j6ronx &mu for:4rtriirr 3cfflathtniatio The Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics

1363 Fulton AvenueBronx, New York 10456

Tele # (917) 941-7856 — Fax # (718) 741-7970Edward Tom, Principal

BCSM Bulletin Board Guidelines[as of 10-3-05]

^ Evidence of NYS Standard being addressed in activity

^ Clearly state the assignment given to students

^ Evidence of grading rubric for assignment

^ Evidence of rigor in the assignment given to students

^ Evidence of careful, constructive student feedback on worksdisplayed

^ Evidence of writing across the content areas

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The Mott Hall SchoolI.S. / P.S. 223

71 Convent AvenueNew York, N.Y. 10027

Dr. Mirian Acosta-Sing, PrincipalMr. Marc Briller, SPD

www.motthall.orgCopyright © 2003 Mott Hall

Setting Standards For

BulletinBoardsC

lassroom bulletin boards andhallway display areas are animportant element in creating a

positive learning environment. Bulletinboards can teach, inform, inspire and adda great deal of educational value to aclassroom when they are preparedeffectively. They provide a means forteachers to stimulate interest in anupcoming unit to be studied, as well as,showcasing student work at the end of acourse of study.

A classroom without bulletin boards isbarren. Students need to have a somethingto look at besides bare walls.

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Bulletin boards are used:

• To convey ideas and concepts to be taught in aclear, simple and dramatic way.

• To arouse and maintain interest in a topic or unitto be studied.

• To highlight standard setting student work whichcan be viewed as exemplars.

• To help record pupils' progress and growth.• To give general information to students such as

future events.

1-Motivational Unit Bulletin Boards

A motivational bulletin board is used to introduce a unit of study. These bulletin boards are meant to arouse interestin the new curricula unit. The components of the Motivational Bulletin Board should include:

• A clearly stated goal / standards• Illustrations and photographs related to the themes and topics, which are to be studied.• Key vocabulary words related to the themes and topics of the unit.• High level focus questions which students will be able to answer at the conclusion of the unit being

studied. These focus questions should focus on the concepts being taught throughout the unit.

Motivational Bulletin Board

Created by Mrs. ReynoldsThis Motivational Bulletin Board is theme or unit specific its focus in on the humanskeleton and the study of bones

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2-Project Based Bulletin Boards

Project based bulletin boards are created at the conclusion of a unit of study. The purpose for this type of bulletinboard is to post and feature standard setting student projects, which are exemplars of excellent work created by thestudents. The benefits ofposting these bulletin boards are firstly, students have the opportunity to see and learn whatan excellent project looks like and secondly, students whose work is showcased feel self-esteem and pride inknowing that they've done excellent work. The components of a Project Based Bulletin Board should include:

• Clearly stated goal of the unit.• The task, which led to the development of the project.• The Standard setting projects, be sure that the students name appears on the project• A rubric, which was used to evaluate the work.• The focus questions from the unit studied should be posted since the projects should reflect and respond

to these questions.

Project Based Bulletin Board Created by Mrs. HerzogThis bulletin board features student products and was created to highlight excellent work at the conclusion ofa study on insects.

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3-Informational and Procedural Bulletin Boards

Informational and procedural bulletin boards are used to inform and reinforce important classroom procedures andinformation, This type of bulletin board is a real time — saver because the students know where to look forimportant information which pertains to them. This bulletin board should be located in a location that is easiest forstudents to access. The information contained on these bulletin boards may include:

• Procedures related to:I. Fire Drills2. Classroom laptop3. Arrival and dismissal4. Setting up and maintaining Reading and Writing Portfolios

• Due dates for assignments and special projects• Special school events• Classroom rules and procedures

An example of an informational/ procedural type bulletin board appropriate for our Mott Hall students might includea technology bulletin board which could be called, "Brush up On Your Internet". This bulletin board could include:

• Student policy related to the use of the Internet.• Vocabulary related to internet use (.COM, .ORG, URL, ...)• Procedures for conducting an online search.• Listing of search engines• Listing of curricula specific URLs (websites)• Directions and rules for printing

Informational Bulletin Board Created by Mrs. Ferreiro HernandezOur Service Learning Program is described with all components explained.Students have the opportunity to understand the program's components, priorto participating in this program.

Informational Bulletin BoardCreated by Ms. Strickoff

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4-Inspirational Bulletin Boards

Inspirational bulletin boards do not focus onspecific units of study. These bulletin are generalin nature and promote an interest in areas such ashaving students read more, enjoy listening tomusic, keep a writing journal etc. These bulletinboards don't have focus questions or specifictasks.

Inspirational Bulletin Board Created by Ms. ReynoldsThe Inspirational Bulletin Board is not a unit specific but rather promotes reading.

Standards for Student Written Work to be DisplayedStudent written work, which is to be displayed on bulletin boards, should meet or demonstrate that the child isstriving to meet the standards. The students writing should go through a process of planning, drafting, revising andediting before it is considered a fmished product.

The writing or project to be displayed should reflect the focus and the response to the task If the task requires:

• Informational writing, such as a news story or a Social Studies report, which includes facts, gathered fromseveral sources. The writing should use information to express a particular point of view, and should be writtenfor a specific audience.

• A response to literature, such as an essay making connections between characters or themes from differentbooks the writing should express the students thinking about how particular authors use language, and shoulduse examples from the books to support his or her ideas.

• A story of fictional writing or is autobiographical then the writing should create an interest, using dialogues andsuspense, and should describe characters movements and expressions.

• Narrative procedure writing explaining how something is done, then this writing should lay out clear steps thatare easy to follow, and should anticipate anything that may be unclear to the reader.

• A persuasive essay then the work should have examples of anecdotes and examples, which help to create aconvincing argument.

All student work selected for display should also demonstrate:• Correct use of grammar, which includes all parts of speech.• Correct paragraph structure.• Appropriate language.• Correct use of all conventions of punctuation.• Correct sentence structure.• Proper word usage and correct spelling.

The students' work should be as professional as possible. Computer generated work is preferred wheneverpossible. Illustrations and drawing should be neatly mounted.If the paper is handwritten then the handwriting should be neat, clear and legible.

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Suggestions for Bulletin Boards Aesthetics

Bulletin Board Backgrounds

Most teachers tend to use plan construction paper to back bulletin boards but if you are tired of the samebackground aesthetic for your bulletin board you may consider some of the ideas listed below for covering abulletin board. Most of the materials can be cut for borders as well. Also, some of the materials (even fabric) canbe laminated for cutting letters. Additional materials, which can be used for bulletin board backgrounds, mayinclude:

• Curtains• Pictures of former students• Magazine pages• Old greeting cards• Picture post cards• Calendar pages or pictures• Book covers• Pages from old textbooks• Fabric• A tablecloth• Wrapping paper• Newspaper• Comic pages

Bulletin Board Borders

Borders for your bulletin boards can becoordinated with the backgroundmaterials listed above by cutting thematerials selected for you backgrounds.Materials for borders, which may be, are:

• Wide ribbon for colorful borders.• Strips of newspaper and laminate.• Laminate strips of fabric that fit the

theme of the board.• Covers from discarded paperback

cut to the same width, connected andthen laminate.

• A 3-D effect, using old puzzle pieces. Glued to strips of construction paper.• Bookmarks as a border for a reading (Inspirational) bulletin board.