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How to Make Teacher Worksheets in 5 Easy
Steps
Worksheets are definitely the backbone to students learning and grasping concepts
taught by the teacher. Making your own worksheets is easy, and it allows you to
include just the right material that you want to be sure your students can learn and
commit to memory. Here are instructions on how to make worksheets in five easy
steps.
STEP 1
The first thing you need to do is know the information that you want to include on your
worksheet. Make yourself an outline of what you want included. You must then decide
how you want to present the questions or puzzles to the students. Do you want to make
it a word search puzzle with a secret message at the bottom of the worksheet to
reinforce a lesson concept? Do you want it to be a multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank
worksheet whereas students need to use their textbooks in order to answer the
questions correctly?
STEP 2
Next, you need to design your worksheet on paper. To do this, you can use the word
processing program on your computer, such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Publisher,
or you may opt to use a worksheet generator that you can find on the Internet. There
are many places where you can worksheet generators, such as at Teachnology. If you
opt to use your own word processing program, then you have to be sure to set your
margins correctly so that you are able to fit all of the material onto the worksheet.
Choose a font that is easy for kids to read. Make sure that the colors you choose will
show up nicely on a printed version of the worksheet. Sometimes yellows or purples
can come out light, even though they look okay on your computer monitor.
STEP 3
Now is the time to add some clipart images to your worksheets to give them some
personality. You can find tons of clipart on the Internet, but you have to be sure to
check out each site's policies before just using any clipart. Perhaps your school already
has a license with a clipart company that allows them to use clipart on school
documents. Check with the school secretary to see if this is something you can use on
your worksheets. Simple copy and paste the images onto your worksheet where you
would like them to go.
STEP 4
Take a look at the worksheet that you prepared on your computer screen. Make sure
you have included everything that you want. Now take a look at the worksheet in a
"print preview" window. This window shows you exactly what will print. You will
want to do this to make sure that everything you put on the worksheet will print out
okay. This is an especially important step, if you have adjusted margins in any way.
Once you have previewed how it will print, you can either make some adjustments
(reducing font size, reducing clipart size, etc.) or just go ahead and print out the
worksheet.
STEP 5
Of course, you will need to make multiple copies of the worksheet for your students.
Consider printing one copy of the worksheet at home or in your classroom, and using
the color copier in your school office, if one is available. If your worksheet has a lot of
color on it, then it will use up your printer ink pretty quickly. If your school does not
have a color copier, then consider taking the worksheet to a quick copy place like
Kinkos or Office Max to run the copies for you. This won't cost you an arm and a leg,
and your copies will be done quickly and easily.
