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Thankfully, my philosophy and beliefs about anchor charts have grown and evolved over the last couple of years, and they will continue to do so.  I believe anchor charts are a valuable and necessary teaching tool, and I will continue to use them, (hopefully correctly), in the years to come.                                                                                                                                                           **I just hoped I ordered enough chart paper and markers on my requisitions this year..... :)

# data[].attributes.subject
Thankfully, my philosophy and beliefs about anchor charts have grown and evolved over the last couple of years, and they will continue to do so.  I believe anchor charts are a valuable and necessary teaching tool, and I will continue to use them, (hopefully correctly), in the years to come.                                                                                                                                                           **I just hoped I ordered enough chart paper and markers on my requisitions this year..... :)

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During our unit on figurative language, I plan to have a whole slew of growing, changing anchor charts all over the place.  When we cover a new type of figurative language, like simile, we will write its meaning on a new anchor chart, and then continue to add examples of similes as we find them in our reading, speaking, and writing.  Alliteration?  How fun would a growing chart of alliteration be?  Personification?  Same!  Figurative language can be tough- the names are long and hard to remember, and telling the difference between the different kinds can be challenging.  So, anchor charts of all of the different kinds, growing with real-life examples- seems like a GREAT teaching tool when this tough skill comes up.

# data[].attributes.subject
During our unit on figurative language, I plan to have a whole slew of growing, changing anchor charts all over the place.  When we cover a new type of figurative language, like simile, we will write its meaning on a new anchor chart, and then continue to add examples of similes as we find them in our reading, speaking, and writing.  Alliteration?  How fun would a growing chart of alliteration be?  Personification?  Same!  Figurative language can be tough- the names are long and hard to remember, and telling the difference between the different kinds can be challenging.  So, anchor charts of all of the different kinds, growing with real-life examples- seems like a GREAT teaching tool when this tough skill comes up.

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Scholastic.com taught me that anchor charts can grow and develop over time.  They don't have to be started and finished all in one class period.  An example that was given:  a teacher was covering different ways to name dialog in writing.  She had an "Instead of Said" wall that grew as the students added different dialogue tags.  What a great idea!!!

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Scholastic.com taught me that anchor charts can grow and develop over time.  They don't have to be started and finished all in one class period.  An example that was given:  a teacher was covering different ways to name dialog in writing.  She had an "Instead of Said" wall that grew as the students added different dialogue tags.  What a great idea!!!

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Anchor charts can also be used as a classroom management tool.  They can serve as a reminder of expectations and routines, and students can self-monitor- "Did I follow center rules?"  "Did I complete everything my teacher asked me to do?  "I'm done with my work.  What should I do?  Oh yeah, that anchor chart will tell me.  I'll look there and not bother my teacher.""

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Anchor charts can also be used as a classroom management tool.  They can serve as a reminder of expectations and routines, and students can self-monitor- "Did I follow center rules?"  "Did I complete everything my teacher asked me to do?  "I'm done with my work.  What should I do?  Oh yeah, that anchor chart will tell me.  I'll look there and not bother my teacher.""

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So, what can I do differently with anchor charts, and how do I plan to use my research/ findings in my teaching?  Almost all of the websites I visited said that it's a good idea to print out the anchor charts for review.  I must admit I never thought of this idea!  I use an interactive notebook in my ELA classes, and  I want them to use the interactive notebook as a learning tool, again, not just a colorful cute notebook we made that never gets opened or used.  So, this is a great place to incorporate the anchor charts.  It transfers their learning from what we've talked about and displayed in the classroom to a learning tool that is in front of them and in their hands when they need it.  You can bet I'll be doing this in the future!

# data[].attributes.subject
So, what can I do differently with anchor charts, and how do I plan to use my research/ findings in my teaching?  Almost all of the websites I visited said that it's a good idea to print out the anchor charts for review.  I must admit I never thought of this idea!  I use an interactive notebook in my ELA classes, and  I want them to use the interactive notebook as a learning tool, again, not just a colorful cute notebook we made that never gets opened or used.  So, this is a great place to incorporate the anchor charts.  It transfers their learning from what we've talked about and displayed in the classroom to a learning tool that is in front of them and in their hands when they need it.  You can bet I'll be doing this in the future!

