Having a dry erase whiteboard at each student desk is an essential tool for a teacher. They can be used for quick assessments, for practice work, for learning games, and as a thinking tool. Student whiteboards are a green alternative to traditional scratch paper, which is typically thrown away or recycled.
Many teachers want a classroom set of dry erase whiteboards, but feel that they are too expensive. Buying them from a school supply or an office supply store could cost several dollars each, adding up to well over $100 for the teacher. Here is a way to get a class set of whiteboards that will last through two or more years of heavy, daily use.
Where to Get Small Dry Erase Boards
Getting a class set of cheap dry erase boards is as simple as taking a trip to the local hardware store or home improvement store. An inexpensive 4x8 sheet of white panel board, sometimes called shower board, will make a set of 32 classroom dry erase boards. Have a store employee use the heavy-duty lumber saw to cut the board into 12-inch square pieces.
Sometimes teachers will share a set of larger whiteboards made the same way. Each of these large pieces can be used in group work, or to make group presentations. They are not used daily, so it makes sense to share them. Have a store employee cut the 4x8 panel into four large pieces. For a class of 32 students, eight large group boards is optimal.
Erasers can be made from small squares of felt material. Another idea is to have students bring a sock to school. The sock works as an eraser, and the dry erase markers can be kept inside the sock and tucked in the desk.
Uses for Portable Dry Erase Boards
Students can keep the whiteboards and a dry erase marker at each of their desks. The board is handy to use when figuring math calculations, taking notes while reading, and for writing quick answers to teacher questions.
The teacher can have the students work a problem or write an answer on their boards. The students should keep the board covered until the teacher instructs them to show it. By looking at the answers, the teacher can do quick, informal assessments of the responses to classroom exercises. These assessments help guide the teacher’s instruction.
These whiteboards are often used to write short instructions to the class. They can be placed around the room, or taken along when going to another location. They can be used to keep score in games in physical education. They can also be used for quiet activities when students have completed their work.
Using Student Whiteboards in Group Work
Larger boards can be used for students working together to create, review, or present. Each student in a group should have a different colored whiteboard marker. This way, the teacher can see the contribution that each person makes to the project or assignment.
Students can read a section of an assignment together, make notes of the important points, and present them to the class on a whiteboard. Another idea is to have students make a graphical representation of a concept on the whiteboard. Groups can use the boards to create word webs, idea webs, or other graphic organizers related to the subject matter.
Teachers need to be innovative and creative to get the supplies they need in the classroom. Making whiteboards from a 4x8 piece of panel board is a cost saving way to get student dry erase boards. The ways they are used are as varied as the teachers who use them.
For more information about getting a classroom ready for school, read Three Things to Do to Set Up a Classroom and How to Set Up a Classroom.
Suzanne Pitner - Suzanne Pitner is a teacher and published writer. A member of RWA and YARWA, she writes fiction as Suzanne Lilly.
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