It is a New Year New Gear Kind of PaRtY!

When I saw this post I knew, KNEW, I had to link up. I'm all about starting to plan for the new year. Thoughts for the next year actually start bumping around in my head about mid March and attack me during April and May.

Since I'm heading back to the elementary school next year to teach 4th grade I had to start stalking a bunch of fourth grade blogs and try to remember what I used in my classroom 4 years ago. Here is what I have...

I or my students absolutely need...

1. Writing folders

Each student will have a writing folder that will always be at the writing center in this...

2. Mr. Sketch Markers

For anchor charts of course! Okay, I love just sniffing them too :)

3. Yellow Paper Pad

I'm LOVING the idea of using this for drafting when writing.

4. Binders

I am a binder lover my friends. 

There is something that makes kids feel important if they can 3 hole punch an assignment and put it into the binder. I divide the different subjects by giving the students colored paper and everything gets 3 hole punched and put in their binder. This also eliminates lost papers.

5. Math Notebooks

Wouldn't these be fun? But I usually get the boring black ones.

Anyway, using a math notebook is the way to go. AND it fits in the binder! Turn the composition book sideways and put the back flap into the folder pocket inside the binder.

Storing Anchor Charts

I love anchor charts! I'm such a fan and will continue to use them forever. I had a lot of questions and responses to my anchor chart wall so I thought I would share an actual picture of the entire board where I store them.

So here is how it works...Each time a new anchor chart is made I usually display it in the front of my room for the duration of use. When it is time to move on I "store" my anchor charts by pinning them on top of each other on this bulletin board. There are probably 25 - 30 anchor charts on this board.

I love the easiness of this board. For instance, I had to do a quick review of adjectives the other day so I just ran to this board and quickly pulled down the adjectives anchor chart. As soon as I pulled it out my students instantly remembered when we made it and the light bulb clicked. This is why the adjectives anchor chart is on top of that pile. The Complete Sentences anchor chart stays on the top of the pile all year because I constantly point to it and tell my students to write in a complete sentence.

I have students who go back and refer to the charts all the time. Some students can even tell me where certain anchor charts are. I love this board, but next year I am moving down to the elementary and will have to figure something else out to display/store anchor charts.

How do you store anchor charts?? I would love to know!

Main Idea Anchor Chart

We have been reviewing Main Idea in my classroom and here is the anchor chart that went with our reviewing. Part of it is from Miss Klohn's anchor chart.

I found this link http://www.k12reader.com/subject/main-idea-worksheets/ that provides Main Idea passages and questions FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS! How stinkin' awesome is that?? I printed off four different levels of worksheets for my high, medium, low and lower students and it was amazing!

I actually used all the passages to show how main idea develops depending on difficulty. It was mainly a 'review to the low and teach to the high' moment with the low kids learning that every passage has a main idea and the high kids understanding the development of main idea.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

Anchors Away Linky!

I am joining up with Miss Klohn for her new amazing linky party! This linky is to show off and get ideas for anchor charts from others.




The anchor chart I can't live without is my complete sentences anchor chart. Sorry the pic is a bit dark. I REALLY need a camera at school :) My phone will do for now.

I am CONSTANTLY referring back to the anchor chart. My group of students this year are simply struggling with complete sentences. But, if I tell them their sentence is not complete they know exactly how to fix it by referring to this chart. Yes, I ask them all the time why they didn't just do it right in the first place!

Summarizing Anchor Chart - Part 1

I just learned this amazing trick to get students to write a great summary! Just tell them to write a summary in 25 words or less. The students start out trying to shove all the details into the summary and then ask me if they can use more words. After I tell them no, they start realizing ON THEIR OWN that details don't make a true summary. This is so fabulous!

I also had a few students who didn't really care if they were truly summarizing, so I gave each group of 4 students a short story that was cut up into 4 different parts. The parts were numbered and each student had to write a 25 word summary for their part. (I have my kids in cooperative groups, so my lowest student received the first part of the story and my highest student in that group received the last part. This is an awesome activity to challenge all students. My lowest students in the groups were working on only summarizing while my other 3 students were working on different levels of inferring.)

