Adventures in Creating a Personal Responsibility Classroom: My Whiteboard

I am so going to be one of those teachers who posts pictures of their babies. You know, those classroom babies! This post is devoted to my whiteboard.

I have a Promethean Board, and interactive whiteboard, so I rarely needed to write on my whiteboard. I have Promethean pens that allow me to write on the interactive board. So I divide my whiteboard into sections to write information for my classes. I have been doing that for the last couple of years, and each year I like it a little bit better. This year, I LOVE it!

First I went out and purchased some washi tape. I picked one that had two shades of blue dots, little dots. It is just enough to be seen without overshadowing anything else on the board. I have had bulletin board around the edges and sections for years now. I put magnet strip on the back. It was a good idea, but students knocked it all over the board. I decided I wanted to try some kind of tape instead this year. I love the washi tape!

Then I was shopping at Joann Fabrics and Crafts, considering how to do the wording on my board. I have just written most of it up there, with some headers done on laminated card stock. It works, and is fine, but I was looking for a change. I came across these magnetic letters and I fell in love with them. They are about $4 so I know I couldn't write out many full words. I purchased a "R" for reading, a "M" for math, two "S's making "SS" for Social Studies, and a "W" for writing. Then I spelled out the word "DAY" and bought an "A" and a "B" to put up for A Day and B Day. I also bought a "H" and a "W" to make "HW" for homework. The last ones I bought spell out "I WILL" for my I Will statements. I don't put up "I Can" statements. I Can means I am able to, but I Will means I am going to. Semantics.