Dry Erase Boards and Storage

My students love using their mini white boards.  It allows them to be more active in the lessons, and they get to use MARKERS!  They get to hold them up in the air, wave them around, and they get to use MARKERS!  Not to mention that they can easily erase their mistakes.

Me, not so much.  I have a love-hate relationship with them.  I love that they allow me to SEE what my students are doing DURING the lesson.  I hate the mess they leave behind on our impossibly hard to clean light gray desk tops.  I love that my students are more engaged during the lessons with the mini white boards.  I hate the marker parade - when they march back and forth to the marker box to get a marker that works better.  And I absolutely despise the noise they make (clack, clack, clack) during the passing out and collecting transitions.

Well, I haven't solved the problem of the markers drying up during the lessons, but I think I came up with a better idea for storage that will alleviate the CLACK-CLACK-CLACK of the boards.

Yesterday while I was reorganizing my classroom, I came to the mini-white boards and it hit me!    After reading Alison's series on going paperless @ her Eberopolis blog, I decided to eliminate paper from the morning math warm-up for next year.  I was moving them to another location to try to make them easier to pass out every morning, to a few shelves below the reward tub.  In my reward tub were several of those stretchy book covers, and BAM!  Noise and traffic problem solved! 


They fit over the larger boards!  It is a little snug, but definitely doable.  With the boards covered, they can store them in their desks (which are open wire baskets, and they are not allowed to leave anything in them) and the boards will not get scratched.  And the covers will cut down on the CLACKing!  No more students dropping the boards as they pass out or collect.  No more traffic jam at the shelf. 
We just got these smaller (and more flimsy) boards last year.  The book covers fit over them super easy.  The problem is that I only have a pack of 30.  So, if I can go on a scavenger hunt and track down another pack, I would feel comfortable using these for next year.  

I am going to keep both sets for now, and I will have the students try the smaller ones next year.  Something tells me that they will like the larger ones because they are an actual BOARD, making them more versatile for lap work on the floor.  I think my brilliant idea will work...what do you think?

Well, I am off to another day of organizing.  If you are still in school, have fun with your students over the next few days!  If you are on vacation, relax!





9 comments

  1. Thanks for the idea. Every year I struggle with the location of dry erase boards and if they are covered they should be ok in desks. This past year I had them in tubs at the back of the room and it was a hassle to get them distributed...thus, we didn't use them as often.

    Pat

    A Time to Share & Create


    MY WEBSITE

    Fabulous 4th Grade

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    1. That was exactly what happened in my class! I will let you know how it goes.

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  2. Yay, Paperless! :)

    I love this idea for using the book covers with the whiteboards. The kids could probably keep their markers and erasers in the pouch, too.

    Good luck with your organizing!
    Alison
    Eberopolis: Teaching Reading & Writing with Technology

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    1. I thought you would appreciate it:) Completion of their warmup in a timely manner is one way they earn their "Exit Ticket" for lunch. All I do is look at it, and do a little personal reteach if they need it, they don't go in the gradebook. Less paper is always good:)

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  3. I like the idea of doing the math warm ups on the dry erase boards instead of paper. I've never taught math before-this next year will be my 1st time!! 6th grade! Actually, I will be teaching ALL subjects so math and science will be new for me- I need all the tips I can get. :)

    I'm your newest follower!

    Shannon
    http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com

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    1. Thank you! I teach all 4 academic areas plus Read 180, so let me know if you need any help!

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  4. Oh, goodie!! What kind of science do you teach? Ours in AL is earth science.

    Shannon

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  5. It is my great pleasure to visit your website and to enjoy your excellent post here. I like that very much.
    Dry erase board

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