For years I had a love/hate relationship with anchor charts. I knew how beneficial they could be, but I just couldn’t grasp the logistics of posting and storing them. I’d scope out other classrooms and search endlessly on Pinterest for ideas, but what worked for others didn’t work for me.
Because of this, I gave up on anchor charts completely. It wasn’t until I realized how much my students needed these reminders that I reconsidered. They were learning a new math skill every single day! Of course, they were going to forget some along the way. I was determined to find a solution.
To Post or Not To Post
For starters, I didn’t know how to properly store my anchor charts, nor did I have the time and energy to figure it out. As a result, they piled up on top of my cabinets and collected dust. Ohhhhh, the dust. In addition, I’d have to pull them all down just to find the one I needed.
Another problem was wall space, or the lack thereof, so I would only post charts related to current topics. Those, however, weren’t the only skills students were forgetting. My mind went down a rabbit hole. Should I post anchor charts from earlier in the year, or should I just post them all? Would that be too overwhelming? I found faults with each option, so coming up with a solution was a challenge.
On top of all that, not every student was able to look at an anchor chart and remember what to do. They needed a thorough example worked out and explained by me. I finally came up with a solution: mini anchor charts with an interactive twist. My love for alliteration inspired me to call them “reference rings”!
Bringing Anchor Charts to Life
With the addition of a simple QR code, I’ve brought these anchor charts to life. My students no longer have to wonder how I arrived at the answer. By scanning the QR code, they now see an example modeled and explained by me.
All of my videos use manipulatives/visuals when possible and focus on conceptual learning. They have been a lifesaver! So, who exactly are these videos for?
Anchor Charts for Absent Students
Most recently, a student of mine was absent and missed my lesson on simplifying fractions. The next day, he felt behind and expressed how much he hated simplifying fractions. Statements like this are so hard to hear as a teacher!
A few days later, we did a review activity that included simplest form. He completed it with ease! I told him how impressed I was that he overcame his battle. He replied, “I watched the simplest form reference ring video a few times, and now I’m an expert.” He felt proud and relieved that he had mastered this difficult concept. I was thrilled!!!
Anchor Charts for Struggling Students
Not all students master a skill after a 30-minute whole group lesson; that’s what small group instruction is for. Even with this additional support, there are often a few students who still won’t fully understand,
I encourage these students to watch a reference ring video after they leave my group. Sometimes this is exactly what they need: one-on-one instruction. Reference rings are especially helpful when students are struggling but don’t want to interrupt my small group. We make reference rings part of our “Ask 3 Before Me” rule!
Anchor Charts for Enrichment
On the other hand, some students learn concepts so quickly that it’s hard to keep up with them. They soak up any knowledge they can get and run with it. Those students in particular have loved watching my reference ring videos on future topics. Several have even pretested out of chapters because of this!
These interactive anchor charts can also be displayed as a bulletin board using the full-size version. I typically post only the charts related to the current unit and include a few review skills. The mini anchor charts remain posted and available at all times since they don’t take up much space.
Want to try a reference ring set for yourself? Grab the Place Value FREEBIE, or shop the BUNDLE which includes 70 tutorial videos for 4th grade math!
Until next time,
Happy Teaching!
-Annamarie