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:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbqn7XYg6CU/

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:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPUG-HNDEVL/

Do you use anchor charts in your classroom? How? Share in the comments below!

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