Loving Kinders

Do I dare say it?

I write on tables?

YEP! I sure do.

I LOVE IT!

I write on my guided table all. the. time.

And…

NOPE!-it isn’t a dry erase table.

I use my u-shaped/kidney table, warmly named Ursula,

for all of my guided/directed small groups.

When I write on my table I instantly have 100% student engagement. It’s the “Oh my gosh” factor I think. I always preface it with
“Shh! Don’t tell the principal!”
The kids eat it up.

And, yes, they usually tell the principal every time.
Kids will be kids.

One Warning:

Some markers/colors work better than others. I test all markers first.
My method?
Write. Clorox wipe. Are we good? Good. Simple.
I am sure that covering my table in dry erase paint work be better but if it works now then why change it?

Action Pictures!

During my morning math block, I have about 4-5 students sitting with me reviewing concepts, establishing a new skill, or enriching key concepts. I usually don’t pre-plan the “writing on table” component. It comes naturally when I am teaching a specific skill. Here is an example of a lesson as I was reinforcing number sense using 10 frames. I decided it was more interactive to draw the 10 frame on the table and allow students to add manipulatives to the frame during our lesson. I asked students to write the number on their white board. We subtracted and added manipulatives throughout the morning. It was awesome.