When  I started on this website no one downloaded my printables and I was so sad.  Then I realised that something must be missing from my work.  I put the letter �e� into the search engine and ordered the worksheets by the most popular.  (letter �e� because it is the most commonly used in the english alphabet). 

 

I then studied the most popular worksheets to see what they had that I was missing.  Since then I have found the following things to be popular:

1) A theme that is timely - right now it is halloween - I am hoping Guy Fawkes will also be popular next week  as it is celebrated in my country on the 5th November.

 

2) Nice looking pictures - either colour or black and white - accompanied with a fun and easy game to play.  Just posting a pretty picture isn�t enough - it actually needs good Esol activities with it.

 

3) Putting easy to understand and fun instructions into the printable.

 

4) Having a short explanation in your description page with an appropriate suggeted level and age.

 

5) Only upload something that you have tested in your classroom so that you can suggest to people how they can use it effectively.

 

6) Some people are really good at creating grammar worksheets - if you are this way inclined it would be worth studying the popular ones to get ideas.  My grammatical understanding of the �rules� is not so good as I have never studied english as a second language - i just speak it and know how to teach.  For this reason I tend to stick to making starter activities, revision games, and teaching games.  This way I feel that I am contributing while being able to access other peoples wealth of knowledge on Grammar and ESOL rules. 

 

7) That leads me to the last point - Stick to what you know best - find your strength and share it - that way we all are better off! 

 

I have found by following these simple steps it has increased the amount of people that find my printables useful.  The best thing though - it has improved the quality of my resources that I use with my own classes.  My students have commented on the improvement in my resources!  They love the games.

 

Good luck

Vicki

 

PS - check out frenchfrog, icha�s and Logos tutorials - they are recommended by most members.  They are fantastic resources let me know if you would like them emailed if you do not have enough points - I will even click on the download pages to register another download!

 

 

Frenchfrog