Saturday, July 21, 2012

Anchor Posters in Social Studies

Anchor charts or anchor posters are visual aids to help students remember previously studied ideas.One blog, Coaching Chronicles describes anchor posters:

Anchor Charts are artifacts of classroom learning communities. An anchor, by definition, is an object used to hold something firmly in place. Anchors are a source of stability and security. Thrown overboard, the anchor stables the boat holding it firmly in a desired location. Likewise, an Anchor Chart displayed in a classroom learning community anchors student thinking while offering a source of visual reference for continued support [scaffolding] as the learner moves forward. Classrooms with rich anchor support leave little doubt about what a student is expected to learn and offer a “public trail” of thinking, a collection of learning.

Anchor charts are best when created with students during class. (Of course, to save time, I'm making some of mine this summer and will add things to them in class). What are some things we might want to "anchor" for students in the area of social studies?

Thinking Like a Historian
APPARTS
Reading Thoughts
Expository Essay Format
DBQ Essay Format
Word Walls with Vocabulary Words
APUSH Test Taking Tips



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