Anchor Charts and How to Use Them Effectively

 

What Are Anchor Charts and How to Use Them Effectively

In many classrooms, colorful posters filled with words, sketches, and diagrams line the walls. These are anchor charts, and they’re more than just decoration. Anchor charts are visual tools co-created with students during lessons that capture key strategies, processes, rules, or ideas. They serve as a “reference point” that students can return to whenever they need support—hence the name anchor.

What Makes Anchor Charts Effective?

Anchor charts are powerful because they:

• Build connections – Students help create them, which deepens ownership and understanding.

• Provide visual reminders – Complex skills and steps are broken down in a clear, accessible format.

• Support independence – Instead of asking the teacher again and again, students can refer back to the chart.

• Encourage consistency – Charts stay up as long as they’re useful, reinforcing strategies throughout a unit.

Types of Anchor Charts

Teachers can adapt anchor charts to many purposes, such as:

• Strategy charts – Show how to approach reading, writing, or problem-solving.

• Procedural charts – Outline classroom routines or steps for group work.

• Concept charts – Capture big ideas, vocabulary, or relationships between concepts.

• Exemplar charts – Display strong examples of student thinking or writing.

Tips for Using Anchor Charts in the Classroom

1. Create Them With Students
   Pre-made posters don’t have the same impact. Involve your students in building the chart during the lesson—record their words, highlight their strategies, and sketch visuals together.

2. Keep Them Simple and Clear
   Use bold markers, easy-to-read writing, and visuals. Less is more—focus on the essential ideas rather than filling every inch.

3. Make Them Accessible
   Hang charts where students can see and reach them. Some teachers rotate older charts into a “chart binder” or digital folder so students can still reference them without cluttering the walls.

4. Update and Refresh
   Anchor charts should evolve with student learning. Add new examples, cross out misconceptions, or remove charts that are no longer needed.

5. Encourage Student Use
   Model how to go back to a chart during independent or group work. Over time, students will naturally turn to them as a learning resource.

Why Anchor Charts Matter

At their best, anchor charts make the classroom a space where learning is visible, interactive, and student-driven. They shift responsibility from teacher to student, fostering independence and confidence. Instead of “teaching and moving on,” anchor charts allow learning to stay present and accessible—anchoring students in both content and strategy.

• More: Easy Lesson Planning
• More: Fun and Engaging Classroom Games
• More: Calling on Students without the Chaos

Equipment and Skills you Need to Effectively use Google Slides in a Classroom

 

Here’s a breakdown of the equipment and skills you need to effectively use Google Slides in a classroom:

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Equipment You Need:

1. Device for You (Teacher):

   • Laptop, Chromebook, or desktop with internet access

2. Device Access for Students (if collaborative use):

   • Chromebooks, tablets, or computers
     (1:1 devices ideal, but pair/group use works too)

3. Internet Connection:

   • Reliable Wi-Fi for accessing Google Drive and Slides

4. Display Equipment:

   • Projector, smartboard, or large monitor to present slides

5. Speakers (optional):

   • For playing embedded videos or audio recordings

6. Google Account:

   • A personal or school-provided Google account
     (Google Workspace for Education preferred)

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 Skills You Should Have (or Learn Quickly):

 Basic Tech Skills

• Navigating a browser (preferably Chrome)

• Logging into and managing a Google account

• Creating and organizing files in Google Drive

 Google Slides Essentials

• Creating and editing slides

• Inserting text, images, videos, shapes, and links

• Applying themes and customizing slide layouts

• Using transitions and animations appropriately

• Sharing files with proper permissions

 Teaching & Workflow Skills

• Designing visual, engaging lessons (not just text dumps)

• Using presenter mode and speaker notes

• Collaborating with students on shared files

• Giving feedback using comments

• Embedding Slides in Google Classroom

 Optional Advanced Skills

• Creating interactive slides (e.g., clickable links to other slides)

• Using add-ons like Pear Deck or Mote

• Embedding Slides into a Google Site

• Managing templates and version history

• Recording or uploading audio for instructions