Anchor Chart Homes

Ive always been a fanatic at creating anchor charts WITH my students during mini lessons...ok so sometimes after school I rewrite them to perfection.  At the beginning of the year my walls are virtually bare until things have been created.

This year is no different, but thanks to some great bloggers like ... Mrs Childress at Fabulous Fourth Grade and Clutter Free Classroom among many other pinterest inspirations I have gotten organized and created focal points in the room for the charts.

 Right behind and right next to my small group reading area I have my reading focus walls, each has labels so kids know exactly where to look for what info..man it's great to see their eyes scanning the room looking for resources to help or confirm their thinking.

I posted smaller versions of anchor charts for reading strategies or skills as well as the correlated common core standard..they are posted as we cover them..our curriculum introduces determining importance and inferring 1st... so there is a lot of empty space!

 
 I got my common core posters from Jennifer Findley's Teachers Pay Teachers Store...you can grab a copy here.

Yes..this is where great charts are created..I rescued this fantastic yet large easel from another teacher who didn't have enough space

 I like to open my blinds and I still wanted access to prime real-estate for anchor charts to hang..so a staple gun and a roll of tulle later I had the perfect setup.  A few paper clips or clothespins and charts are easily interchangeable. 

After I saw Mrs. Lemons post about planning for a sub I knew I had to work with my students to create an anchor chart outlining a set of success criteria.  I'm gone a half day each month coaching teachers  using active engagement structures (Kagan).

(sorry for the bad iPhone pics)

By this time I had run out of cute green tulle so I resorted to plain old twine :(

Thanks for stopping by...  I'd love to host an anchor chart linky..but Im still wet behind the ears when it comes to blogging...its next on my never ending to do list.