Anchor Charts 101: Why and How To Use Them (2024)

One of the best, most effective tools for the classroom is anchor charts, although you won’t find Anchor Charts 101 on most teacher training programs’ syllabi. If you’re new to teaching, you may have lots of questions about what anchor charts are, what purpose they serve, how to get started, and when to use them. So we’ve created this primer to help you out! Also included is a huge list of anchor chart roundups to use as a resource. Once you get started, we’re pretty sure anchor charts are going to be one of your favorite go-to strategies.

What is an anchor chart?

Anchor Charts 101: Why and How To Use Them (1)

Michelle Krzmarzick/Character Traits via krzmarzickm.blogspot.com

An anchor chart is a tool used to support instruction (i.e., “anchor” the learning for students). As you teach a lesson, you create a chart, together with your students, that captures the most important content and relevant strategies. Anchor charts build a culture of literacy in the classroom by making thinking—both the teacher’s and students’—visible.

How do I create anchor charts?

You really don’t need any special materials or artistic skills—just chart paper and a colorful assortment of markers.

It’s easy to incorporate anchor charts into your lesson plans. All it takes is a clear purpose and some pre-planning.

Typically, you will prepare the framework of your chart ahead of time, giving it a title, including the learning objective, and creating headers for the main points or strategies you want to highlight. It’s very important not to create the entire poster ahead of time. They are best used as an interactive tool with students.

As you model a lesson or learning strategy and interact with your students through discussion, you fill in the blank spaces of the anchor chart. For an awesome tutorial, check out this blog and template from third grade teacher Michael Friermood.

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The Thinker Builder/Anchor Chart via thethinkerbuilder.com

After your chart is created, it can be displayed as needed—for a short unit, as a one-time reference tool, as something you continue to add to, or as something that stays up all year—like your classroom procedures or behavior expectations.

Posting the charts keeps relevant and current learning accessible to students, reminds them of prior learning, and enables them to make connections as new learning happens. Students can refer to them and use them as they think about the topic, question ideas, expand ideas, and/or contribute to discussions in class.

A few helpful tips:

Make them colorful and print-rich.

Use different colors and bullet points to help students discriminate between strategies and quickly access information.

Keep them simple and neat.

Use easy-to-read graphics and clear organization. Don’t allow distracting, irrelevant details or stray marks, such as arrows or overemphatic use of underlining.

Draw simple pictures to complement the words.

The more ways students can access information about a subject, the better.

Anchor Charts 101: Why and How To Use Them (3)

Teacher Trap/3 Secrets for Teaching Character Traits via teachertrap.com

Don’t overuse them.

While anchor charts are a super-useful tool, don’t feel as if you need to create one for every single lesson. Choose carefully so the ones you create have the greatest impact.

Don’t be afraid to borrow from others.

Teachers always get their best ideas from other teachers. If your teammate has already tackled a topic, use the same format. Just make sure you create your own version from scratch so your students experience the learning as you go. You’ll find tons of examples at the links included below.

How do I use anchor charts in my classroom?

Now that you know the how, you may be wondering about the when and why. Here are a few ways to get the most bang for your buck.

Reach maximum engagement.

When students are involved in the process of creating learning tools, they are more likely to comprehend more deeply and remember more of what they learn. Anchor charts trigger connections with the initial lesson.

Bring lessons to life.

If you are studying a topic that lends itself particularly well to a visual aid, create an anchor chart! If you are studying plants, draw a giant flower and label all of the parts of it while you teach about it.

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2nd Grade Ponderings/Anchor Chart Linky Party via 2ndgradeponderings.blogspot.com

Support independent work.

Anchor charts provide students with a source to reference when working on their own. They support students and also save teachers from having to spend classroom time going over concepts multiple times.

Create a library of reference materials.

To help students keep information straight, you could create charts for each topic. For example, if you’re teaching math concepts, you could create a chart for geometric shapes, the difference between perimeter and area, and how to multiply and divide fractions.

Reinforce classroom procedures.

Provide students with a visual to remind them of routines that make your classroom run smoothly. Some examples: how to use centers, how toline up, how to check books out of your classroom library.

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The Primary Buzz/Learning to listen via theprimarybuzz.blogspot.com

Try them in shared writing.

Model how to write an introduction, the parts of a letter, and the proper use of grammar such as quotation marks, commas, etc.

Use them as a companion to read-alouds.

Create an anchor chart as youstop to make observations, ask questions, take note of story elements, or make predictions.

How can I use anchor charts to introduce new skills?

Anchor charts are great for laying the foundation for a new unit of study and giving an overview of concepts. They make it easy to break complex concepts down into bite-size pieces. If you are teaching U.S. government, for example, create a diagram of the three branches of government along with the primary responsibilities of each, to help simplify the concept for students.

The charts are also great for helping students keep track of vocabulary. For each chart, include a box with vocabulary words as an easy reference for students.

