Quick Tips for Classroom Resources

This is a short one today, but I could not resist sharing a quick tip for classroom resources. I don't know about you, but I know that I am always looking for inexpensive, resourceful ways to embed common household items into my teaching repertoire. Classroom resources can be so limited, and oftentimes so expensive, that I rejoice when I find a trick that students and teachers love. One of my favorites is a dollar store find - white, melamine spatulas. These work great as whiteboards without the hefty price! The students love to use them, and they are perfect for quick, whole group/small group assessments. I often use them for vocabulary review and math review. I have students record their answers on their spatulas (they have scrap paper to do the work as needed), and they cover their answers until they are asked to show me their responses. I can see everyone's responses quickly and ascertain who needs more practice, and assess whether or not the whole class would benefit from additional review. This quick tool for dipsticking is both cost and time efficient, and students are always giddy about writing on a spatula!