As I mostly teach at student’s homes or places of business, I don’t have access to the typical classroom equipment. However, I recently conducted lesson in a business meeting room which was equipped with a white board.
Using the board
Maybe I’m stating an obvious point here, but it seems to me that this is the most useful tool a teacher can have. We used it to create word maps (listing connected words), adjective lists, together with synonyms and antonyms, graphs to illustrate time expressions, and much more. I was also able to use it to write down new words that came up in conversation, which made it easier for everyone to learn them. And, when all else failed, we drew pictures on the board to illustrate the meaning of a word.
At its most basic level, you can ask students to copy what’s written on the board. However, the board can also be a very interactive teaching aid. According to the lesson, you can get individual students to write on the board or you can divide the class into teams and get them to write on the board one at a time.
Top Tips:
1. Write clearly
2. Don’t clear the board before everyone has assimilated or copied the information
3. Try to make use of the board an interactive experience
However primitive your other materials are, make full use of the board.