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True Life I’m a Teacher/Anchor Charts via truelifeimateacher.com

Helpful Links and Resources

Now that you’ve got the basics of Anchor Chart 101, it’s time to get inspired! Here are links to the best chart compilation articles on WeAreTeachers:

  • 20 Anchor Charts To Help Boost Kids’ Tech Skills, Virtually or in the Classroom
  • 15 Anchor Charts To Teach Main Idea
  • 12 Character Traits Anchor Charts for Elementary and Middle School ELA Classes
  • 18 Fraction Anchor Charts for Your Classroom
  • 15 Anchor Charts for Teaching Theme
  • 49 Anchor Charts That Nail Reading Comprehension
  • 15 Fantastic Sustainability and Recycling Anchor Charts
  • 17 Anchor Charts To Teach Place Value
  • 19 Classroom Management Anchor Charts
  • 40 Must-Have Anchor Charts for Teaching Writing of All Kinds
  • 17 Fabulous Fluency Anchor Charts
  • 23 Close Reading Anchor Charts That Will Help Your Students Dig Deep
  • 12 Anchor Charts To Help Teach Financial Literacy to Your Students
  • Get Your Facts Straight With These 18 Nonfiction Anchor Charts
  • 20 Perfect Anchor Charts To Teach Phonics and Blends

In addition, there are over 1,000 examples of anchor charts on our WeAreTeachers Pinterest boards. Search by subject matter on topics from math and science to reading and writing to classroom management or by grade level.

Do you 😍 anchor charts as much as we do? Come and share your best tips in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINEgroup on Facebook.

Plus, check out 10 Awesome Ideas for Anchor Chart Organization and Storage.

Anchor Charts 101: Why and How To Use Them (2024)

FAQs

Why would you use an anchor chart? ›

Teachers often use anchor charts to convey an independent work directive. They guide students during independent work. For example, if you were using an anchor chart in an ELA class for an activity like close reading, anchor charts can remind your students of key reading strategies they can use when they get stuck.

What are the three types of anchor charts? ›

There are three common types of anchor charts: procedural, process, and strategy. The hallmark of an organized classroom is how well the students follow the classroom routines.

What is the main purpose of a text anchor chart? ›

Anchor charts are organized mentor texts co-created with students. Charts are usually handwritten in large print and displayed in an area of the classroom where they can be easily seen. Used to anchor whole- group instruction, the charts provide a scaffold during guided practice and independent work.

What is the main purpose of anchor? ›

Why We Need Anchors. The purpose of an anchor is to keep a ship safe and secure at a desired location or to help control the ship during bad weather. However, to accomplish these vital purposes, just having an anchor is not enough. The anchor must be solid, dependable, and used properly at the right time and place.

What is the objective of the anchor chart? ›

What? An anchor chart is an artifact of classroom learning. Like an anchor, it holds students' and teachers' thoughts, ideas and processes in place. Anchor charts can be displayed as reminders of prior learning and built upon over multiple lessons.

What are the disadvantages of anchor charts? ›

If anchor charts are not being used by students, then they are simply wallpaper. For English learners, anchor charts can pose big problems. Not only can they be overwhelming wallpaper, they can be confusing due to the amount of words. They can cause more confusion than assistance.

What is the anchor chart strategy? ›

An anchor chart is a tool used to support instruction (i.e., “anchor” the learning for students). As you teach a lesson, you create a chart that captures the most important information, the strategies, and content that you want students to refer to later.

What are the four keys to anchoring? ›

The Five Keys to Anchoring:

Timing of the Anchor T. Uniqueness of the Anchor U. Replication of the Stimulus R. Number of times N.

How to hang anchor charts? ›

Clip the anchor charts together with binder clips or a pants hanger, and hang it from the hook. The great thing about hooks is that they can be easily placed all around the classroom, so you always have a spot ready for anchor charts (front of the room, small group table, center space, reading corner, etc.).

What is the difference between a poster and an anchor chart? ›

Anchor charts are not just decorations – they are meant to be referred to often, helping students recall and apply what they've learned independently. Posters, on the other hand, are usually pre-made or teacher-created visual aids designed to decorate the classroom or provide information.

Why do we use anchor text? ›

Simply put, anchor text provides context to both users and search engines. The link label indicates what a user will see on the linked page if she decides to click on it. On the other hand, search engines use the anchor text to index and rank webpages. Here is where relevancy comes into play.

When would you use an anchor? ›

A drywall anchor is designed to securely hang framed pictures, mirrors, clocks and shelving on walls. Nails and screws are not made for walls such as drywall, paneling and tile. They can easily slip out of these walls without the additional reinforcement that an anchor provides.

What is the main significance of an anchor? ›

The purpose of an anchor is to stop a ship, stabilize it on the water, and hold it steadfast at its intended location. It's said that sailors believe that anchors serve as a refuge from storms, symbolic of hope for calm seas.

Why use math anchor charts? ›

helps students remember the process of a skill or strategy. supports the development of precise math language. is organized and accurate.

What do readers read anchor chart? ›

An anchor chart is a tool used to support instruction (i.e., “anchor” the learning for students). As you teach a lesson, you create a chart that captures the most important information, the strategies, and content that you want students to refer to later.

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