I’m so excited to share with you a few things that are making a HUGE difference in my classroom!
Disclaimer: I’m probably really late to the game. Many of you probably figured these out a long time ago. If so, please comment below on what you’re doing and how I can improve my ideas!
Anchor charts! I’m not sure what took me so long to do this, but I’m here for it now! I truly believe this is one of the ideas that helped me improve my year-end test scores last year. I know how I am. I have ideas and start off strong-but then let them go. But, I’m using these charts and sticking with them!
When we begin a new skill, I add it to the chart. I have bright colored markers (Wide-tip Sharpies are perfect!) and try to coordinate the entire poster. I also try to draw a picture to help my students remember what we talked about. My ideas for pictures always look much better in my mind than how I actually manage to draw them! I NEED my letters, lines, and pictures to look perfect-but they don’t! I just tell myself to keep going, it’s ok. (My OCD struggles with this!) During lessons, I continuously refer to the charts. Students are able to use them at any point throughout the year, on any assignment. I take them down before our achievement test at the end of the year. I always start over with new charts at the beginning of the year because I want the students to watch me make them and help with ideas and creating them.
I’m averaging about three skills per sheet. Last year I use sheets off an anchor chart bound spirally bound. (Like these) It worked fine but took an extra step to trim off the edges, grab my stapler, and make sure it was straight. This year I have the Post-It anchor charts. They are amazing! (There are some Amazon brand that are cheaper, but not sure about the quality. They do have 4 stars.) The adhesive is strong (none of mine are coming off) and they can be easily moved and adjusted.
Another strategy I started last year that I think is making a difference with my students’ learning was to help students determine what reading skill is being tested in a question. We highlight key words and phrases to help us identify the skill. We then, of course, refer back to our anchor charts.
Another secret-highlighters! (Get them in bulk here.) These babies are basically miracles in ink form. We use them daily by highlighting anything that pertains to our skill we are studying. For example, today we went on a (literary) element hunt. After discussing each element (setting, character, plot, and events) and adding them to our chart, I counted to 20 while they searched for any mention of a character. We then repeated with setting. I saved plot to do together with our summarizing shortcut. My students were engaged the whole time and it lead to several participating when it was time to share.
What tips and tricks have you discovered? Anything that makes you say “why haven’t I thought of this before?!”
Here are pictures of our anchor charts so far!
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