After the summaries are written, I've done a few different things:

1. Have the group read ONLY their summaries. They can't say anything else. If they think the story makes sense based upon their summary, then they are finished. If not, they need to rewrite their summaries until the summaries make sense as a story.

2. I've had all the number 1 students get together and go over their summaries as a group and then revise before going back to their original group. Same thing with students 2-4. When they get back to their groups they follow the above strategy.

I really like this way of summarizing. How do you teach your students summarizing?

Verbs Anchor Chart - Part 2

Verbs are SO MUCH FUN to teach! After reviewing this anchor chart and copying it down, my class plays charades! We have 3 different charade games (one for each type of verb) and the students catch on so quickly to the different types of verbs.

The format for this anchor chart is from Step into 2nd Grade.

Complete Sentences Anchor Chart - Part 3

This is one anchor chart I keep out in the open all year. I am constantly asking students what they are missing in their sentences and as we refer to this chart the student can tell me immediately.

Adjectives Anchor Chart - Part 4

This adjective anchor chart format was taken from Step into 2nd Grade and my 6th graders loved it. They refer to this anchor chart a ton, which means it was effective.  I always do a quick review at the beginning of the year with nouns, verbs and adjectives. I cut up a bunch of each type of word and put the in an envelope. The students then have to put the words under the correct category. After this, they identify the words in sentences.


P.S. - Step into 2nd Grade's adjective anchor chart was MUCH cuter, so make sure you check it out!

Types of Sentences Anchor Chart - Part 5

Here is my Types of Sentences Anchor chart. Students copied this anchor chart, we discussed the different types using a lesson on my Smart Board, and then the students were given an envelope with different types of sentences cute into strips. They had to identify the type each sentence was with their partner and then record it. The envelope activity is my favorite! I use it all the time and my students never tire of it. The activity is also great for cooperative learning (go Kagan!).

Got Anchor Charts?

You might ask why I didn't jump on the band wagon when I first heard about these fabulous resources and the simple answer is...I'm stubborn. I didn't think they could help out my middle school classroom. Man, WAS I WRONG!

A few of my favorite things about anchor charts:
-Easy to make (just find one online for your inspiration)

-Mr. Sketch markers (I love the smell as I make anchor charts)

-Students refer to them daily!

-When a student asks me a question about something we have already learned, I can easily point to the anchor charts and the student can answer their own question.

-With more observations happening in my district, the observers always stop at my board where I store my charts and just stare. (I THINK this is a good thing)

-The colors. My students always try and guess which colors the anchor chart will be. So funny!

-Visual! So much easier for the visual learners. (I think everyone has the visual learner inside of them)

And now...a few anchor charts from our classroom. I seriously need to invest in a camera for my room :)

For info on where I received ideas on some of these info charts. Check out my Anchor Charts link on the left side of this blog.

AMAZING Anchor Charts

Check out this fabulous site on Anchor Charts! Seriously, CHECK IT OUT! This might be my new favorite anchor chart go-to site :)

http://www.julieballew.com/A_Literate_Life/Photos/Pages/Anchor_Charts.html

Character Traits Anchor Chart

Summarizing Anchor Chart

Kelly is so absolutely fabulous for letting me post and share her summary anchor chart. I seriously L - O - V - E it! A few things that rock about this anchor chart...

1- The wording; kid friendly and hits the nail on the head.
2- The setup. It is hard to set up a well rounded anchor chart with this much info on it, but still make it "kiddish"
3- I'm a total fan of 5 Finger Summarizing.

Thank you Kelly! I am going to use this anchor chart all year in my room. You are the BEST!

D5 Anchor Charts

Anchor charts for Daily 5! I REALLY like these. From Fantastic First.

Hanging Anchor Charts Using Pants Hangers

Coaching Chronicles shared this idea on how to organize your anchor charts. Use pants hangers and just add a hanger every time you need to add an anchor chart.

Making Inferences Anchor Chart

Found this at Coaching Chronicles and I am wanting to revisit inferring just so I can use this chart.

Anchor Chart Linky Party

I am a few months late to the party, but I LOVE all the resources from this linky at Ladybug's Teacher Files. Check it out...

Main Idea

Love this main idea anchor chart from Miss Klohn over at Adventures of a 6th Grade Teacher!! Seriously go check it out.