book) Who would read /use my materials? All teachers would read it and use it and uni students as well, but new teachers would find it more practical since they have no experience in teaching before. Why?what would they gain from it? The book would be mainly about some tips from experienced teachers about how to enjoy teaching in your first year, not only would it includie activities and teaching methods, but it iwould also include how to enjoy themselves in the classroom . What are they currently using or reading instead? They got some training in the school or they use the Internet and ask senior teachers. Why do I think my materials (or idea ) is good? Because it would be a small guide including some important tips from the ecperinced teachers who gained long experience for long time and new teachers can read it in one place and in a few hours.

Title: Story Plays Level 1 - Communicative Functions Homework #1 Should it be done? Yes, by doing it, It will be to find more clarity in what i want my students to achieve in their first level. •Who would read/use my material? Me, my wife, student’s parents and any potential teachers who want are looking to create communicative programs for their young learners. •Why? What would they gain from it? It would be a roadmap for what is being taught in the courses. It would be a simple reference guide (idea generator) used for bridging the gaps that courses might have.
 •What are they currently using or reading instead? Currently teachers (and myself) are following outlines found in the front or back of course books. •Why do I think my material (or idea) is good? Why because it is a good starting point for defining what the language task, activity, situation, etc will solve. 
 Homework #2 Can it be done?
•What will the final product look like—text? images? size? format? length? I would bre...

Homework #3 Brainstorming Projects: Slime Pancake art Magic tricks Milk art CO2 Soup Paper plane Dreams Gravity Sweets Smells Sounds The bear in the supermarket ... ... Organization: Contents Intro Chapters Rationale Overview (Aims, skills, language content) Steps (with links to worksheets)

Homework #2 Can it be done? •What will the final product look like—text? images? size? format? length? An ebook of about 15 lesson plans (sequences) with links to printable and editable worksheets, videos •How much have I already written? How much is left to do? I have only written up exercises for 2-3 projects, but piloted all of them. •How much of the thinking/planning have I already done? How much is left to do? I have no idea. •When do I plan to write? Early in the morning before work and at weekends.

Homework #1 Should it be done? •Who would read/use my material (From Pancake Art to SLime-Lesson plans) ? Teachers who are getting increasingly frustrated by how young and teen learners respond to traditional materials (they tend to find coursebook texts irrelevant and thus boring). These are the teachers who don’t choose to bash the digital generations for being unable to pay attention and make an effort. Our learners are growing up bombarded with digital products that are carefully designed to trigger the right combination of feel-good hormones. The physical world is being designed to become more and more user friendly. Little wonder kids can’t be motivated by traditional materials which are not following the trend. Traditional materials neither trigger dopamine, nor are user-friendly. This book is an attempt to beat this. •Why? What would they gain from it? An insight into how to wrap learning into activities that are more enjoyable and and relevant to younger generations (PBL lig...

Hi everyone! I'm a teacher trainer and author. I've published more than 25 books, but never in the form of an ebook! (This is my second attempt at this course). I'm British, but live in Ecuador. HOMEWORK #1 -Who would use my material? It's for teachers who want to improve their English and learn about methodology at the same time. (Like Mary Spratt's book) -Why? What would they gain from it? Teachers have very little time to study English, so this acts as a self-study book. -What are they currently using? Nothing, as far as I can see! Mary Spratt's book is very high level. I'm aiming more for the B2 level. -Why do I think my material is good? Because it is already written (co-authors: Chuck Sandy and Barbara Hoskins). It's well organized and designed specially for teachers who want to focus on vocabulary plus the other skills and reflect on / discuss methodology. It currently has a lot of audio, though, so I may have to adapt it. It also contains WOLs (...

HOMEWORK #1 Hi everyone! This is Laura Perrotta from Argentina. -Who would use my material? VYL teachers and VYL in any EFL context. -Why? What would they gain from it? Teachers have a module with 7 lessons designed to be used immediately in the classroom. -What are they currently using? Books, one for each kid, or material from the Net. -Why do I think my material is good? Because it is well organized and designed specially for VYL who are learning English, using authentic material. However, I'm not sure about the copyright beacuse the starting point is Pete the Cat's story: I love my white shoes. I think I should make some changes to get a product to be sold. HOMEWORK #2 What will the final product look like? I´m including links for the final product. I´m afraid there are too many pictures for an e-book. However, that's how it works for VYL. I need help! -How much have I already written? The whole module with 7 lessons, Mimio interactive whiteboard activities and Suppleme...

