When planning a lesson, include a chalkboard plan that determines which aspects of the lesson will be illustrated on the board. It is a good idea to map out plans for the board before class. One possibility is to come to class early and lightly outline any sketches that will be used. When the appropriate point in the class arrives, simply draw heavily over the outline. It is advisable to bring your own chalk to class and to carry plenty of spares.
Colored chalk is useful to highlight important aspects of the lesson.
Good instructors write neatly and horizontally, making sure handwriting is large enough for the students to read. It is useful to look critically at what is on the chalkboard from the point of view of the students in the class. Scrawling or excessive, incomprehensible abbreviations tend to be especially problematic. It is important to remember that unless the classroom is sloped, students seated toward the back of the room will not be able to see the bottom of the board. If you sit briefly in the back row of the occupied classroom, it will be evident how far down the board you can write.