Anchor's Away!!
Anchor charts for student learning
What is an Anchor Chart?
Anchor charts record my students thinking (and sometimes, mine), and highlight really important parts of a lesson in a nutshell.
INFORMATION ON ANCHOR CHARTS
Why use anchor charts?
Students are able to anchor their thinking to these charts. Throughout the day, I see my students talking about, referring to, and using the anchor charts to check their work, validate their points, and as mentor texts when looking for words to spell and punctuation.
When do I decide an anchor chart is necessary?
Whenever there's something I want my students to remember or be able to refer to, I make an anchor chart. Usually this happens: when I'm introducing a topic or idea or modeling something (like writing) that I want my students to be able to refer back to. Really, you and your students should decide when an anchor chart is necessary.
When do I make my anchor charts?
I plan out my anchor chart on a scrap piece of paper, and then use it as a guide for what I do WITH my students. It helps me keep my mini-lesson AND anchor chart to the point. Many times, I will write the title of the anchor chart and/or the essential question before the lesson. I'll create any sort of cute border, header, and if we're using some sort of chart, I make the lines and headers for each row/column. But the content? That truly comes from the mini-lesson, and always with my students!
It's so very amazing how my students actually USE the anchor charts now instead just looking pretty on the wall.
What do I do with an anchor chart after a lesson?
Sometimes, an anchor chart gets added to over several days, in which case it stays on my easel so that I can easily refer back to it. Once there's nothing more to add though, it goes on the wall.
How long should I keep an anchor chart on the wall?
There's no set time limit. An anchor chart will stay on the wall for as long as we're talking about that topic. Sometimes, students let me know when they no longer need an anchor chart. For some charts, I sort of stagger them on top of each other so that students can see just the heading, and can easily flip to the page they need. Some charts guide our thinking all year, and so they stay up all year. It depends on what is on the anchor chart, what it's used for, how often students use it or need it.