Chart Chums

Anchor Charts.  They are a great way to keep "tracks of learning."  I had never thought about the power of adding pictures to them, except in the primary grades.  We know that some of our kids are visual, though, so if we can include pictures on our charts, then the lessons are going to stay with them, long after the chart is gone.

Chartchums is a great new blog written by Kristi Mraz and Marjorie Martinelli, literacy consultants with the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project.  It is a great resource for new ideas for making charts for and with your students.

Here is an example of a chart from their blog.  I am going to start using one like it whenever I teach the Reading or Writing Workshop.  The idea is that you move the sticky note depending on how long your students can read or write independently.  What a great way to increase stamina!

Click here to learn more about Chartchums!