by Shelley Gray

Created on: September 01, 2010

One of the greatest ways to engage your students and ensure that they feel a sense of belonging in the classroom Is to provide them with a sense of ownership. There are many ways to create this sense of ownership, from allowing them input in formulating class rules to displaying student artwork on the walls. A fabulous idea is to create an interactive bulletin board, where students can be involved on an intermittent basis with the content that is displayed. The following points will outline just a few ideas for accomplishing this task.

1. When completing an author study, post copied cover pages from novels by the author. For example, if the class is studying Roald Dahl, one might post covers of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Twits and James and the Giant Peach (preferably at least ten titles). Create a space beside each cover page where students can write their comments/recommendations about the book as they read them. A bulletin board such as this encourages reading, allows students to practice writing reviews, and is appealing to the eye. Additionally, the prospect of writing on the bulletin board is exciting for students.

2. Come up with a list of reading goals together with students. This may include re-reading to make sense of text, using smaller words to decipher bigger words, and slowing down during reading.  Post these goals on colorful, laminated cardstock on the bulletin board. Over the course of several classes, have students decide which goal they would like to pursue during  the next couple of weeks. Give them a sticky note to write their name on. They may stick the note beside whichever goal they choose to work on.

Be sure to speak about the reality that goals can change, and give students the option to move their sticky note to another goal if they decide to change it after a day or two.

This type of bulletin board makes students’ goals tactile rather than simply a thought. It is more likely that they will work towards their goals if there are visual reminders.

3. Create an interactive Math bulletin board. Many students require manipulatives in order to help them think mathematically. A Math bulletin board could include: an envelope with hundreds charts, a multiplication chart, 100 or 200 bead measures, and whatever other manipulatives suit the particular grade. This is a valuable tool, particularly for kinesthetic learners and for students that need to “see” the math in front of them.

To ensure that students will truly utilize the information that is on the bulletin board, consider making it interactive. Involve students in the creation, and there is a very high chance that it will be used by many students in the class.

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