By David · Founder & Editor, MyClassScreen
When you walk into your classroom in the morning, every second counts. Between greeting students, collecting homework, and taking attendance, the first ten minutes can be hectic. Having a visual display projected on your smart board helps establish a calm routine.
MyClassScreen is designed to help teachers set up structured morning routines quickly. It is a free online classroom screen that lets you arrange interactive widgets—like timers, name pickers, and drawing canvases—on one board and project it for your students. Here is how to set up your first board in under 10 minutes.
Step 1: Open Your First Board
To get started, open your web browser and go to app.myclassscreen.org/board. You do not need to create an account or sign up to try it. The web app opens directly to a clean canvas, ready for you to add your first widgets.
Step 2: Add and Position Widgets
At the bottom of the screen, you will find the main toolbar containing all 18 widgets. Click any icon to place that widget on your board. You can drag widgets to reposition them, or drag the bottom-right corner of any widget to resize it, allowing you to highlight important tasks.
Step 3: Customize Your Layout
Arrange widgets to fit the day's activity. For example, during a morning routine, you might place a large clock in the center, a 10-minute countdown timer on the left, and a name picker wheel on the right. You can customize settings for individual widgets, like setting a timer sound or naming a list, using the gear icon on the widget frame.
Step 4: Save Your Setup (Free)
To avoid setting up your board from scratch every morning, save your layout. Click the "Save Board" icon on the bottom menu and sign up for a free teacher account. Give your board a descriptive name (e.g. "Morning Routine" or "Math Centers"). Now, you can load your saved board instantly tomorrow morning from any device.
Step 5: Project for Your Class
Once your board is ready, click the full-screen button on the toolbar or press F11 on your keyboard. Connect your device to your smart board, Promethean display, or projector. The clean display makes it easy for all students to see instructions clearly.
A Teacher's Guide to the 18 Interactive Widgets
MyClassScreen includes a collection of eighteen widgets to manage your classroom visual displays. Here is a brief guide to what each tool does and how to use it:
1. Classroom Timer
Count down from any duration. Includes pre-set alarms and sound options. Great for tests, rotations, and cleanups.
2. Live Clock Display
Shows system time in 12-hour or 24-hour formats. Keeps lessons moving on schedule.
3. Random Name Picker
Spin to randomly choose a student. Save name rosters and turn on 'remove after selection' for fairness.
4. Dice Roller
Roll up to four virtual dice with customizable sides. Use for math drills and selection games.
5. Sound Level Monitor
Visual volume bar that measures ambient sound. Helps classes self-regulate volume thresholds.
6. Traffic Light
Red-yellow-green indicator to signal conversation expectations or activity stages.
7. Drawing Board
Sketch concepts, draw grids, or write directions on a resizable canvas with multiple colors.
8. Text Widget
Write agendas, instructions, homework, or check-lists. Supports clean font sizing and styles.
9. QR Code Generator
Paste a link and generate a code instantly. Students scan to access worksheets or forms.
10. Live Polling
Conduct reviews or vote on choices. Scores update in real-time in a bar chart display.
11. Group Maker
Shuffle saved rosters randomly into groups of any size, saving group preparation time.
12. Scoreboard
Track team scores for review games or table points. Click to add or subtract points easily.
Interactive Smart Board & Projector Setup Guide
MyClassScreen runs directly in any web browser, which makes it compatible with all modern school classroom displays. Here are setup guidelines for the three most common interactive displays:
1. Promethean ActivPanel Setup
To use MyClassScreen on a Promethean board, you have two options. You can connect your teacher laptop via HDMI and USB (for touch feedback) and open the site in Chrome on your laptop. Alternatively, you can open the built-in Chromium browser directly on the ActivPanel home screen, navigate to the site, and use the dashboard. We recommend using the connected laptop method if you want to use the noise level monitor, as laptops usually have better microphone inputs than built-in panels.
2. SMART Board Configuration
SMART boards connected to Windows or Mac devices support multi-touch gestures. Open MyClassScreen, click full-screen, and you can resize widgets or draw on the whiteboard canvas using your board's physical pen tool. If the drawing strokes appear offset, run the SMART board alignment utility from your desktop toolbar to calibrate touch accuracy.
3. ViewSonic ViewBoard & Projectors
ViewSonic ViewBoards running on built-in Android slots can open the site in the pre-installed web browser. For traditional projectors, check that your laptop's screen resolution is set to 'Duplicate' rather than 'Extend' so the cursor and window sizing scale correctly on the projector board. Use browser zoom (Ctrl + / -) if text looks small at the back of the room.
3 Board Layouts to Try Today
Here are three common board layouts to help you get started:
1. The Morning Meeting Board
Designed to help students transition into the classroom calmly and independently.
- Clock Widget: Placed in the top right to help students monitor the time.
- Text Widget: Displays daily instructions (e.g. "Take out your homework and write down spelling words").
- Random Name Picker: Use this to pick a student to lead the morning greeting.
2. The Test Day Board
Maintains a quiet, focused environment during assessments.
- Large Countdown Timer: Projects test duration clearly so students can pace themselves.
- Text Widget: Outlines directions (e.g. "Read questions carefully. When finished, read silently").
- Noise Level Meter: Shows current volume, reminding students to maintain a quiet testing room.
3. The Game Day Board
Gamifies review sessions or Friday activities.
- Interactive Scoreboard: Keeps track of team points.
- Dice Roller Widget: Selects numbers randomly for math challenges or trivia topics.
- Countdown Timer: Set to 30 seconds for quick trivia rounds, keeping games lively.
Tips for Success
To build consistency, introduce the display screen to your students slowly. Start by using a simple timer during transitions. Once students understand the routine, you can add more widgets and build complex layouts. Saving and labeling layouts makes it easy to transition between subjects.