Mini whiteboards have long been a staple of any UK classroom. With the ability to test the understanding of a whole class in seconds, it doesn’t take a genius to see why. What makes the difference between mini whiteboards being good and being fantastic comes down to a singular reason – routine! Handled badly or used with a lack of purpose can not only do these classroom essentials a disservice but also waste precious minutes of your lesson plan. After all, nobody wants a five-minute scramble for pens or a chorus of pupils asking for an eraser.
With this in mind, we’ve compiled a few top tips to help create a smooth mini whiteboard routine:
Top tips for a smooth mini whiteboard routine:
1. Create whiteboard packs in advance
Put together a folder or wallet for each child containing a whiteboard, marker and eraser or put a pack on each table with the required number of whiteboard essentials. This removes the need for pupils to hunt for supplies – just make sure to check the packs every so often to give the boards a quick clean.
2. Think about your student’s entry routine
Keep packs in a labelled box by the door or at the front of the classroom so pupils can grab one on their way in and drop it back on their way out. This makes sure that the process of getting equipment ready never eats into teaching time.
3. Get pupils to test their markers before you start
Before you ask for anything content-related, give pupils ten seconds to scribble on their board and check their pen still works. Doing this before the first real question prevents distraction and ensures the activity doesn’t get paused immediately after starting.
4. Set expectations at the start of your question
Always tell pupils how you want them to answer before you ask the question. For example, “On your whiteboards, show me…” rather than asking the question first and adding “on your whiteboards” as an afterthought. This stops eager pupils from shouting out or shooting their hands up and means every pupil starts thinking and writing at the same time.
5. Give pupils a clear “I don’t know” signal
Agree on an action for when a pupil is unsure such as holding up a blank board or drawing a question mark. This does two things at once: it tells you exactly who needs support without singling anyone out verbally, and it means every pupil can still take part in the routine of holding a board up without making their uncertainty too obvious to the students around them.
6. Insist that every pupil holds their board up
If holding up a board is optional, some pupils will quietly opt out rather than risk it being wrong. This means that you lose the whole-class picture that makes the routine worthwhile.
The bottom line
A mini whiteboard routine costs very little to set up but it allows your teaching to become responsive to the understanding of the class throughout the lesson. By establishing a whiteboard routine, your class will know what is expected of them and when in a controlled environment, reducing opportunities for friction and setting yourself up for success. Get the logistics right by following the tips above and mini whiteboards become one of the simplest, most reliable ways to make sure no pupil in your classroom is left guessing – and no misunderstanding goes unnoticed.