Classroom Management Anchor Charts

The beginning of the school year is the best time for teaching those many rules and procedures and I have found that using these Classroom Management Anchor Charts helps my kindergartners clearly understand my expectations and is a great visual!

Anchor charts are an awesome way to showcase an idea or concept you are teaching. I have heard it said that it ‘anchors’ the specified idea on paper, which can sometimes include a definition, expectation, and/or picture/drawing. How you make an anchor chart and how you display them is totally up to you. I use anchor charts all the time in my classroom, so I thought I would share my beginning of Kindergarten supply/classroom management anchor charts, as well as how I display them.

FYI: I do not allow anyone to use any school supplies until we create an anchor chart about each specific one and the students know the expectations for using them correctly.

The first day of school includes an anchor chart on how to be a friend and The Kissing hand feelings anchor chart. Next, I introduce crayons to my class and we read The Crayon Box that Talked and The Day the Crayons Quit. Together we make an anchor chart describing the do’s and don’ts of using crayons. (I will preface this picture by saying, these are not the most glamorous anchor charts, because I do them right there with the students. Sometimes I go back and make a ‘prettier’ copy.)

Next supply I go over with the students are pencils. It’s always funny to see what the kids say the ‘rules’ are about pencils.

At this point the students know how to correctly use crayons and pencils. Usually, by day 3 of Kindergarten, I am introducing scissors and glue.

Along with the anchor chart on scissors, I teach them the song:
Open Shut
Open shut
That’s the Way We Cut, Cut, Cut
Fingers on Bottom
Thumb on Top
Do Not Let the Paper Drop
We sing this over and over and especially while we are cutting and I have found that it REALLY does help them remember!!

I use glue sticks at the beginning of the year, so an anchor chart is a MUST. No, glue sticks are NOT to be used as hair gel! LOL! 😉

The first project we use to practice our cutting and gluing skills is this monster-themed page, which is also a great number order practice! This comes from Kindergarten Smiles Monsters Back to School pack.

After teaching about supplies and creating anchor charts on the proper way we use them, I make this Good Coloring anchor chart to remind them that we are in kindergarten and need to try our best and not ‘rush’ through our work.

I also make a simple dot-to-dot anchor chart to show how to complete a dot-to-dot correctly. You might be amazed to know the amount of students who have never seen a dot-to-dot!

So now you ask, what do you do with ALL of these anchor charts? Well, I am so glad you asked!! Last year I thought I came up with a great solution of using clothespins with thumbtacks, to aid in keeping them up on the wall.  I used to hot glue them, but had to keep re-gluing them all year long. I knew that I would have to try something different this year, so I came up with this:

Supplies Needed:
Thick Clothespins (mine came from Target $1 Spot and JoAnns)
E6000
Metal Thumbtacks

Use the E6000 to adhere the metal thumbtacks to the back of the clothespins. Wait until dry to use.
So far, so good! Using the E6000 has worked like a charm and is holding my many anchor charts!!


And where do I hang my anchor charts? I uusally keep them on my whiteboard, easel, and/or focus wall when I introduce the anchor chart, but after a day or two, I move it to my anchor chart wall, where my new anchor chart hangers are!

Here is what an anchor chart looks like with my custom anchor chart hangers!

Obviously I only have so much room, so sometimes I stack anchor charts on top of each other. That’s also another benefit of the hanger clips.

Here are a few more ideas for keeping anchor charts:

Anchor Chart Storage from Teaching with a Mountain View

Anchor Chart Wall  from Learning at the Primary Pond

Hang your Anchor Charts on a Rod

 

Anchor Chart Display from Book Units Teacher

 

Do you use anchor charts in your classroom? How do you make them? And where do you display and store them?