Megan Reynolds

Megan Reynolds

I am a teacher & designer. Connecting with students & seeing them enjoy learning is my favorite feeling on earth! I hope you enjoy this article!

3rd Grade Writing Choice Board Tutorial for Teachers

Build your own Writing Choice Board for 3rd Grade in minutes! Keep kids engaged & learning using these tactics & templates
To use a choice board in your 3rd Grade Classroom during Writing you will need to create the Writingchoices (there are lots of examples), organize the classroom, and have a goal;

Time-saving, differentiation, and dynamic classroom management are my favorite reasons to use a choice board!

Integrating choices every day you will need to hone in on the best way to apply 3rd Grade Writing choice boards to your classroom style!

Here are a few ideas and instructions on choices, classroom management and getting buy-in from your3rd Graders

Ideas & Examples of Great 3rd Grade Writing Choices

Write a Letter to a Superhero
Write a letter to your favorite superhero! Tell them why you admire them, ask a question, and share a drawing if you like. Have fun imagining their world!
Create Your Own Comic Strip
Draw a series of boxes. In each, sketch characters and write speech bubbles to tell a fun story. Add colors and details. Be creative and have fun with your own comic!
Design a Magical Creature Diary
Create a diary for your own magical creature! Draw it, name it, and write about its powers, home, and adventures. Use your imagination and have fun!
Invent a New Playground Game
Magic Tag: Everyone runs to avoid the ‘wizard.’ If tagged, freeze until another player gives you a high-five to ‘break the spell’ and run again!
Craft a Story About Your Dream Pet
Imagine your perfect pet. Is it fluffy or scaly? Can it do magic or fly? Write a short story about adventures with your dream pet. Draw a picture too!
Compose a Poem About Seasons
Write a short poem about the four seasons. For each season, think of what you see, feel, and do. Use rhyming words to make it fun!
Plan a Menu for a Fantasy Picnic
Imagine a picnic with magical foods. Draw a menu with 3 fun dishes and 2 drinks. Use colors and add a special dessert. Think of what fairies or superheroes might eat!
Imagine & Describe Your Secret Hideout
Imagine a cozy spot just for you. Is it in a tree? Under your bed? Draw it with colors and things you love. Is there a secret password? Share your hideout!
Draw & Describe an Alien Friend
Draw an alien with a fun shape, add some cool features like extra eyes or arms, and color it. Then write about its name, where it lives, and a special thing it can do!

Using a Choice Board to Differentiate Writing in a 3rd Grade Classroom

Keep It Simple

Everyone “teacher & student” should know exactly what they are doing. If you don’t make it even easier! 

Differential Instruction vs Saving time?

There is nothing more irritating than “Saving Time” with a Choice Board & ending up with “More work!”.  Are you using this to hit standards or save time or both? 

"Self Guided" or "instruction-based"?

If you giving out work, should they do it on their own or are these more instructions for each choice?

General rule, if the grade is > 3 there is more work per choice.

FREE Blank Fillable & Custom Choice Board

All ages, all grades where you need 9 grid choice board. Start loving learning again! 

How To Manage Your 3rd Grade Classroom During Writing (With a Choice Board)

I find its easiest to use a big board at the front of the classroom where all students can see the choices  then decide what they want to do

This often will be coming in from a break or transition between subjects. 

If you can get all students to know whats expected during a choice activity it becomes one-hundred times easier to manage the class & have everyone know what choices they have!  

There are three core steps you have to hit when using a Choice Board; 

1) The Set Up
2) 
The Instruction 
3) The Q+A 

1) The Set Up

Select your choices, decide on how you are going to use this time in your classroom. Build the choice board

1) The Instruction

Tell the students what they are going to be doing (this becomes easier over time) Simply start with 3 options & move from there. 

1) The Q & A

Does anyone have questions? This will help you or the next time. Remember the goal is to make this easier each time! 

Why Use A Choice Board?

So, let’s chat about choiceboards and why they’re like the coolest thing ever in your classroom. 

Picture this: kiddos bouncing into the room, eyes lighting up because they get to pick their own adventure in learning new words.

 It’s like a mini vocab party, and everyone’s invited!

We all have our own jam, right? Some of us are little artists, others are born performers, and some love to get lost in stories. Choice boards are like a buffet of fun learning snacks, so every munchkin finds something tasty that helps the vocab stick!

And here’s the kicker – when the little ones get to steer the ship, they turn into these mini captains of learning. They’re making the calls, and with every choice, they puff up a bit more with confidence. It’s a win-win – they’re learning and feeling like the boss at the same time.

Plus, for us teachers, it’s like having a secret helper in the room. We get to sprinkle in all sorts of activities that match our students’ levels and what makes their hearts tick. It’s like custom-making a learning playlist that gets every kid grooving to the vocab beat. How cool is that?