This one is on something that would be easier to produce in the time: Homework #1 Should it be done? - Who would read/use my material? People who read/have read my website and commented on it (a very small, niche audience!) - Why? What would they gain from it? Updated, revised content from my blog - What are they currently using or reading instead? Other blogs, other self-pubbed ELT people's books - Why do I think my material (or idea) is good? I think some of my reflections/lesson plans have been relatively popular among my blog readers Homework #2 Can it be done? - What will the final product look like—text? images? size? format? length? Probably more like a pamphlet-length thing, rather than a book - How much have I already written? How much is left to do? Original blogs are already written, but these probably need to be updated a bit - How much of the thinking/planning have I already done? How much is left to do? Need to think how to group blog posts so they make a coherent who...

This first set of homework is for a TDSIG website manual: Homework #1 Should it be done? - Who would read/use my material? People who want to use the backend of the TDSIG website; anyone taking over webmaster duties in the future - Why? What would they gain from it? To be able to work with the WordPress theme we use to update/maintain the website - What are they currently using or reading instead? They might be reading general websites or other publications on using WP and/or the Elegant Themes website and social media channels to work with the theme - Why do I think my material (or idea) is good? It's bespoke for the particular website (there would be no unnecessary bloat)

Homework #2 Can it be done? - What will the final product look like—text? images? size? format? length? Text and screencapture for annotated images of the site; relatively concise; 3-5 sections? one example walkthrough per section/function on the website - How much have I already written? How much is left to do? Not physically written anything yet, but I have done quick screencaptures and recordings to help other committee members - How much of the thinking/planning have I already done? How much is left to do? Again, planning isn't physically done, but a lot of it is in my head - When do I plan to write? I'll do little and often: 10-30 mins x 3 times a week

Hi everyone, just catching up with watching the recording of the first webinar session and I have a couple of questions/requests: – I can't find the link to the sample book Dorothy mentions (50 Ways to Practice Writing). Probably being oblivious, but I have looked up and down the posts here. Can anyone help? – I would be grateful for any extra resources to help get to grips with Styles in Word (I'm working using Word for Mac) Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to give!

Hello Everyone, a bit late but trying to catch up. I'm Natasha and I teach at a private language school in London, where I've been based for the past 3 and a half years. It's great to see some familiar faces - people I've been with on other iTDi courses and people I follow on the social media. I'm looking forward to learning with you and from you. A lot of work I'm currently doing is related to exam preparation and this is something I'd like to explore, particularly how to integrate language work into such courses. Most materials I've used focus on exam techniques at the expense of language and skills development and I'm wondering if there is a better way of preparing learners for exams.

Homework #2 Can it be done? •What will the final product look like—text? images? size? format? length? Reflectively Reenergize Your Teaching will be a short ebook of around 10,000 words. (Maybe also available in print on demand.) It will basically be text with perhaps a few illustrations/pictures to represent each of the attitudes. •How much have I already written? How much is left to do? •How much of the thinking/planning have I already done? How much is left to do? The first/second draft is pretty much written. I have around 16,000 words which I need to trim down. (That includes about three versions of the introduction, so I think it’s possible.) The main things to work on: • Unify the tasks/activities so they are in the same format & similar in length. • Make sure each section is about the same length. o 6 attitudes x 1400 words = 8400 words o introduction = 1200 words o conclusion = 400 words •When do I plan to write? I’ll set aside time first thing in the morning as well as in...

Homework #1 Should it be done? My project has the working title of "Reflectively Reenergize Your Teaching" •Who would read/use my material? Teachers who want to develop skills in reflective practice and self care. They might be in a bit of a rut in their teaching practice and recognize that the answer isn’t to find a new activity or game to use in class. They might also be frustrated because the term “reflective practice” is thrown out as something that’s universally understood to be important and necessary, but nobody really describes what it involves. •Why? What would they gain from it? They would gain ways to develop the reflective attitudes that can strengthen their teaching practice. •What are they currently using or reading instead? There are some books on reflective practice or professional development in the language teaching field. (The Developing Teacher, by Duncan Foord; Pursuing Professional Development by Bailey, Curtis & Nunan; Thomas Farrell has several bo...

Homework #2 Can it be done? Absolutely! •What will the final product look like—text? images? size? format? length? For this class, I want to finish one chapter of the book. There will be 1 or 2 images for the story itself (looking forward to learning about options for images), probably text only for the theory (perhaps graphs which I would do in excel), and text and JPEGS of worksheet with links to PDFs online for the lesson activities. •How much have I already written? How much is left to do? The short story is written. The theory is written but scattered here and there in various blog posts (which might actually mean, not written yet). The activities are about 50% done. •How much of the thinking/planning have I already done? How much is left to do? For the chapter, most of what I want to do is planned out as far as content. Images, style, etc., is not something I have a clear picture of yet. •When do I plan to write? I've got an hour commute from and to work. That is going to be ...

