By Dorit Sasson
What you write is just as important as how well you organize the blackboard. It helps center the class and brings the lesson in focus. The blackboard is the most visually centered piece of equipment available to a teacher. So why not make it as user friendly as possible?
How to use the blackboard:
Start with writing the date and the lesson agenda on the board. Make it your teacher organizer. For each lesson, keep a running list of three or four objectives or goals. This list looks like this.
1. checking homework,
2. reading a story,
3. write about your favorite quote
4. summing up.
Write approximately the time you wish to spend on each activity. This helps focus the students. When you finish an activity, check it off. This gives the lesson continuity and progress. Some like the feeling of knowing "in advance" what they are going to learn. Try to appeal to the visual layout by using lots of colorful markers/chalks each lesson.
Organizing the Board:
Write the aim or goal of the lesson always on the topic high so all can see. Depending on how large your board is, you will need to consider the main points of your lesson. It is preferable to use a larger part of the board for the main content while the minor and detail points that come up, keep them on one side, perhaps in a small box.
Consider what should take up the most space:
Writing everything isn't helpful, creates too much clutter and in the end, doesn't help the students focus on the main part or the bulk of your lesson. Brainstorming is a main part of how you can begin my lesson but try to vary it with other opening activities depending on the class keeping in mind your objectives for the lesson. You can also keep an ongoing vocabulary list or a helpful chart on one side for the lesson. You need to see what works for you and your objectives.
What else goes on the board?
It depends on the main part of your lesson. The general rule of thumb of any lesson, is to connect the two parts of your lesson: the beginning (or pre) and while (or middle - main part of your lesson) and the same goes for blackboard use. Students do need to see the connection. You can always vary your post, or sum up activities frontally without any board range since the information has been written already and the students are familiar with the information. In a reading lesson for example, you can have the prediction questions in a table format and on the right, the students need to fill in the information after they've read the text. You can use colored markers appropriately to connect both stages: prediction or guessing and confirming their answers.
Some other Blackboard/Whiteboard Tips
o Space the amount of content. Don't clutter your board too much.
o Charts and tables help organize information.
o Write clearly, legibly and keep the font size reasonable. Bigger is better.
o Give students time to copy. Don't erase too quickly.
o Have blackboard monitors or helpers. Kids love to erase the board!
o The blackboard can also be a part of the learning process. Students love to play teacher.
o From time to time, look at the board from far away from a student's point of view. What is appealing or motivating? What needs improving? What is helpful and what is not?
Five minute board games.
o Erasing the board. Give students a few minutes to "photograph" a list of words or phrases or whatever points you have taught them. Erase the board. Ask them to recite from memory.
o What's that word? Write a four or five letter word. Give students time to "photograph" it. They spell the word from memory.
o Blackboard Bingo. This can be used for virtually any class for any learning item.
And remember, tomorrow is a new day! Learn from your board mistakes and move on.
What you write is just as important as how well you organize the blackboard. It helps center the class and brings the lesson in focus. The blackboard is the most visually centered piece of equipment available to a teacher. So why not make it as user friendly as possible?
How to use the blackboard:
Start with writing the date and the lesson agenda on the board. Make it your teacher organizer. For each lesson, keep a running list of three or four objectives or goals. This list looks like this.1. checking homework,
2. reading a story,
3. write about your favorite quote
4. summing up.
Write approximately the time you wish to spend on each activity. This helps focus the students. When you finish an activity, check it off. This gives the lesson continuity and progress. Some like the feeling of knowing "in advance" what they are going to learn. Try to appeal to the visual layout by using lots of colorful markers/chalks each lesson.
Organizing the Board:
Write the aim or goal of the lesson always on the topic high so all can see. Depending on how large your board is, you will need to consider the main points of your lesson. It is preferable to use a larger part of the board for the main content while the minor and detail points that come up, keep them on one side, perhaps in a small box.
Consider what should take up the most space:
Writing everything isn't helpful, creates too much clutter and in the end, doesn't help the students focus on the main part or the bulk of your lesson. Brainstorming is a main part of how you can begin my lesson but try to vary it with other opening activities depending on the class keeping in mind your objectives for the lesson. You can also keep an ongoing vocabulary list or a helpful chart on one side for the lesson. You need to see what works for you and your objectives.
What else goes on the board?
It depends on the main part of your lesson. The general rule of thumb of any lesson, is to connect the two parts of your lesson: the beginning (or pre) and while (or middle - main part of your lesson) and the same goes for blackboard use. Students do need to see the connection. You can always vary your post, or sum up activities frontally without any board range since the information has been written already and the students are familiar with the information. In a reading lesson for example, you can have the prediction questions in a table format and on the right, the students need to fill in the information after they've read the text. You can use colored markers appropriately to connect both stages: prediction or guessing and confirming their answers.
Some other Blackboard/Whiteboard Tips
o Space the amount of content. Don't clutter your board too much.
o Charts and tables help organize information.
o Write clearly, legibly and keep the font size reasonable. Bigger is better.
o Give students time to copy. Don't erase too quickly.
o Have blackboard monitors or helpers. Kids love to erase the board!
o The blackboard can also be a part of the learning process. Students love to play teacher.
o From time to time, look at the board from far away from a student's point of view. What is appealing or motivating? What needs improving? What is helpful and what is not?
Five minute board games.
o Erasing the board. Give students a few minutes to "photograph" a list of words or phrases or whatever points you have taught them. Erase the board. Ask them to recite from memory.
o What's that word? Write a four or five letter word. Give students time to "photograph" it. They spell the word from memory.
o Blackboard Bingo. This can be used for virtually any class for any learning item.
And remember, tomorrow is a new day! Learn from your board mistakes and move on.
Make Your Teaching Sparkle. Teach for Success. Make a difference in the classroom.
Subscribe to receive your FREE e-zine and e-book, "Taking Charge in the Classroom" when you visit the New Teacher Resource Center at [http://www.newteachersignup.com].
Purchase your ebook of classroom tested tips - "Tips and Tricks for Surviving and Thriving in the Classroom," at: [http://www.MakeYourTeachingSparkle.com] and you'll receive a FREE ebooklet, "Yes! You Can Teach K-12 English language learners Successfully!"
Dorit Sasson is a freelance writer, speaker, educator and founder of the New Teacher Resource Center.
Subscribe to receive your FREE e-zine and e-book, "Taking Charge in the Classroom" when you visit the New Teacher Resource Center at [http://www.newteachersignup.com].
Purchase your ebook of classroom tested tips - "Tips and Tricks for Surviving and Thriving in the Classroom," at: [http://www.MakeYourTeachingSparkle.com] and you'll receive a FREE ebooklet, "Yes! You Can Teach K-12 English language learners Successfully!"
Dorit Sasson is a freelance writer, speaker, educator and founder of the New Teacher Resource Center.
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