Whiteboards in the Classroom

If you’ve been here for a while, you already know: I love whiteboards.

I love them so much that when I give a teacher workshop on zoom, I’ll even ship a box of them over to the teachers for the our workshop. Here’s the link to my personal favorite ones and the ones that I ship. The handle is comfortable to hold, there are no metal edges that fall off (which happened with a lot of other whiteboards) and they’re double sided so you can have more fun with them!

When you ask students a question and ask them to raise their hand, how many students raise their hands? Now, how many students do you get to call on? Usually 1 or 2. How can we engage more students than the ones we are calling on? Whiteboards.

Whiteboards are a highly effective classroom tool because there are many ways to use them throughout a lesson, and each student has their own. Because every student can write at the same time, whiteboards make it easy to hear from everyone, not just the few who usually raise their hands.

Whiteboards also remove the fear of getting something wrong. Since the work is erasable, students feel more comfortable taking risks and trying again. This makes whiteboards especially effective for practice, quick checks for understanding, and exit tickets. Teachers can instantly see what students understand and adjust instruction in real time.

There are many types of whiteboards, each with different benefits depending on how they are used. Some classrooms use framed boards that stay at desks, while others prefer handheld paddle-style boards that are easy to lift and show. There are rounder ones which are great for drawing puppets and rectangular ones which are great for writing longer answers. Lined whiteboards are great for younger students, who need more direction with writing, and plain white ones work better for older students, giving them more flexibility. Teachers can choose whether students keep their own boards, or whether the teacher stores and distributes them as needed.

For erasers, I use old single socks. Students love to bring in their old single socks (and hey, I can declutter mine, too!) I found that the traditional erasers went missing quickly, so single socks are another free alternative.

While many whiteboards come with erasers, many times those erasers stop working as effectively after a few uses. Single socks are a simple and effective option. Students enjoy bringing in lone socks from home, and they work well without the issue of traditional erasers going missing or not working anymore.

Here are 20 easy, teacher-approved ways to use whiteboards that make learning more active, reflective, and fun!

1. True or False Flash

Call out a statement. Students write T or F and hold it up on your cue.

2. One-Word Summary

Students capture the lesson in one word. Great exit ticket!

3. Draw-It Review

Instead of writing definitions, students draw the concept. You say the word, they write the word and draw it.

4. Solve & Show

Set a short timer. Everyone solves and holds up their board at the same time. This is great for math!

5. Agree / Disagree

Give a statement. Students write Agree or Disagree one each side of the board and they hold up the side that represents what they think. Pro tip: Have them use two different colors. It’ll be easier for you to scan the room. For older students, have them jot down 3-5 words why they agree or disagree.

6. Vocabulary Sketches

Students draw a clue for a vocab word while their partners guess. This is great in small groups or partners.

7. Make a Prediction

Before a text, video, or lab, students write or sketch their prediction. After the text, video or lab, they go to the other side and write what actually happened.

8. Quick Check Chart

Students divide their board into Know / Don’t Know / Maybe / Need Help. While reviewing for an assessment, they jot down points into those sections. They then switch boards with a partner and help each other out where they can.

9. Exit Ticket on the Board

As they line up, students answer a question on their whiteboard and hand them back to you. This is especially great for classes where you hold onto the whiteboards and only give them out when they’re being used. Have one student as the designated “eraser” for that day, so you’re not left with boards that have words or pictures on them. (Pro tip: You can use Lysol or other cleaning products to erase it, but best to just erase that day.)

10. Swap & Add

Students write an answer, swap boards, and add one more detail to their classmates’. For a more challenging version of this, have students pass their whiteboard to each other in groups of 4-6 students.

11. Puppet Show!
    Turn your whiteboard into puppets (it’s easy fun for older students!) When reading a story or telling over Parsha, have students hold up the character that is speaking then.
    
12. “I Spy… but Academic”

You say “I spy something connected to __.” Students draw or write what they think it is.

13. Multiple-Choice With a Twist

Students write A/B/C/D in corners, circle their answer, and hold up their board. Holding up fingers (1, 2, 3 or 4) works well too, but here’s a way to change things up.

14. Mini Mind Map

Students draw one big idea in the center with three branches.

15. One-Minute Brain Dump

“How many examples, facts, or connections can you write in one minute?” “How many Shorashim can you write from our 100 Shorashim?” “How many numbers did we mention this class?” etc.

16. Story Panels (4 Squares)

Students divide their board into Beginning – Rising Action – Climax – Ending and sketch each part of the story. Don’t limit this to ELA, use it for history, Chumash, Parsha, etc.

17. Peer Coach Check

Partners swap boards and give one piece of feedback using your criteria.

18. I-We-You Do
    Before moving onto independent work, have students show their work on a whiteboard so you can do a quick check for understanding to make sure the students are on track. Use colored markers to show steps.
    
19. Two-Sided Would You Rather

Use red vs blue (or option 1 vs 2). Students choose and hold up their board with a reason.

20. Handwriting

Early writers can use it to practice handwriting (here is a link to a whiteboard with lines)



Good luck,
Mushkie
evergrowingeducator

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