“Miss O., can I hand out the socks?!”
This may not be a normal request in your classroom, but it is in mine!
When I posted the other day about using page protectors to create instant dry erase boards, it reminded me of another idea! I got this idea from my cooperating teacher when I was student teaching. I was perplexed when all the students brought a sock with their school supplies, then Mrs. Huisman explained that the socks were used as dry erasers. Brilliant! Of course, I forgot about this until later…
When I started using page protector dry erase boards on a regular basis, I would hand out tissues to everyone to erase their boards. But then cold and flu season hit, and we did not have tissues to spare! Then I remembered those socks. I made a run walmart and picked up a class set of socks (only one per student, not a pair!). Then I put one skinny marker and one thick marker in each sock.
Ok, clearly these socks have been used! :) The great thing about storing your dry erase markers this way, is that you get your markers and erasers handed out in one step…and the kids can’t see what color marker they are getting, no arguing… perfect. I store my markers in a container like this:
Remember that container from my garage saling this summer?! I have put it to good use.
So there you go, DIY dry erase boards and dry erasers! Unfortunately, I do not have an idea DIY ideas for making dry erase board markers…we have these on our school supply list at the beginning of the year.
You can purchase a 32 square foot white hardboard from Home Depot and ask them to cut them into 12 inch squares. There is a good DIY for the white boards.
I have heard that before, but never tried it! I will definitely keep that in in mind!
I do the same thing in my classroom, too, with the Home Depot Board and the sock, but I purchase the socks. We keep all of the supplies in a ziplock bag in the student’s desk, too- that way they are always handy, because we use them at least several times throughout the day. A few years ago, I switched to black socks, though and they are so much better. They do not show all of the old eraser marks, stay much cleaner without having to wash them, and the students can’t draw little faced puppets on them. Socks are always on sale at the beginning of the year, too, and the color doesn’t effect the price.
Jenny,
Black socks…why didn’t I think of that?!?! Thanks for the tip!
Amy