Homework #1 Should it be done? Each chapter of the book would be broken up into 3 sections: 1) very short story composed of high frequency words, but with a literary (I hope) quality and focus on character 2) reading theory and research about how people learn to read 3) activities to use with the story and tied to the research. I think there might be room for a book which brings together EFL/ESL materials, theory/research, and practical activities all in one package. •Who would read/use my material? Students would use the stories. Teacher/parents would read the theory sections as well as the activities which they would use with their students/children •Why? What would they gain from it? The stories themselves would be useful because they would be EASY TO READ, but not childish. So I hope it would give second language readers a chance to enjoy reading, primarily for meaning. Teachers and parents would read the stories as well. They would also read the theory sections and perhaps have...

👍🏽 Homework #2 Can it be done? 📑 What will the final product look like—text? images? size? format? length? I was thinking of a 7 x 7 format. So 7 categories with 7 activity ideas within each one. I'm not sure how long that might end up being. On a Kindle, it might be an activity on each page with a moderate font size. I definitely need pictures (screenshots) because a lot of the activities are slide-based and require the teacher to design the slide in a certain way to run the activity. 📑 How much have I already written? How much is left to do? I've collected ideas and of course I'm going to be scavenging from my own materials - but honestly I've not actually got started yet so yes 100% left to do. Yay! 📑 How much of the thinking/planning have I already done? How much is left to do? I've done a lot of thinking but very little planning so maybe the next step is to create an outline. 📑 When do I plan to write? I'm working this weekend and I start a CELTA on M...

🤔 Homework #1 Should it be done? 📚 Virtual synchronous activities for Business English and ESP (working title - looking for something snappier) 🎯 Who would read/use my material? Teachers, trainers and materials writers who are producing Business English/ESP materials for courses that have sessions run on virtual synchronous platforms like Zoom, Adobe Connect etc. 🎯 Why? What would they gain from it? They'd get ideas for making virtual instructor-led sessions more engaging and communicative. Organizations are increasingly moving away from face-to-face training and this book will help teachers and trainers become more confident about facilitating learning in virtual classrooms while ensuring that it's not all talk-talk-talk. 🎯 What are they currently using or reading instead? A few use ideas they pick up in webinars or on courses like this one where they might see the facilitator demoing an activity. They might have read Nicky Hockly's Webinars: A Cookbook for Educators ...

Hi everyone, I'm Wilma Luth from Canada. I've been working in the ELT field for 27 years - the first 21 in Japan & the past 6 in Canada. I love teacher training and have worked in face-to-face, online and blended courses with teachers from many coutries, Currently I'm working as an online teacher trainer in a program for teachers in Mexico who are teaching English but haven't had formal training in ELT. I've taken several itdi courses, including last month's incredibly useful Creating ELT Materials & last year's version of this self-publishing course. I learned a lot last year, but didn't finish my project as I was extremely busy with work. I'm looking forward to getting further along (finishing!) this year. My project is a short book that helps teachers develop the reflective attitudes identified by John Dewey, like curiosity and openmindedness. It's great to see so many familiar names here. Looking forward to learning together!

Hi everyone! I'm Laura Perrotta from Argentina. I'm a teacher. I run two private English schools in my city. I love teaching young learners, that's where I feel comfortable. I'm doing an MA at the moment. Last module was about ELT Materials. I have started presenting in different places as a speaker. I also did Katherine's course last month. I had the pleasure of meeting Dorothy last July in Brazil. She was soooooo generous. I'd love to publish a book for young learners or/and one for YL teachers. I want to open doors to the world because the financial situation in Argentina is not easy. Eager to learn and do! I'm active and pro-active! Have a wonderful day!

Homework #2 Can it be done? •What will the final product look like—text? images? size? format? length? The final product will primarily be text, but could have a few images. It wouldn't be very long. •How much have I already written? How much is left to do? I haven't written anything, but will ask my colleagues here (at my uni and in this course!) for input on what should be included. •How much of the thinking/planning have I already done? How much is left to do? Not very much. Everything. •When do I plan to write? Evenings (1 hour / day). Soon (just started our new semester, so it might be a bit crazy this week).

