An anchor chart is a teaching tool that helps visually capture important information from the lesson. But how can you use anchor charts in a special education classroom?
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How to use anchor charts?
- Create on easel paper with chart markers
- Use when introducing and revisiting a lesson
- Build your anchor chart with the class so they feel part of the learning
- Add pictures, sentence stems, bold words to enhance learning
- Lesson should be explicitly taught and referred to during lessons to reinforce content when student accesses anchor charts independently
- Hang in classroom where visible to reinforce knowledge and aid in students working independently
You can also create the anchor chart in a whole group lesson, and then have students recreate the anchor chart in a notebook to reference at any time needed.
Let me share the person who I feel like is the queen of anchor charts: Amy Groesbeck. She shares a lot of her anchor charts on her Instagram, along with more tips and tricks – like this post:
Why to use anchor charts?
- Anchor charts are a great visual that serves as a mini lesson on paper
- Students can refer to anchor charts if they need support during an independent task
- Can be displayed as reminders of prior learning and then built upon over multiple lessons
- Help emphasize and reiterate important information, procedures, processes, or skills being taught
- Increases student engagement
When to use anchor charts?
- Make them with your class during a lesson
- Use to sum up lesson
- Use in mini lesson
- Use in review lesson
- When visible in classroom, refer to it when appropriate (like a center rotation) or other independent working
How to store anchor charts?
- Some anchor charts can be left on bulletin boards all year, but if not needed, I store them along with my lesson plans for a particular lesson or unit.
- You can also clip anchor charts on hangers and hang them on your easel – this is a great option for lessons you may refer to often.
- You can also roll up your anchor charts and label them with washi tape or sticky notes, then store them in a bin like this:
Do you use anchor charts in your classroom? How? Share in the comments below!
