The blackboard is a large black or green surface fixed to a classroom wall for writing on with chalk. Each classroom has at least one blackboard for teaching purpose. The blackboard helps students visualize scenes, actions, situations and objects that cannot be brought into the classroom. A talented language teacher draws pictures, sketches and diagrams on the board for this purpose.
Principles in using blackboard
The board should be:

1. Neat and clean. Write and draw pictures, diagrams, tables neatly.
2. Both teachers and students can use the board for learning English in class.
3. Everything put upon it must be written or drawn with care.
4. The black board should be fixed in the right place.
5. Only essentials points should be written neither too much, nor too little is written on the blackboard before you begin.
6. Use colour chalks may be used for emphasis.

While teaching a prose lesson, the teacher can use the board to write down new words and phrases expressions with their meanings for pattern practice. While teaching poetry, the teacher can use the board to write the poetic forms, poetic devices and rhyming words. While teaching a grammar, the board can be used to indicate the forms of verbs, adjectives, adverbs and grammatical rules. Prepositions can be taught by drawing suitable pictures.

Lot of oral work is possible in early classes by drawing match-stick diagrams on the blackboard.

Reading from the board helps students fix in the mind spelling of words and their order in phrases and sentences.

The blackboard is a very effective tool for displaying good handwriting. The formation of letters can be effectively demonstrated on the blackboard. Handwriting of students can be improved by giving practice on the board. In teaching spelling, it can be used for illustrating the rules of spelling. The confused English words can be taught by writing the confusing parts of the words with coloured chalk. Punctuation can very well be taught by writing a passage on the board and then putting the various punctuation marks at their proper places. Structures and new words can also be presented and practised on it. Substitution tables can be drawn on the board for presenting and practicing Structures.