Whiteboards, or dry erase boards, are such a versatile and helpful classroom tool. They’re a great way to reduce paper use, do a quick, informal assessment, and give your students a chance to quickly jot down ideas. Today, I’ll share some ways I like to use whiteboards in my classroom.
A Classroom Tool that Every Teacher Needs
When first year teachers ask me what they NEED in their classroom, I normally answer with two 2 things (besides themselves and their students, of course). They are books and whiteboards. Books, of course are obvious (read about how I build up my classroom library here), but dry erase boards may not be quite as obvious. However, I truly believe that whiteboards are an incredibly important tool for any classroom. Today, I’m going to share 5 simple, but effective ways to use white boards in your classroom that will help keep students engaged.
I’d like to thank Steps to Literacy for sponsoring this post. I received compensation for this post, but all opinions, ideas, and thoughts are mine. I only share about resources, products, and companies that I use and believe, in, and believe will be beneficial to you as well!
First, let me just share that I’ve used many different types of whiteboards in my classroom and many different types of markers. I’ve gone the SUPER cheap route with both, and I’ve always regretted it. These Double-Sided Magnetic Dry Erase Board Sets are by far my favorite. I love that the boards are double-sided and magnetic because that makes them all the more useful. I also absolutely love that the markers have erasers built right in. It makes it so much easier for students to erase as they’re working. If you’re going to use dry erase markers as often as I do, you’ll definitely want to get a nice, sturdy set that are perfect for little hands and will last!
Whiteboards at the Small Group Table
Dry erase boards are my best friend at the small group table! They’re perfect for working with words, working on sentences, and so much more! When my students are learning to build new vocabulary words, I like to have them build the words with magnetic letters (I love that this set is lowercase!) Then, I’ll have them practice writing the words as well. I love that we don’t waste paper, and the students can erase their work, put away their magnets, and then we’re ready for the next group!
Whiteboards for Read Alouds
As a teacher, nothing makes my heart happier than gathering around the carpet and reading to my students. However, I think it’s very important to make sure my students are fully engaged in the story as I read. This is where whiteboards come in! I often have my students bring their markers and dry erase boards to the carpet. That way I can easily check for understanding before, during, and after reading! I can have students predict what the story will be about, stop mid-story and retell what has happened so far, or have them write about their favorite part at the end of the story! Of course, we also have class discussions, but having my students write down their answers makes them accountable. I can also easily assess who is and is not comprehending parts of the story.
Calendar Time with Whiteboards
Calendar math is a life skill, and I always make time for it in my classroom. Again, I want all of my students involved, so whiteboards are a key tool! As I pick a students to lead calendar time, the rest of the class can follow along on their whiteboards! We might change up what they’re writing, but they’re always responsible to be part of the process.
ABC Mystery Game
One of my favorite white board games is called ABC Mystery. Each student pulls out a magnetic letter from my bag and sticks it to their board. Then, I give them a set amount of time to come up with as many words that start with that letter as they can and write (or draw)! This is a fun one at any level because they come up with such fabulous words! I often play this at the end of the day or when we have a few extra minutes between periods.
Extra Time Math or Spelling Practice
Dry erase boards also come in handy when you have a few extra minutes at the end of the day or before lunch! I love to use them to work on math facts or spelling. I simply say addition or subtraction sentences and my students solve them! Or, I’ll call out grade appropriate spelling words and sight words and they write them. As simple as it sounds, my students love it when they get to spell their word or share their answers with the class.
Dry erase boards are a simple, yet effective tool that I recommend for every classroom. If you’re looking for a quality set, I highly suggest this set from Steps to Literacy. How do you use whiteboards in your classroom? I’d love to hear!
Want to see more of my favorite resources from Steps to Literacy? Check out the posts below.
Listening Libraries Diverse Chapter Books Rich Mentor Texts NGSS Science Book Collections Back to School Favorites Tactile Letters Christmas Crafts Small Group Organization STEM Tools Brain Breaks Calm Down Kit Ideas
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