My students love interactive projects, especially when they get to write with dry erase markers (don't we all)! We use markerboards frequently to notate music in a variety of activities to reach all learning types. The boards I currently have are 8-10 years old, flimsy, and covered in old marker ink.
By nature middle schoolers are very active.
That is absolutely true of my students! They love to have something that not only engages their minds, but also their hands. Activities that reach multiple levels of learning are very important in the success in my classroom. It also encourages and motivates students and helps with positive attitudes for students who are having a rough day.
My students have told me they love my class because there is almost always a daily activity or game. This helps not only keep them engaged, but breaks up the monotony of school, and keeps students mentally and physically active which is important to growing and living a healthy life.
My Project
My students love when I pull out the marker boards for us to use. They immediately perk up and can't wait to get started on the activity. We use them in a variety of ways to demonstrate learning and mastery on multiple levels. The boards I have requested are similar to our current boards in that they have multiple staffs on the front and a blank back.
We use the front side to notate melodic activities, from beginning notation with 2-3 notes to intricate phrases full of leaps and skips that students ears have been trained to hear.
The reverse, blank side can be used to do several activities including rhythmic notation (again ranging from simple, beginning rhythms to very complicated dotted and syncopated rhythms) as well as translating hand signs to solfege.
If none of this makes sense, just know that these boards are a staple of learning and demonstrating mastery in my classroom. The kids love them and the possibilities for their use are endless!
This project allows for manipulation with physical materials which is very helpful to some students.
While our district is 1:1 with MacBooks for every student, some learners still need paper and pencil type activities. These marker boards allow for students to do basic activities but in a fun way.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Simonson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
