Expo dry erase markers with ink indicators so you know when they’re running out? Yes, please!

I’ve used individual dry erase boards with my students A LOT:

• solving math problems (they’d hold up their boards for me to check their work)
• mind mapping ideas before writing (so much more fun than a writing a rough draft)
• partner games (no need to waste scratch paper to keep score)
• illustrating tricky concepts (“draw an explanation of…”)

No matter what the activity, I always had the same routine for getting started. The kids would have 30 seconds to “test their markers” and could draw, write, or scribble as much as they wanted. If we skipped this routine, inevitably 4 or 5 kids would interrupt the lesson to let me know their marker wasn’t writing, so figuring out which markers were low on ink BEFORE the activity was crucial.

Then there was the tricky issue of defining what “no more ink” really means. To the kids, that meant the marker wasn’t in brand new condition. For me (the person who bought the markers and wanted to save money), “no more ink” meant “completely unusable.”

Trying to figure out which markers really needed to be tossed and which were good for a few more lessons was just one more thing to keep track of and decide on when I really wanted us to all focus on LEARNING. 

And that’s why only a teacher would understand why this new product from Expo is so amazing….

DRY ERASE INK INDICATOR MARKERS. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE??

Yes, my friends, there is no longer a need to have kids test out markers, or try a bunch of them before finding one that works, or argue over whether a marker is still usable.

The top part of the marker is clear so you can actually see for yourself exactly how much ink is left.

There are even lines to indicate Full, 1/2, and Empty, so all you have to do is teach your kids to wait until the marker gets to “e” and then grab a new one. #EXPOTeacherWin

Click here to learn more, including where you can buy them. You should be able to find these in your local Walmart, Target, Staples, and Office Depot–if you don’t see them, ask for the Expo markers with the ink indicator (a clear ink barrel.) You can also skip the trip to the store and get them now on Amazon.

Disclosure: Expo sent me a sample of their dry erase ink indicator markers to try out, and they’ve compensated me via Syndicate Ads for helping to spread the word. I only recommend products on my blog that I truly believe in and would use myself in the classroom.