Anchor Charts (The Third Teacher) #doctoralpursuit

This is the time of year that teachers are getting their rooms ready for their students to begin the next school year. We have been taught that our classrooms should be "print rich" and to some, this means "let's put up a lot of cute "stuff" and fancy bulletin boards, but; I have a question for you to reflect on. How is what you are putting on your walls and on your bulletin boards helping to create independent readers, writers and thinkers? If you cannot effectively answer this question, it's time to rethink what you are putting on your walls.
The article Children and Place: Reggio Emilia's Environment As Third Teacher (Strong-Wilson and Ellis, 2007) describes the walls as a third teacher in the classroom. We are in the age of teacher created materials and we see lots of cute and creative things all over teachers-pay-teachers and other site that teachers can use to aid their teaching and make their classrooms pleasing to the eye. I just have a word of caution about what, how, and how much to doing when working with this "third teacher". 
Kristine Mraz and Marjorie Martinelli wrote a book in 2012 titled: " Smarter Charts". This book  offers some helpful tips for the charts and tools that you place on your classroom walls. They say effective charts:

• are very clear and simple
• are low on text
• have pictures, icons and/or color coding
• are age appropriate and have kid friendly language
• have clearly labeled headings or titles
  

Font size, shape and color are just as important because too much can be overwhelming to some of our students. Keep in mind that what students see, they learn, especially if they are visual learners. You should consider these tips when creating the materials you use for instruction and visual support in your classroom.
Anchor Charts are tools that support the visual learner and reinforce learning of students with other learning styles. Visual Learning Theory tells us that if students have a visual that represents something they have learned they can better synthesize that learning.  Mraz and Martinelli also talk about different types of charts in their book. The charts fall into
these categories:

1. Exemplar Charts- visual examples of proficient work (text or student work) usually created with the class.
2. Tools- individual student visuals that are specific for that student to use as a support.
3. Repertoire Charts- remind students of strategies they have been practicing.
4. Content Charts_ offer students a reference for their work with a strategy.
   

As educators, we need to be on purpose and intentional with everything we do when it comes to the children we serve each day. Good first instruction is reinforced with the visuals we use. It was my hope to give you a couple of ways to answer the question I posed for you to reflect on. The anchor chart and other teacher created materials can also help create independent reader, writers, and thinkers.

Martinelli, M. & Mraz, K. (2012). Smarter charts, K-2. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

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