Anchor Charts are For Big Kids, Too

In the summer, one of my favorite things is teaching with my friend. It's a unique situation where there's two teachers, no grading, and writing for the love writing. My partner teaches 3rd and I teach 8th so we meet in the middle at 6th (or sometimes 3rd). She's the one that introduced me years ago to artistry of anchor charts. This is a visual tool that many elementary teachers have been using for years before it had a fancy Pinterest term. But I had never really seen it used at the Middle School level.

How to Design an Anchor Chart

First you want to use content that needs to be visual and will be referenced. Vocabulary or thematic words work great. I've posted academic language I wanted to see in writing or recurring themes in a novel. You can also use the chart as evidence of student learning like types of irony.

I like to project an image or an icon because I am terrible at drawing and I trace the image.

Now this is the key ingredient...student input. One year I made several charts and posted them. In a survey, I asked my learners how this impacted them. Needless to say, it did not have a major impact because I made them with my ideas, instead of a collaborative effort. The next year we created the charts together and I found students used them.

How Do I Manage a Chart in the Secondary Setting?

With six periods a day, you may find it repetitive to make six charts but you have options. You can make the chart at the beginning of the day and add students' input throughout or better yet, have students design a chart and post the best one. Seeing that you will use these charts for multiple periods, for potentially several days, it really is a excellent instructional investment.

What Are the Benefits?

1. You will see your students reference the chart. I've posted MLA formatting and the Style Guide. All I have to do is point.

2. It is evidence of learning. Essentially all your lessons will be visual and saved.

3. It's not a generic word wall. I put the poster front and center as our focus. When it's a new lesson, I move the poster to the side. The target academic words posted should be reflected in student writing, work and discourse.

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There has been recent research about how much to post in an instructional space. I do, however, like that it can be student driven or used to reflect the learning . Plus it is evidence of student learning so when we have Open House, Parents can visibly see our great work. Even if you are not crafty or artistically inclined, I encourage to try an anchor chart with your class.