Monday, May 20, 2013

Must Have Monday: Individual Whiteboards

Today I'm linking up with Sabra from Teaching with a Touch of Twang for her brand new linky: Must have Mondays.


My must have for this week is: individual student whiteboards. I love these ones from Staples. They're double-sided and if you get them at the back-to-school sale, they only cost $2.50 each. The ones I bought have lasted 5 years so far and are still going strong. Mine also have the little marker holder at the top.

Expo® Double-Sided Learning Board

I use these whiteboards in my classroom almost every single day. Here's just a few things that we use them for:

1. Spelling Practice. Every week the students write their spelling words on their whiteboards three times. For whatever reason they prefer this to writing them on paper. We often do it first thing in the morning after they write in their planners. I check each student's whiteboard as they finish and check to make sure they've written everything correctly. Then it's erased and I don't worry about grading papers or entering it in the gradebook. Yay for less papers!

2. Social Studies or Science Review. We do this one all the time too. As we review each lesson or study for a test, I ask the students questions over the lesson - T or F, multiple choice, or short answer. Students write on their whiteboard and hold it up to see. That way I can check their answers immediately, and they know whether they've gotten the answer right or wrong. I love the quick feedback.

3. Math Practice. Most of the time I like students to show their math work on their papers. However, when we're just beginning a new concept, the whiteboards are a great way to practice. I write the problem on the board, the students write it down on the whiteboards and solve it, and I check each student to see if they got the correct answer. What I like about this is if they've done a step wrong, it's really quick to wipe off and try again and they don't get frustrated with the constant erasing on paper.

That's it for my must-haves for this week. :)

9 comments:

  1. That's a great must have! I'm not currently teaching, but I loved having them for the classroom. My kids really enjoy using dry erase boards at home too.
    Kids Math Teacher

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  2. Yes, these are fabulous. I have a set that looks like auction paddles. They love them. :) Thanks for coming by my blog. :)
    Brandee @ Creating Lifelong Learners

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  3. LOVE this must have! I read the title alone and my I started to instantly nod my head and went, "Oh yea, a definite must have in our class too!" LOL We us it for the same things except I've not tried it for Spelling! Isn't it so funny how much more engaged they become when they get to write on the white boards??? Thanks for the great idea and linking up!

    Sabra
    Teaching with a Touch of Twang

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  4. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leading me to yours! The fraction sets that I have are plastic so they should hold up nicely for a while! Student whiteboards are a must have in my class too! I am your newest follower!
    Bethany
    fabandfunin4th.blogspot.com

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  5. I found you via Sabra's Must Have linky! I'm your newest follower.

    Thanks for the great reminder about individual whiteboards. I used to use these years ago. I loved them, the kids loved them. You could quickly assess their work and there were less papers passing over my desk! Hmmm! Think I'm adding this to next year's Must Have list! I like the look of yours with the lines for writing. I made mine out of a piece of shower board that I purchased at Home Depot, back them it cost 4 dollars! When the clerk found out what I was using it for, he cut it for me. I think I had more than thirty boards!

    Angela
    The Teacher's Desk 6

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    Replies
    1. Wow! Great price. I love cheap things.

      Angie

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  6. Hi Angie, I finally bought the individual white boards - my kids love them! I just found your cute blog, I'm your newest follower!

    ✿Sue✿
    Science for Kids Blog

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    1. You'll have a great time with them. I use them for so many things.

      Thanks for stopping by :)

      Angie

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