Whiteboard positioning

[garyafcb]

Am just about to put an ActivBoard in a reception class
Just wondering how others have positioned boards for very little ones.
I am thinking of having 500mm between floor and bottom of board
Nice for the kids - backache for the teacher
anyone got a board in reception?
how high is yours from the floor - and does it work well?

[Stuart Collins]

Am just about to put an ActivBoard in a reception class
Just wondering how others have positioned boards for very little ones.
I am thinking of having 500mm between floor and bottom of board
Nice for the kids - backache for the teacher
anyone got a board in reception?
how high is yours from the floor - and does it work well?

well, personally (not being a teacher, and being on the taller side) I would assume that the board is the teachers tool and should be positioned for comfortable use by the teacher. if the children aren't able to reach the board then maybe they would feel better using the activslate to take part in the lesson, or go the whole hog and choose an activpanel.

I'm sure the other teachers here have a different view ;)

[Charlotte]

Wouldn't it be great if you could adjust the height easily..... :cool:
As that's not an option I guess you have to assess how much you would expect the pupils to use it - an option I have seen is a small step built under the board to allow little ones to reach a bit higher.

[Margaret Allen]

Although I would agree in part that it is first and foremost a teaching tool, I would also suggest that having children up at the board in small groups working together is a magic scenario, so don't preclude this from happening.

Steps are one option, but a half way house height which suits both can also be achieved.

The other thing I would be very careful about is that some teachers are taller than others, so don't just go by the current occupant of that classroom.

I attach a step option if you are interested.

[Sarah Carpenter]

I agree with Margaret -allowing the children to access the board freely is great - our Early Years classes often have the whiteboard as an independent/free choice activity and the kids love it and it is great for practising and developing hand control movements etc. on a large scale. We have had a step built (MDF and covered in carpet) and the children very quickly adapted to using it (can give you measurements if you need them). Did see a step specifically for whiteboards that looked like 2 steps ie. a lower one and then a higher one nearer the board that looked quite good (expensive though) - leaflet is at school, if you want further info let me know and I'll get it to you.
Sarah +wave+

[Sarah Carpenter]

P.S. I tend to sit on my step and operate it and it is the right height for most children to reach the top of the board.

[garyafcb]

Thanks folks
I have steps in front of the 4 boards we have in years 1 and 2
(didn't I read of some idiot authority suggesting that guard rails should be put around whiteboard steps :confused: )
Most definitely want reception children using the board - as much as possible!
might go for a low (100mm?) step and put the board at 600mm from floor.
I will let you know how it works out.

[SteveChennells]

I love to let the kids use the board as often as possible, only problem is it needs to be pretty lowfor this - so if I want to write on the last 1/4 of the board, I end up on my knees!

Steve

[Mike Dawson]

My eighth graders love writing on the board too but most of them are too embarrassed to get up in front of the class so I give them the slate. They are much better at writing on it than I am.

(I have to start looking at which forum I'm in. I don't use ActivPrimary although I'm sure that my students would love that too!)

[LisaD]

I agree with Margaret as well. The kids at the board is really the most interesting thing!

And from feedback I have gotten, most little ones do better at the board than with the slate (lots of hand eye coordination going on there)

Many of the elementary schools I have visited have made a large wide box out of plywood that is carpeted and is used as a step. (for the lower grades)

But I have even seen these in computer labs where the board had to be positioned pretty high so that the kids could see over computer monitors.

If built well and carpeted, I think it is a quite safe solution!

Lisa

[davidlab]

How about setting the board low enough for the students to reach and provicing a stool on wheels for the teacher to sit on to bring her/him down to height?

[Margaret Allen]

Have a look here.....

http://www.prometheanworld.com/uk/html/press_centre/publish/article_448.shtml

I went to an Early Years Event and there is a short video of 3/4 year olds at the board!!

[clap]

[LisaD]

Margaret,

I think that is the cutest thing I've ever seen! I have to add a little story:

A short while ago, I was visiting a group of 6 year olds (First graders in the US) who were using the Activboard to learn their 10's tables.

One of the students was at the board and using the dice tool. She would roll one dice and ask rest of the students "What makes 10?"

Assuming a 4 rolled, the students were to call out "6." You could see their little mouths start to say "4" but hold up and then say "6." In 5 minutes, the entire class was calling out the correct answer each time without hesitating! Five minutes!

After that, the teacher changed the dice to "2" dice, then asked the students to add up the roll of the dice. But, if they rolled "doubles" they were asked to just "holler" Whoo Hoo!

What a riot! I have never seen kids having so much fun learning how to add!

Lisa

[Dug]

We have boards in our reception and nursery classrooms (children as youndg as 3) and have the board as low as Promethean would put it and we also position a plastic bench (called a 'billy' bench) just in front. These benches are flexible and versitile because we can also use them in combinations to make staging in the hall or tiered seating as they slot together ingeniously.
I too spend much of my time on my knees when using the lower boards (it also tends to help avoid the 'shadow in the way' problem).
I am in full agreement with the 'magic' of kids using it and we have some very competent 3,4 and 5 year old users in our Foundation Stage. One potential problem is ensuring equality of access, as a minority of Mini whizz kids (mostly boys it must be said) tend to monopolize when the board is part of a free choice environment.

[davidlab]

Another way to avoid the shadowing (and the light in your eyes!) is to use a very short range projector. NEC make a WT610 which, when set up above the board, projects down at such a sharp angle that you can't get the light in your eyes. It also reduces the shadowing considerably. Only problem is the price!