Learning: 100s Board for Math

OK, I admit it -- I'm cheap! I just couldn't see paying about $50 to get a magnetic 100s board for my littles to use for practicing counting, math facts, multiplication concepts, etc. Surely I could do the same for less ....

So, I bought an 11x14 mark-n-wipe board (magnetic), a roll of magetic "tape", 1" square wood "tiles" and proceeded to make my own version -- all for less than $20.

I first made a 10x10 grid (roughly one-inch squares) using a permanent marker and ruler on the mark-n-wipe board. I numbered the grid from 1-100.

I cut 1/2-3/4 inch pieces from the magnet roll. The white paper is easily peeled off to allow for sticking the magnet to the wood squares.

The wood tiles are then placed on the board to cover the number-grid.

Here's the grid, filled with the wooden tiles. There are many uses for this grid -- here, I've shown BamBam how to count by 5s ... you can also use the board to learn to count to 100, count by any multiple, count backwards, teach multiplication concepts, etc.

You could also get colored wood "tiles", but I like the natural simplicity of these unfinished tiles ... what do you think? Any suggestions for other uses of the board?