Use desks as dry-erase boards
Some student desks can be used as dry-erase boards. This works on laminate fake-wood desks–but not all of them. When you’re alone in the room, try a dry-erase marker on an inconspicuous portion of the desk. If you’re lucky, the mark will wipe right off. Presto! Your students can use their desks for showing their work. (Suddenly, students will fall all over themselves to show their work in math.)
I have found that this works best with any color of marker that isn’t red. Red markers don’t usually erase well on actual dry-erase boards, either. Additionally, I have noticed that the slicker the desk, the more likely this trick is to work. Lastly, dark fake-wood desks tend to work better than the blond fake-wood desks.
This trick doesn’t work for everyone, but if it works in your classroom, your students will think you’re the best!
Good uses for desks-as-dry-erase-boards:
- Showing work on math
- Practicing cursive
- Practicing spelling words
- Taking notes–as a learning tool, not as notes the students need later
- Practicing sample math problems
Other ClassAntics posts about whiteboards, dry-erase boards, and whiteboard markers:
Low-budget whiteboard markers and cleaners
RSS
