Anchor Charts 101: Keep It Simple, Keep It Clean

Today, we’re welcoming Sara from Inclusive Insights. She’s sharing her 101 guide to creating simple yet effective anchor charts. We think you’ll find it useful!

Anchor charts are a fun addition to the classroom, but they can be overdone. Read our guest blogger's advice for keeping them simple and effective for the students' benefit, because that's what's most important - student learning! Click through to read all of her suggestions.

As teacher, I know our anchor charts can get a bit carried away. There, I said it; don’t hate me! We spend hours making them as colorful and creative as possible. It’s just what we do! In the end, however, how often are those charts used effectively by our students? Is the information easy to find and read? The more decorated and colorful an anchor chart is, the harder it is for students to quickly scan and locate the information they need.

Throughout the years, I have found it more beneficial to keep anchor charts simple and clean. I know what you are thinking: “…but Sara, I have a 12-pack of Mr. Sketch markers, and I NEED to use them all.” First, put the markers down. Second, take a deep breath. Phew! You don’t need to use every color in the rainbow in order to create a successful anchor chart, and it doesn’t need to be a work of art.

The goal of an anchor chart is for students to look back at it as a reference. It is not an audition for an art gallery. The less distractions on the chart, the better. The information should be easy to read and easy to find. If you think about it, most elementary classrooms are covered with posters, inspirational quotes, and classroom work. An over-decorated anchor chart may just get lost in the eyes of a child and may blend into the background.

I have found the most successful anchor anchor charts to contain: the objective, topic, definition and example. That’s it! Keep is simple, keep it clean.

At the top of every anchor chart, I write an “I can” statement from the Common Core State Standards. I usually draw a target or star and then write the objective.
Then I write the topic in large, easy to read print.
Under the topic I write the definition.
Lastly, I draw or write an example

Here is an example of a math anchor chart for area. You can see the information is presented in a clean and simple manner.

These steps can vary slightly by genre. For example, for reading anchor charts I don’t typically write a definition, but I always include an example from a mentor text. There is inevitably more writing on these anchor charts, so it is important to streamline as much as possible.

In addition to posting your anchor chart in the room, you can take a picture of the chart and have students glue or place this in their journal or folder. Now they have a mini anchor chart to look back at whenever they are confused or feel like they need a refresher.

Remember: An anchor chart is there as a reference for your students, so make it accessible to them. Let this sink in a little, and I promise you will be a little less mad at me in the morning. Believe me, I love an overly decorated anchor chart as much as the next teacher, but in the end I think it’s best to keep it simple and clean.

Sara Mac is a third grade teacher and co-founder of Inclusive Insights. She lives in Boston but loves to summer in Newport. You can stay up-to-date with all her happenings on Instagram and Facebook. Don’t forget to check out her stupendous TpT store!

Minds in Bloom