Now that we’ve discussed what choice boards are and why we should use them and how to overcome common challenges with using choice boards, let’s get a little bit more specific.
Math is a great subject for choice boards because they allow students to take ownership of how they master new concepts or review old concepts. Let’s talk about how you can get started with math choice boards.
How to Create a Math Choice Board
Start by choosing the assignments. Use your curriculum map, take meaningful assignments from your textbook, or dig deeper into your standards to choose assignments that will both challenge your students and allow them to work independently.
Next, create the items. Think outside the box for how to adapt the assignments to add in more freedom of choice. For example, if your goal is for students to write and solve word problems, give them several ways to practice that. Give them the choice to type their word problems on a device, illustrate them using crayons or markers, or make them fit a certain theme or topic.
Choose how you want students to use their boards. Do you want them to use the same board all week? Maybe you’re looking for them to solve it like a game of tic-tac-toe or to complete an entire column or row. Be mindful of what you want to be sure your students complete as you create your board.
Finally, create your actual math choice board.
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Types of Math Choice Boards
You can and should get creative here. Choose the type of menu that best suits your students’ needs, and feel free to try different formats throughout the year. Here are some options:
Digital – You can put the choice board on a Google Slide, Google Doc, and more. This is a great option if you want to be able to link to videos seamlessly or have access to 1:1 technology.
Grid – On paper (or even digitally), you can use a table to create a grid. Put different activities in each square, then have students complete the board using a pattern (diagonal, column, row, tic-tac-toe, etc.)
Menu – With this choice board, you put several options in a “appetizer”, “dinner”, and “dessert” arrangement. Then students choose one activity from each section, as if ordering dinner from a menu.
Other Content Area Choice Boards
Another fun thing about using choice boards is that you can adapt them to suit any subject you teach! The procedures for the choice board will change depending on the subject, but the main concepts will stay the same. For example, a math choice board may be more straightforward and take less time, and a writing choice board might require more time if the activities are longer. That’s okay – adapt the concept to fit what your students need in your classroom.
Math boards – Check out my Math choice boards. I have grade-level bundles, place value boards, multiplication boards, and many more.
Science boards – I have all sorts of Science boards! Use them to introduce concepts like the scientific method, states of matter, or the circulatory system. These choice boards are great for grades 3-5 and the best part: they’re no-prep, so you can just print and teach!