Anchor Charts : A Dynamic Support For Learning

“Anchor charts hold kids’ and our thinking about a text, lesson, or strategy so that we can return to it to review what we have learned.” (Harvey and Goudvis, 2017)
Anchor charts are reliable tools in the classroom that students have a hand in creating with their teacher and display essential information about the topic.
An effective anchor chart includes necessary visuals and written content and is posted around the classroom for students to refer to whenever the need arises.
How anchor charts support learning
Anchor charts are part of the ‘third teacher’ in the classroom. They provide an avenue for students to go to for help, as well as to receive feedback about how they are going with their learning. An often referred to anchor chart reinforces the learning and allows students to become increasingly independent. Students can actively seek out anchor charts to be reminded about strategies from mini lessons without requiring the assistance of the teacher. This in turn, allows the teacher to spend quality time with individuals and small groups to provide explicit teaching at the identified point of need.
Well-organised anchor charts support every element of learning in the successful classroom. From establishing routines at the beginning of the school year, to making behaviour management processes visible, to exemplifying the key knowledge in every area of the curriculum, anchor charts are fundamental in every lesson.
It is important to know that the effective use of anchor charts is a routine that requires modelling by the teacher. It is up to the teacher to explicitly show students how to go to the anchor chart to retrieve helpful information. Students need to clearly observe how to notice a helpful reminder then apply the strategy to their own learning. The addition of conversation prompts to anchor charts greatly assists students to know how to begin contributing their thinking. These can be as simple as ‘I’m inferring… because… (evidence)…’
Teachers generate a collection of anchor charts throughout the year and some of these will be up on walls throughout the entire school year, whereas others are helpful temporarily, e.g., for one unit of work. When determining how long to display an anchor chart for it is wise to consider the purpose and how it is beneficial to each of the class members. It is highly recommended that anchor charts be placed at student’s eye level, clear of interference, so they can used productively.

How to construct anchor charts
Anchor charts are only truly effective when students are involved in the construction of them. When students contribute to the content that is recorded on the chart their comprehension deepens. An anchor chart starts out bare, with possibly only the focus written at the top. Student’s prior knowledge is added and as the learning is scaffolded over time, the understanding is gradually elaborated upon through active participation and student voice. Teachers make their and the class’s thinking visible by physically recording the learning being modelled and discussed on their paper of choice, which then is posted on the walls, ready to be collected and added to the following lesson. When students read their own words written on anchor charts their level of engagement increases.
Quick tips for anchor chart creation:
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Choose the right size and colour paper to fit the purpose. Make sure it’s large enough.
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Keep it simple, well-spaced out and easy to read.
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Use student-friendly language.
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Include subject-specific vocabulary that students are expected to apply.
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Add complementary visuals that enhance comprehension.
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Use colour! Make it appealing.
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Use dot points to keep information concise about what students are expected to know and be able to do.
Reference
Harvey, S. and Goudvis, A. (2017). Strategies That Work. 3rd Edition. Portland: Stenhouse.