Sunday, September 1, 2013

Summer is Over!

Well, as of today, summer is officially over.  I am torn because although summer is my favorite season.  I do look forward to the leaves changing, the fall decorations and the family bonfires.  So, although the weather will be changing soon, I do have something to look forward too.  

If you have been checking out my new blog, I have been focusing on the beginning of the year anchor charts. Making connections is a great way to begin the school year and help students to retain what they have read.  I have included an anchor chart worksheet that I made that you could use to see if your students understand connections, or you could put it on the overhead, your promethean boards, or blow it up as a poster.  It is a visual that is sure to help students make connections. 

Click here to get the free Making Connections Worksheet!


Thursday, August 29, 2013

Charts, Charts, Charts

Charts, Charts, Charts (Sang to Three Blind Mice)
Charts, Charts, Charts
See How They Go
See How They Go
Use them with your class each day
They will make a difference everyday
This isn't an advertisement and I don't get paid.
But, I like Charts.


Ok, I know, it's corny, but it's true.  Anchor charts rock.  Check out these terrific charts, made by some fabulous teachers.  It is the beginning of the year and most of us are busy teaching our students how to choose the "just right" book.  Using I-Pick method, is a good reminder of teaching children how to select their just right book. Check out the videos that have been made to introduce the concept of picking a book. 
Thanks to Mrs. Kuieck's class.  Great job students!




Here is one for older students.  These fifth grades students from Mrs. Jernigans 5th grade class rocked it out and will motive other fifth graders to pick a good book to read.

This creative anchor chart is from Mrs. Meachams awesome blog; "Classroom Snapshots." I think this would be great for older students.  You could even have a volunter to make it for you.


Over at First Grade Fresh, Mrs. Simoneaux, has a great idea for her little ones, add picture cues for beginning readers.



If you have a great chart you would like me to feature, just send me an email!  Thanks for stopping by and thank YOU for being a totally incredible teacher!!!

Shellie 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Another Day, Another Great Chart

During this time of the school year our elementary students are learning about Just Right Books.  It's a new trendy term that has seem to have caught on and gained momentum.  A just right book is a book at your students level after you have completed a running record or benchmarked your child's reading ability and assigned a reading level.  The days are long gone where only the basal is used and every child reads the same book.  I'm sorry to report, they will not be having fun with Dick and Jane, or see Spot Run.  We have moved on to bigger and better things. I think?


The poster above is from the web, and I am not sure who to give credit to (if it is yours, let me know), but it has a great illustration to show students how to mak a good book choice.  I think if you have a theme in your classroom, you could even relate it to the theme.  If you have one, shoot me a photo and your blog, and I will feature it on our site. 

Here are a few more great Just Right Book Charts.  Check out the blogs they come from, I am positive you will find more great charts and ideas too. 

Second grade blog Mandy's Tips for Teachers had this cute chart. I love how it looks like the bike rider is flying down the hill because it is so easy.  Students can really relate to that.
Who doesn't remember Goldilocks and the Three Bears?  I always wanted to be Baby Bears friend.  He always was so cute and seemed so nice.  Hey, we can dream!  Well, Mrs. Parker has taken her anchor chart to the next level by incorporating our old friend Goldie Locks. Check out her blog, you can even purchase some great things from her TPT store. 





Sunday, September 30, 2012

It's Anchor Chart Time!

Welcome to my revamped Totally Incredible Teachers blog.  I am an anchor chart junkie and this blog is dedicated to Totally Incredible Teachers that make great anchor charts and share them with the world.  This site is inspired by the teachers and those that love teaching our youth.  I love finding great anchor charts, but it seems that sometimes I have to search continuously.  I thought it would be a great idea to have them in one place and share them with others.  So, to all of you that love to create, want to create, or don't know exactly what to create when making an anchor chart, this blog is for you.

I know many of you are thinking?  Anchor Charts, one more thing to do as your paper work continues to pile up!!  But they do have a purpose!  Charts that are already created, don't give students the accountablitity like it does when you create it together, don't get me wrong, you don't need to create a chart for everything, but it does help TREMENDOUSLY.

Check out the chart from ESL AMPLIFIED. Their blog states; "Even beginner students can be held accountable for classroom rules and routines.  Simply point to the appropriate part of the diagram to remind students of the behavior you expect."

This is a great chart for all studentsat the beginning of the year.

Ok, I know what your are thinking now, and I felt the same way too, but they do make a difference and once you do them, they are DONE!!! Many teachers wonder what is the big deal about anchor charts?  It is something that takes more time and it is easier to just purchase a poster. Believe me, I too was a skeptic, but after using anchor charts with my third grade students for one school year, they have made a huge difference in their retention of concepts taught.

 Yes they really do help your students!


Here are some of the reasons anchor charts are useful in the classroom:

1.  It allows students to "see" the standards you are teaching instead of just hearing them.
2. Anchor charts allow your students to participate in the "teaching" as they are the experts and the ones you will get your information from for the anchor chart (so they think).
3.  Anchor charts are a good way for struggling readers to "read the room" because they remember the chart being created together as a class as they are reading the chart over and over.
4.  It is a great way to display the standards in your room for those who visit and want to know what is going on in your classroom.

When I use anchor charts I create them before the class has seen them.  I then laminate them for use the next year. I never show them the anchor chart I created until the following day. I introduce the standard and brainstorm with the classroom.  I will use the overhead or my white board for the brainstorming.  Some teachers create their actual anchor chart with the class, but I am pretty OCD when it comes to the charts and like them perfect.
The next day when I review the anchor chart, the students are excited to see what I have created from their "teaching" and input.  I always make sure I add important information to our  brainstorming list. This way when the students see the chart the next day, they are not surprised about items that are on the chart. I always take a picture of the anchor chart, print it out (in black and white) and have the students put it in their binder.  The reason I have it in their binder is so they can refer to it when needed.  They can reread them as much as they like during quiet time, or when they finish work. I don't have a lot of wall space available, so I keep only the most used anchor charts on the walls. Normally the charts I have hanging are the procedural charts for reader's workshop, writer's workshop, and our math workshop.  I store the other anchor charts on a shower rod I have hanging in my window.  (Pictures are coming soon)!


NO TALKING IN THE HALL!!! 

How many times of day do we say that?


Our featured chart of the day comes from Mrs. Terhune's First Grade Blog. Her blog is wonderful and she has shared a wealth of knowledge. The anchor chart below is simple, yet something we always work on with our students. I even think this would be a great chart to put on a large Popsicle stick (like a fan you have a church) and actually have it with you in the hall. This way you could just hold it up and remind them what they should be doing.  Thanks Amanda and be sure to visit her blog. Although it is a first grade blog, no matter what grade level you teach, you could still take many of her charts and adapt them to your class and specific grade level.  Happy Charting!!!


If you have created an anchor chart you would like to share, just send me an email and I will feature you on my blog and link your blog to mine!!!  Together we can educate using one chart at a time!!!

Have a great week.

Shellie