I have a scotch thermal laminator and I buy the laminate pockets (mostly 5 mil, sometimes 3 mil) to make "boards" for various math games. I've been using dry erase fine point markers for my students so they can mark the board while playing and then erase for the next game. Overall .. it is staining the boards... and it's sort of difficult to wipe off. I was surprised to see this.. I just assumed it would wipe off like dry erase does on my marker board. Is there a different kind of marker I can use so my kids don't need to spend 5 minutes and some serious elbow grease to get the games clean? I thought I could just switch to glossy plastic sheet protectors.. but they are so flimsy. Thoughts??
i use the vis-a-vis markers and baby wipes to clean them, i've also had kids use crayons before...you could always give them a once-over with nail polish remover every know and then--that really cleans them off
i use overhead markers (like vis-a-vis) and when it doesn't wipe off easily with water, i use isopropyl alcohol wipes.
You could also place 8.5 x 11 inch sheets of cardboard into the sheet protector and then slide the paper into it. This will make it sturdier.
I use laminated sheets for my timed math facts tests, and the kids use Expo dry erase markers. I've used the same sheets for 3 or 4 years now with no problems, especially if I clean them off promptly. I notice if I leave the marked sheets over a weekend, they are harder to clean, and I have to use nail polish remover to get all the dry erase pen off. Other than that, the Expo markers work really well for me.
I agree with Oldfashioned. I have the same laminator and I use Expo with my preschoolers. It works just fine.
I've always used the Crayola washable markers. I thought they wouldn't show up well when the students used them, but they actually show up pretty well. You just have to wipe them off with a wet paper towel when they are finished.
Am I the only one who uses regular dry erase boards? I bought mine here: http://reallygoodstuff.com/product_details.aspx?item_guid=a6c6fd17-535d-4431-abb0-16946698098c
That's where I got mine. They lasted for years and years. I also got their cling sheets with all kinds of things printed on them - number lines, plain lines, venn diagrams...
I was observing in a classroom where the teacher uses those 8.5x 11 plastic frames with the little lip that makes it stand. Then she just puts the paper inside of it where the picture would go and the kids write on the picture frame and it wipes clean- she used vis a vis markers. It looks like these http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bent-Acrylic-Plastic-Picture-Frame-Set-of-20/8204023 then she uses the lip to lay it flat against the edge of the desk and it lays nicely for the kids so it does not flip around on them.
