Teaching Today publishes innovative teaching tips on a weekly basis. Written with the busy teacher in mind, each tip is concise, practical and easy to implement in the classroom right away. Topics covered in Teaching Today are classroom management, career development, high stakes testing, instruction and planning, parental involvement, reading in the content areas, using technology in the classroom, and portfolio development. Teaching Today also offers free weekly downloads that correspond to the tips. Our free downloads make implementing the teaching tips even easier. Teaching Today provides educational resources for teachers looking for everyday solutions to the challenges of the classroom.
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Teaching Today - This Week's Tips Teaching Today - This Week's Tips

This Week's Topic

Instructor Management and Visual Aids—Part 2
This week’s tips focus on two types of visual aids used in the classroom—overhead projector transparencies and boards. To become more effective at using these forms of visuals: practice, practice, practice.

This Week's Tips

Using Overhead Projector Transparencies (Monday)
Overhead projector transparencies are one of the most popular visuals in the classroom. They are inexpensive and portable. They can be one of your most important helpmates, or they can be a hindrance. Follow these tips to make your transparencies a helpmate: Use frames for ease of handling and as a surface for writing notes. Use a pen with a clip as a pointer on the transparency. The clip will keep the pen from rolling. To keep a relationship with your students rather than the screen, point to the transparency, and not at the screen.

More Tips on Overhead Projector Transparencies (Tuesday)
Here are some more tips on using overhead transparencies: Have the first transparency on the projector before starting your lecture, so all you have to do is turn on the machine. Make sure all students can read the display on the screen. Before removing the transparency, make sure everyone has had an opportunity to make notes. Cover the transparency or turn off the machine when you are finished with the transparency. Avoid a blank, lit screen.

Additional Tips on Overhead Projector Transparencies (Wednesday)
Here are more tips for using overhead transparencies: Before class, check to make sure your transparencies are in the right order. Keep the visual simple; emphasize only key points. Aim for six or seven lines, 10 lines maximum. Use no more than six or seven words in each line. Graphs and charts should be horizontal, and lists should be vertical. Leave each transparency on the screen for about two minutes before removing it.

Using Boards (Thursday)
Using a white board or blackboard is most effective with a classroom of about 20 students. Use active verbs and simple language. Make sure you have the right kind of markers for white boards. If your penmanship is poor, ask a student to write for you. Use different colors to highlight different points. Avoid using red; this color tends to irritate people.

Using Transparencies and Boards (Friday)
Keep the information on transparencies and boards simple and clear. Be sure to check out this week’s Download Depot for a checklist. Here are a few general guidelines: Never use standard typewritten material on transparencies. Use 14-point type for easy reading. On boards, print or write legibly in letters that are about one-inch high. Spread out your use of visual aids; use them sparingly throughout your lectures.

Download your free Visual Aids Checklist today!




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