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During my research, I learned that anchor charts should be colorful and print-rich.  Well, I have that part covered.  I also learned that they should be laminated for durability.  Check.  (The laminator and I are on a first-name basis.)

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During my research, I learned that anchor charts should be colorful and print-rich.  Well, I have that part covered.  I also learned that they should be laminated for durability.  Check.  (The laminator and I are on a first-name basis.)

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Anchor charts can and should also be used for review.  It's something that can be used to build off of for new learning.  Students can use them for self-reflection and for reference later on.....

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Anchor charts can and should also be used for review.  It's something that can be used to build off of for new learning.  Students can use them for self-reflection and for reference later on.....

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I was more concerned about how "pretty" the anchor chart was rather than its purpose!

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I was more concerned about how "pretty" the anchor chart was rather than its purpose!

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I mean, while the posters were beautiful, what were the kids really getting out of them???  They probably left my classroom thinking that their teacher had really great handwriting and was a decent artist, but how were these charts helping with their LEARNING?!  So, needless to say, it was time for my thinking to shift- away from the artsy-fartsy to purpose driven anchor charts!!!!!   So, the research and change began and is still in progress:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          I've learned that in order for an anchor chart to be effective, it has to be made WITH the kids, not before they arrive.  As stated on  weareteachers.com:       Anchor charts should be used to recognize classroom/ curricular goals.  They should help students know and verbalize what they are accomplishing.  What better way to start a lesson/ unit than by whipping out the chart tablet and markers (RUSH....., jk)  and making an anchor chart TOGETHER to outline and LIST the goals of the lesson/ unit?!  Students have ownership because they helped create it, and they can SEE the goals before them, not just try to remember them, AND these goals can be displayed to be referred back to time and time again...........

# data[].attributes.subject
I mean, while the posters were beautiful, what were the kids really getting out of them???  They probably left my classroom thinking that their teacher had really great handwriting and was a decent artist, but how were these charts helping with their LEARNING?!  So, needless to say, it was time for my thinking to shift- away from the artsy-fartsy to purpose driven anchor charts!!!!!   So, the research and change began and is still in progress:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          I've learned that in order for an anchor chart to be effective, it has to be made WITH the kids, not before they arrive.  As stated on  weareteachers.com:       Anchor charts should be used to recognize classroom/ curricular goals.  They should help students know and verbalize what they are accomplishing.  What better way to start a lesson/ unit than by whipping out the chart tablet and markers (RUSH....., jk)  and making an anchor chart TOGETHER to outline and LIST the goals of the lesson/ unit?!  Students have ownership because they helped create it, and they can SEE the goals before them, not just try to remember them, AND these goals can be displayed to be referred back to time and time again...........

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Well, thankfully, I have learned a thing or two!  Boy, was I using anchor charts ALL WRONG!!     I wasn't making anchor charts, I was making pretty posters to put on display.......

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Well, thankfully, I have learned a thing or two!  Boy, was I using anchor charts ALL WRONG!!     I wasn't making anchor charts, I was making pretty posters to put on display.......

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Okay, okay, if you're reading this, you're probably thinking I've lost my mind.  Anchor charts aren't really THAT exciting, although I do rather enjoy the artistic aspect of them......

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Okay, okay, if you're reading this, you're probably thinking I've lost my mind.  Anchor charts aren't really THAT exciting, although I do rather enjoy the artistic aspect of them......

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Ahhhh, I love a good anchor chart.  Who doesn't?  I pull out my box of rainbow- colored flip chart markers and my clean, white chart paper tablet, and a rush of adrenaline courses through my body as I proceed to use fancy font, beautiful penmanship, and cute little pictures to create a beautiful anchor chart for all to see.......  When I'm finished making it, I show it to the kids, we talk about it, (they're NOT allowed to touch it), and then I laminate it and put it away so it will NOT get messed up and can be used next year!!!!!

# data[].attributes.subject
Ahhhh, I love a good anchor chart.  Who doesn't?  I pull out my box of rainbow- colored flip chart markers and my clean, white chart paper tablet, and a rush of adrenaline courses through my body as I proceed to use fancy font, beautiful penmanship, and cute little pictures to create a beautiful anchor chart for all to see.......  When I'm finished making it, I show it to the kids, we talk about it, (they're NOT allowed to touch it), and then I laminate it and put it away so it will NOT get messed up and can be used next year!!!!!