anchor chart alternatives

Over the past 2 years I've worked on covering as many topics as we address in reading and writing in various anchor charts. So, what is an anchor chart you may ask? Well, really it is a poster that students can use to reference while they are working. My favorite kind are the ones we create together. I print and glue down the foundation pieces (like the title and decorative pieces) and and the students fill in (I hold the marker though) with the information that we come up with together (and more realistically, in some instances, that I prompt them like crazy to come up with haha!). In that process, I've created over 50 different anchor charts to use in various ways (for individual students and for whole class viewing) throughout the year. So, here are 11 different ways you can use reading and writing anchor charts in your classroom (I'm using the same one throughout this post so you can see the multiple ways you can use them).  

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 First, all of these anchor charts are the same. I did this intentionally to show you how you can use the same information in various ways. You can download the FREE Writing Hooks Anchor Chart here. You can see the whole collection of reading and writing anchor charts here.

1.) This is my favorite method of displaying a whole class anchor chart. Basically, it's 4 pages cut and taped together to make a poster. You can watch how easy it is to assemble here.

2.) Another FANTASTIC way to display these is with my new best friend, MAGNETIC PAPER. Whaaaatt?! If you have a magnetic white board, this is a MUST. You can find it here.

3-5.) I'm sure you've seen these displays before, but just in case you haven't...the clear plexiglass ones are for 8.5x11 print sizes and 5x7 print sizes. You can find them here and here. My crafty husband whipped up the pvc pipe stand in 10 minutes and I added some book rings...voila! Perfect for a writing center or for students to carry to their desk! Just print at a reduced size (use the percentage tool when you open the PDF to print) to fit however big you make it (these small ones are printed at 70%).

 6-7.) And if your students use composition or spiral notebooks, just print at a reduced size and have them cut/glue in--they'll have no excuse NOT to use them as a reference tool if they're right where they are working!

8.) Another binder ring favorite. Just print 4/page, double-side them, laminate and hole-punch! I love this because you can keep it in your teacher binder to use when you are conferencing and need to remind a student of a concept--or, even better, you can leave it somewhere for them to take to their desk.

9.) Create a mobile using the provided bigger pieces to cut out! I used fishing line to make this one, but any sort of ribbon or string would work. You can hang it against a wall or from your ceiling.

10.) This is probably the easiest way to provide them to your students (if you use binders like me). Slip them into a page protector and you're set! Easy peasy!

11.) Using the provided cut apart pieces, pop into your favorite anchor chart (you can find this black pocket chart here) and you're set!

12.) And because ALL of my sets come with the pieces to build your own, you can still create them WITH your class and not have to worry about the drawing or your writing not fitting on the page/slanting towards one side!

You can grab this FREE binder cover/spine if you want to keep all of your anchor charts in one place.

And here they all are on one Pinterest friendly image for you if you want to pin and come back later!

So that's it! I hope you enjoyed these different ways and are inspired to have a little fun with your anchor charts! You can purchase the Writing Workshop Anchor Chart Bundle here and the Reading Anchor Chart Bundle here.