Purpose:  How do you use your whiteboard or blackboard in class? What information can students learn about language and about the class by looking at the board? Here are some different ways you can use your board to help convey information to learners.

Ideas:

1)      Write your objectives for students to read as they come into class. Ask them at the end of the lesson about how successful they felt. Alternatively, write a lesson agenda on the board.

2)      Brainstorm and write useful language before students do a speaking or writing activity.

3)      Devote a space on the board (like a column on the right-hand side) to record all new vocabulary during a lesson or during a unit. Divide it from other board work with a line.

4)      Visually show word or sentence stress or intonation, with marks, bubbles, or arrows.

5)      Write up mistakes and ask learners to correct them.

6)      Have your learners write things on the board. It can be a refreshing change of pace.

7)      Draw pictures on the board to create context and illustrate new vocabulary,

8)      Build dialogues that students will later use in role plays.

9)      Display class or learning center announcements.

10)   When organizing group work, write groups on the board.