Teacher Discussion Forums

I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this discussion, but here goes anyway...

I've been teaching for some years now but I've never really learned the art of writing on a whiteboard while facing my students. I'm right handed, so when I write on a board I face the board and my students see my back. I try to avoid talking while I write, but I would really like to be able to write with my back to the board.

I've seen some trainers do this and it looks really professional.

Does anyone have any exercises or tips to help me ?

I'd suggest some side lateral raises with a manageable dumbell (say, 10kg), followed by some limbering exercises in the opposite direction (perhaps on alternate days). Feldenkrais might help too. Then, when your traps are suitably bulging through your shirt, you'll be better able to control the direction of the scrawl to make it the more legible, as well as hopefully avoid painful neck cramps the next day.

I never even tried to master that technique, but I have learned to use the overhead projector more. Perhaps that's why it doesn't bother me as much. Of course, you have to have the equipment available, but for me, it achieved much the same purpose.

if you're right-handed, you stand facing the students with the board to your right. It's easy, but you can't fully face the students, you will be at a slight angle.

I'll show you how it's done if you come visit me in Malaysia

If I'm writing a fair amount on the board or the flipchart, I stand on the left side (when facing it) of the board and then cross over my body and the board to write on it with my right hand. Again, to make it clear, I stand with the left-side of my body next to the board and cross over me and the board to write with my right hand. It's not perfect, but it somewhat better than having your back totally towards them. It works quite well with a flip chart.