Which side of a Prang Hygieia chalkboard eraser erases better, the foam side or the leather side?

Question

I am a new teacher and just got a Prang brand Hygieia chalkboard eraser, the one with the foam on one side and the leather on the other. The Prang company website says that both sides work well to erase a chalkboard, but I only want to use one side so that the other side is chalk-free where I touch it. My question to other teachers is which side do you find erases better, the foam or the leather?

Answer 1

I can tell you are a new teacher...there are worse things than getting a little chalk dust on your hands, but I digress.

I usually have used the leather (chamois) side. It doesn't remove the chalk as well as the foam side after it has been in use a while.

You may think, "But why would he not want the chalk removed as well as possible?" It's a fair question, and one that most people seem not to understand.

The chalk dust left on the board is slightly slippy, allowing the chalk to glide more easily over the board surface as your write. This means that LESS dust is generated on a dusty board than on a clean one. Also, since the chalk is not continually abrading away, your hand glides more easily, and your writing flows better, making it more legible for the students.

So, that is my advice. And, if you can, talk to your school custodians and ask them to wash your board less frequently, if possible.

Answer 2

When i used an eraser on a chalkboard, i used the foam side and then the leather side. It seemed to clean the board better that way. Now most of the boards are white boards so it really isn't an issue.

Answer 3

Prang Hygieia Chalk