Why Chalk on Slate is Important

Sometimes "old" technology is the best. In the old days teachers wrote with Chalk on a Slate chalkboard. No computer projectors, no smartboards and no white marker-boards.

Chalk on Slate is still the best display technology for many reasons:
  • First: Marker boards are horrible for the environment. When the markers dry out, a large piece of NONbiodegradable plastic waste is added to our landfills. When I used markers, I was throwing away one marker every 2 weeks. Multiply that by the enormous amount of teachers using markerboards out there and the amount of waste is staggering. Chalk can be used until it's a very tiny piece before being thrown out AND it biodegrades.
  • Second, Chalk has no fumes. I've gotten dizzy and sick when using markers on a whiteboard for extended periods of time.
  • Third, Chalk allows for gradations of shade. In the art classroom it's very important to be able to demonstrate gradients of shadow and highlight.
  • Forth, no electricity is used or needed for Chalk on Slate display technology.
  • Fifth, Marker boards get stained and need to be wiped down with some sort of chemical in a little spray bottle. --And sometimes that still doesn't clean off the stains! Chalkboards can be easily cleaned with a wet cloth.
  • And finally, Chalk on Slate is something that many children have never experienced. All my students get the chance to draw on the art room chalkboard (When the art room has one) every year and they love it!
    • Below are examples from my "Chalktober" drawing exercise that illustrate the amazing potential of chalk on slate.
    Drapery
    		 Rose
    		 Graph
    		 Skull
    		 Teach
    		 Sunset