T3: Anchor Charts

Anchor charts...classroom wallpaper or instructional tool? I don't think any teachers start out with the intention of letting anchor charts take over the walls, but they sure can multiply quickly! Let's explore these further and talk about some practical ways to use them in the classroom.
    I really like this simple statement about anchor charts from an article by Lily Newman: "Anchor charts: Making Thinking Visible." They do just that - anchor charts briefly outline a strategy, skill, idea, or thought. Students use them as a reference tool as they apply the skill in a variety of contexts. These are especially effective in elementary skill as students are still developing note-taking skills. The teacher can model how to include only the most important information to summarize the skill.
    Here are a few examples of quality anchor charts that I found from a Google search:
1) Example 1 - Here is an ELA anchor chart about proving your claim with evidence from a text. This example gives the WHY as well as some sentence starters that students can use as they practice the skill. Pictures are not necessary, but they definitely make this appealing and enhance the skill.

2) Example  2 - This is a math anchor chart about number lines, including what they are, how to read them, and ways to use them. It includes visuals as well as some key math terminology.

    There has been some debate about whether or not anchor charts need to be created WITH students or if they can be made ahead of time. Why not just purchase a poster that is pre-made and stick it on the wall? I think that posters can add to classroom decor and communicate a message through an image or a brief statement, but posters eventually fade into the background. Students do not pay as much attention to something that is a permanent fixture. If they help to create the anchor chart, giving examples, words, or phrases to support the skill, they have ownership in it and are likely to use it again as a reference tool. Instructional anchor charts are not meant to stay up all year; they are posted during the relevant unit of study. They can certainly be put back up later as you cycle back to a skill, but it is good to change them out. 

    A common question about anchor charts: do I need to make one for every skill/standard? Definitely not! Certain skills lend themselves better to anchor charts than others. If students have a place to reference the skill such as a textbook or interactive notebook, an anchor chart may not be necessary. Some questions to ask when deciding whether or not to make one: 1) Will students need to reference the skill again? 2) Can students use aspects of the anchor chart as they apply the skill? If so, it may be appropriate to create an anchor chart.

    I have seen teachers create anchor charts for procedures, classroom rules, or other classroom management routines. These anchor charts may remain posted all year long to remind students of expectations. I have even seen some in my building that include classroom rules, and all students sign their name in a space at the bottom to agree to the rules. Neat idea!

    So if you shouldn't leave all anchor charts up all year, what do you do with them when you are finished? There are several ideas out there for storing anchor charts, so choose what works best for you.

• Punch holes, clip them to binder rings, and hang them somewhere in the classroom so that students can flip through previous anchor charts when desired.
• Take a picture of each anchor chart, print it out on a full page, and hook them in a binder by subject area for students to reference.
• Clip them to hangers and hang them in your closet.

    Anchor charts are helpful tools to use in the classroom and can really help students move from conceptual understanding to application. Don't feel like you have to be an artist to create an effective poster. Printed graphics are fine, and there are LOTS of examples of anchor charts that you can recreate by conducting a Google search. Go forth and create!