10 Ways to Use Wipebooks in Secondary ELA Small Groups

If you teach middle or high school ELA, you’ll want to follow Mrs. McManus.

She’s been teaching since 2012 and focuses on bringing Science of Reading research into the secondary classroom. Her work centers on creativity, critical thinking, and practical strategies that help students engage deeply in discussion.

In a recent post, she shares 10 ways she uses Wipebook Reusable Flipcharts to transform small-group work in 9th grade English.

Here are a few highlights that stood out.

  1. Collaborative Annotation Stations

Instead of independent highlighting, students rotate in small groups of 3 around a Wipebook, and annotate one focused skill at a time.

They debate, write, erase, and refine together.

Close reading becomes active instead of passive.

  1. Revision Without the Pressure

Students revise paragraphs and paraphrase complex text directly on a Wipebook.

They cut, rearrange, and rewrite in real time.

Because it wipes clean, they take more risks and talk through their choices.

  1. Argument + Counterargument Side by Side

Groups build a claim and a counterargument on the same Wipebook.

This pushes students to examine nuance before drafting essays.

You can even turn it into a gallery walk.

Her full post breaks down all 10 strategies with classroom examples.

Read the full article here:
https://mrsmcmanusela.com/2026/02/25/10-ways-wipebooks-transform-small-group-work-in-secondary-ela/