Why You Should Use Choice Boards in Your Library Classroom
Elementary library and classrooms should be a space where students can explore a variety of genres, get lost in a favorite book series, and dive into the world of nonfiction. Giving students the freedom to choose what and how they learn fosters engagement and a lifelong love of reading. That’s where choice boards come in!
Want to know why choice boards are a game-changer for your library classroom? Here are a few key reasons to start using them today!
K-2 Choice Boards in Your Library Classroom
Choice boards are a collection of activities that are formatted in a grid. Students can pick and choose which of Choice boards are a grid of activities that allow students to select and complete tasks in any order they prefer. Giving students the opportunity to choose their activities can significantly enhance their reading enjoyment and comprehension.
During COVID, I started creating digital picture book choice boards to support distance learning. Like many educators, I had to pivot to teaching online. I found it challenging finding activities that held their attention. I designed choice boards so they could select their own activities after listening to a read-aloud. These interactive boards not only kept students engaged but also provided opportunities for group discussions and shared learning experiences.
I created the choice boards in Google Slides and SeeSaw depenidng on which platform you prefer.
Some of the activities in the choice board include:
- vocabulary
- sequencing
- recalling events
- book themed word games
- matching games
- memory games
- writing
- activities where students will move images around on the slide
Printable Activities
When we returned to in-person learning, I wanted to offer the activities in a printable format. Rather than creating a print choice board, I turned the activities into printable worksheets. These worksheets closely resemble the digital versions. With the print format, you can complete a single worksheet after a read-aloud or incorporate them into a center activity. If you’re a classroom teacher, you can also send them home for additional practice. Every pack now includes a print version. Additionally, I’ve created separate listings for the print worksheets if that’s all you need.
Choice Board Examples
Below are some examples of the choice boards.
Staying Cool in the Library is my blog, where I share my passion for fostering a love of reading with children. As a librarian, I believe reading should be fun and accessible to all students. That’s why I share engaging and interactive lesson plans, creative ways to build exciting library collections, and resources to inspire even the most reluctant readers in any classroom or library. Check out my blog posts and products in my store, and join my email list below.
