Teachers are notorious
for spending hours on websites such as “Pinterest” or “Teacher
Pay Teachers”, hunting for the perfect activity to use in the
classroom. I tend to over pin anchor
charts. One thing I have observed is
teachers like anchor charts to be neat and beautifully designed. This leads to teachers pre-making anchor
charts and using the same anchor charts each year. One of the biggest downsides is students not
being fully connected.
Here are a few tips when creating and using anchor
charts:
1.
Make the Anchor Chart with the students. Even if it is not perfect, involve the class
as you make the chart.
2. Teach
the Anchor Chart as you create it. It is important to make sure students
understand the purpose of the chart. If
you are using a mnemonic or acronym, it is crucial for students to be able to
explain and talk about the different steps.
3. Take
your time as you teach the Anchor Chart.
Sometimes it might take several days to create the anchor
chart with your class. The key is to
teach and model each component as you write it. Don’t
rush!
4. Post
the Anchor Chart. Once you make the
anchor chart, post it in your room. If
it is a strategy the students will use throughout the year, find a good visible
location to keep up all year.
5. “HOOK” the
students when introducing the Anchor Chart.
You can do this by beginning with a quick story or a
scenario for its purpose. Students are more likely to remember if there is a
hook or reason associated with the chart.
6. Talk
aloud about the Anchor Chart. Students
need to know how and why something is useful.
For example, if you are creating an anchor chart for reading strategies,
it is helpful to talk aloud your thoughts.
You might use wording like, “Good readers use many
strategies. One strategy readers use is…” (Have students recall
or brainstorm to create the list.). Be
sure to give the “why”
do you think these strategies are successful?”
7. Review
the Anchor Chart.
After you first make the anchor chart, spend several weeks reviewing it.
You want the information to become second nature to the students.
8. Revisit
the Anchor Chart. Occasionally, take time to provide
students with a mini review over the anchor chart. You can do this by pointing to the chart
during a lesson. For example, if the
chart has various steps relating to accountable talk; have students identify
one component from the chart to focus on for the day. Students can focus on asking and telling the
component they selected.
9. Engage
student to student in conversations about the Anchor Chart. Have the students dialogue with each other as
you are teaching, reviewing, or revisiting the anchor chart. Students should be able to explain both the
purpose and generalize the underlining ideas from the chart to current lesson
or strategy.
10.
If you don’t
like the “look”
of the Anchor Chart you made with the class, you can redo. I will sometimes recreate another one
a few days later for the final posting.
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