There's something very enticing about writing on white boards with dry erase pens. If you write out a math problem on a piece of paper, the kids will NEVER try to take the pencil out of your hand to show you they know the answer. HOWEVER, if you have written the problem on a white board, and showed the enjoyment of wiping out an error with your finger (in tantalizing slow motion), they will literally BEG to have a go.
The downside is, they are not going to have 100% of their mind on the equations, but I suspect this is true much of the time, without the distraction of dry erase marker magic. You can make math with a white board even more fun (oh, boy!) by having two dry erase pens and racing them with on the math problems (remember mum or dad - you have already graduated, give the kid a break of 30-60 seconds headstart!)
We used white boards to learn cursive writing (see teaching handwriting the Montessori way) and it captured their imagination then too. If you go to Home Depot or Lowes or equivalent hardware stores you can buy white board in 8 foot by 6 foot size and get them to cut it up. You can take this home and attach it to your walls - buy sufficient dry erase pens, and watch and laugh as your young children boast to their friends "We can draw on our walls...". Note: Occasional dagger looks from other parents as they visualize their little babies taking home the writing on wall concept to their own unprotected walls.............
Aussie Kim
Great idea! I agree -- kids sure do love writing on white boards! And, it's great for saving paper as well!
Posted by: Angie @ Many Little Blessings | February 20, 2008 at 12:07 AM
I love white boards... maybe its from that fabulous addictive smell??? ;)
Posted by: CC | February 20, 2008 at 12:20 AM
Hi! This is the first time I've visited your site and I'm sure I'll be back when I have a chance to browse around. :) My kids love the white board too--and, good point, Angie--it sure is a paper-saver!
Blessings,
Cindy
Posted by: Cindy | February 20, 2008 at 07:22 AM
Great idea!
Posted by: Alexandra | February 20, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Each of my students has their own white board. They beg to do the work for their math on the white boards even though they then have to transfer it to their worksheets. Go figure, they are willing to do twice the work if they get to use the white board.
Posted by: Kim | February 20, 2008 at 10:57 PM
If you look at it in its simplest form, it's really no different from using a blackboard to teach, or using the traditional pen-and-paper combo. It seems that the children you've taught Math to are really engrossed with the technology that is the whiteboard. Kids are a lot more enthusiastic when they see new things, don't you agree?
Posted by: Magnus Mahony | June 30, 2011 at 10:40 AM