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Following a tweet from
@MrBourner, who asked if I thought my displays helped my students, I have been inspired to write a thread.
Making displays purposeful: a thread
#edutwitter #teachershelpingteachers #teacherschoice
@MrBourner, who asked if I thought my displays helped my students, I have been inspired to write a thread.
Making displays purposeful: a thread
#edutwitter #teachershelpingteachers #teacherschoice
(1/5) Don’t let the initial creating of the display take over.
I like to follow a piece of advice I heard on a gambling advert… ‘when the fun stops, stop’. You can make it as complicated or as simple as you want. Leave space for things tobe added. Your class, your choice.
I like to follow a piece of advice I heard on a gambling advert… ‘when the fun stops, stop’. You can make it as complicated or as simple as you want. Leave space for things tobe added. Your class, your choice.
(2/5) Encourage children to take ownership of the display.
If they find out an interesting fact, hand them a sticky note and add it to the display. Showcase their fantastic work...
If they find out an interesting fact, hand them a sticky note and add it to the display. Showcase their fantastic work...
Seeing their work up on the wall makes a child so happy and it shows that you care and appreciate the time and effort that went into making it. This helps classroom ethos, relationships and can potentially improve work outcomes.
(3/5) Use it as an opportunity to challenge learners.
We always have key questions on the display, that I will often ask the children. Some will answer these on a post-it or in their books and we will add it to the board.
We always have key questions on the display, that I will often ask the children. Some will answer these on a post-it or in their books and we will add it to the board.
(4/5) Keywords are valuable.
Subject specific vocabulary is important in our primary curriculum and there is so much of it! Most of us will have EAL learners in our classrooms and showing key words, with pictorial representations, will help all learners access the learning.
Subject specific vocabulary is important in our primary curriculum and there is so much of it! Most of us will have EAL learners in our classrooms and showing key words, with pictorial representations, will help all learners access the learning.
Refer to them often and you will find the children will look at them.
(5/5) Think outside the box on how your display can combat misconceptions and doesn’t reinforce them.
I thought about this when creating my ‘earth and space’ display. The children will always see the sun on the left and the planets in order from left to right.
I thought about this when creating my ‘earth and space’ display. The children will always see the sun on the left and the planets in order from left to right.
I decided to do the opposite to give them another perspective. I also found a way to show the planets size in relation to each other. Instead of just seeing pretty planets, they can compare and start to fathom the proportion of our solar system.
I hope this brings some clarity and explains how we can use displays effectively. I’d be interested to know what other people think and how we can make them even more purposeful.