Homework #1 Should it be done? "Student Success Guide" for Kangwon National University •Who would read/use my material? Students at my university who are enrolled in any of the courses taught by foreign faculty, specifically, though it could be helpful in general. •Why? What would they gain from it? They would have a reference document that could help them understand what is expected of them, and provide guidance and tips on how manage time, money, and coursework. •What are they currently using or reading instead? Nothing. Though they have a brief orientation period when they first enter the university, very little (none?) of this material is covered. •Why do I think my material (or idea) is good? Many of them lack general knowledge / training in how to thrive (or even cope) with the basics of life at university. This is, for most, their first time living away from home and having to be self-sufficient. Specifically, they are often confused or unaware of the (very) differen...

If you aren't sure where to look for resources like the links to further readings, calendar of assignments, and the weekly recordings, chat transcripts and slides, they're sometimes hidden under the "about community" drop down menu. On a computer, that's to the left of the screen. Click on the arrow to the right of that label and everything will appear in a drop down menu, as in the photo I've attached to this post. Let me know if you still have problems finding the links :)

Hi Everyone, I'm very happy to be here. My name is Kevin and I'm a high school English teacher here in Japan. I used to blog a lot and sometimes write short stories for English language learners. I also am interested in basic reading research. So I was thinking about combining all of this together to try and put together a sample chapter of a book which contains: 1) a very short story of 500-1000 words with ~90% of the vocabulary consisting of the most frequent words of English 2) two to three pages of theory about how reading skills are developed and how reading the short story can help develop those skills 3) a series of activities to be used in lessons, or by a parent with their child, or by a group of friends which is also based on the theory in part 2. The completed chapter will, I hope, be about 8 to 10 pages and will serve as the template for the rest of the book. I'm also really excited to spend time with other teachers who are interested in material development and...

Hi everyone, My name is Suzanne. I live and work in California at a university's Intensive English Program. I have been working there for 5 years. Before that, I taught in South Korea for 5 years. I am interested in learning more about other opportunities in sharing and publishing materials, as a lot of work that I do in my current job is related to developing materials. I look forward to learning from all of you in this class!

The link to our virtual classroom for live sessions. http://itdipro.adobeconnect.com/spfepiidz/ Our meeting time each week is Sunday 03:00 AM UTC. Here's how that time translates for countries where our participants live: Saturday / 20:00 pm / Los Angeles Saturday / 22:00 pm / Mexico City, Quito Saturday / 23:00 pm / Toronto, Boston 0:00 midnight / Buenos Aires Sunday / 4:00 am / London Sunday / 5:00 am / Zagreb, Rome, Budapest Sunday / 6:00 am / Athens, Sana'a Sunday / 8:30 am / Mumbai Sunday / 12:00 noon / Seoul, Tokyo Sunday / 14:00 pm / Melbourne For some of you it will be Saturday night, and for some of you it will be early morning or afternoon Sunday. If your time isn't covered in this chart, you can check here: https://timeanddate.com/s/3nbd Don't worry if you can't attend live. We'll send recordings and resources after each session, and share them as links in the community.

Hello everyone, I'm from Poland, but I've been living and working in Greece for the last 17 years. I teach all age groups, but I especially love working with very young learners and I do a lot of storytelling (not only in class. I also volunteer at various events and at my local library). I made a slight switch in my career last year when I reduced teaching hours and I took up a full time position as a writer at an ELT publishing house here in Greece. I have plenty of ideas I would like to develop, and this is the second time I'm taking this course. This time, I will focus on a small project to make sure I finalise it by the end of the course. Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to attend live sessions, as they are scheduled 6 am Greek time, but we will get a chance to get to know each other better in this community (and I can already see some familiar names :)) and I'm really looking forward to it :) M.

Hi everyone!I'm Toula Sklavou and I'm from Greece.I've been an English teacher since 2001 and have worked for language schools in Athens and summer schools in the UK.I've been lucky enough to teach a variety of nationalities and age groups and prepare students for different purposes, exam preparation, meeting job needs,etc. For the last 8 years,I've been teaching 1-2-1 lessons mainly through Skype in order to study for the Delta which I have successfully completed and raise my three kids, 5, 3 1/2, 8 months old. My most challenging task has been to combine work,family and professional development. And I'm still working on striking a happy balance between work and family. But I'm very happy to be here and I'm looking forward to learning, being inspired and acquiring the skills to open some new doors to a new career as well. Right now i'm not in Athens and I'll be using my mobile to connect which isn't always very easy so if I miss anything, I...