1-2-3 Come Make Some Posters With Me

I've learned that when it comes to young children, keeping things simple is a recipe for success.  With that in mind, I designed this simple rules poster.  Use it to review, reinforce and remind. 

This is the latest addition to a lot of other posters and anchor charts that I have on TeachWithMe.com  Over 50 are just a click away. 

I LOVED using posters as a quick way to decorate my room and our hallway, for the various seasons and themes that we studied throughout the year.  Having taught PK, K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 9th, 10th, 12th and college, you can imagine the collection I accumulated over the years!  They were not easy to part with, but I'm glad to say they have been happily recycled.

Since I wanted to post the newest addition and blog about it, I needed a bit more of an article, so here are a few of my favorite classroom-management type posters.  I've also used posters as a writing prompt, asking my students what they thought and if they agreed or disagreed with the poster.  Click on the various hot links below to grab your copies.

"Please ZIP your lips!" was something that I taught my students on the first day of school. 

Since sewing is one of my hobbies, I had a few zippers on hand, so I took them to school, laying one on my chalk sill, another on my desk, and a 3rd by my reading chair. 

To signal silence, I'd hold up the real zipper and zip it shut.  My students would then pretend to zip their lips. 

It was a simple and effective way to start story time, and my students really enjoyed the monkey-see monkey-do zipping. 

Sometimes, we'd sing the "Zip Your Lips" song, when we prepared to get ready to transition or go somewhere.  Click on the link to view/download the "Zippy" posters and song.

"Owl" Be Watching is an effective, yet gentle reminder, to make wise choices.  Making students take responsibility for their actions and holding them responsible with consequences, is a must for successful classroom management.

I got the idea for my "Dear Students"  poster from Caroline’s 6 point-note to her 3rd grade English students in SC.  Check out her cute Tupelo Honey blog by clicking on the link.

To make your new students feel extra special, run off copies and tuck them in their take home folders or Open House packets, then display one on your classroom wall. 

Likewise, the "In This Classroom..." poster (another tweaked idea) is a nice addition to your classroom booklet.

Studies have shown that good readers are risk takers. 

It's important to foster the idea that it's OK to make mistakes, so students feel at ease making a "guess-timate" and taking the risk of being wrong.  It's simply how we learn.

With that in mind, I designed this pencil poster. 

Remembering to put their name on all of their work, was something that I reminded my students of daily. 

To help with that in  a fun way,  I taught my students this simple rhyme and then made it into a poster that hung above our "turned in work" basket.

"You get what you get, so don't get upset!" was another rhyme that I taught my Y5's.  This is especially handy if you have young ones who pout and/or pitch a fit when they don't get their 1st choice or color preference. 

My little ones were quick to pick up on this, so whenever a child carried on, at least one, if not more students would kindly chant the rhyme to them.

The other Don't Get Upset poster in this pack, is for when students cop an attitude when they don't get to participate, or do a special craftivity, because they did not complete their work.  This "Don't Get Upset" poster is a gentle reminder of the choices they made. 

 If you're like me, you hate it when children continue to whine and give excuses for not following through, staying on task, or completing an activity. This little "Make an Effort Not an Excuse" poster is one of my favorites.

If you practice the "bucket filling" philosophy or simply want your students to consider their words and actions, you may find the "Trading Places" poster helpful. 

Have you used the technique of "Put your thinking caps on?" I actually had my Y5's pretend to put one on, and then make a goofy noise to show me that theirs was working. 

We'd zip our lips and be ready to get down to business.  Click on the link for a cute picture of a "real" thinking cap that I made into a poster. 

Finally, I had to throw in a silly little teacher poster  to make an even dozen FREEBIE posters today.  I hung all sorts of paper "stuff" (poems, posters, quotes, pictures and notes) inside my cupboard doors that would make me smile, or give me a much-needed lift. 

We all need this boost to our spirits, especially if it's been a challenging day -- and the reason we became a teacher in the first place is clouded by craziness.  Thus, I give you my "Whew!" poster, for when you've had one of those days.  I'm sure you can relate, as we've all been there; done that!

Thanks for visiting today.  Hopefully you found at least one goodie that you can use in your classroom, as you prepare for a "clean slate" and exciting brand new year. 

A zillion more ideas are floating through my head, so I'm off to jot them down before they disappear like my summer seems to be doing!

"There's no tired, like teacher tired at the end of the first, last, or party day!"

Anchor Charts That Help Teach!

I LOVE making and using anchor charts!

A collection of similar ones make an instant bulletin board, single ones help decorate your room, and all of them give valuable information in a nutshell or remind students at a glance what to do, or how to do something.

They are also a wonderful teaching tool, as you can refer to them as a “checklist” before students begin their work, or remind them to refer to the charts before they ask you a question.

For example, a popular set of anchor charts is the Six Traits of Writing.  As students begin their work, review the steps. 

When they have completed their work, go through the posters again, asking the students the various questions. If they haven't answered "YES!" to all of them, then they aren't ready to hand in their paper.

Click on the link to view/download the Six Traits of Writing anchor charts

This collection also makes a great writing bulletin board. Simply place the posters on 6 rainbow-colored sheets of construction paper, laminate them and then staple them kittywhompus on a black background. Edge the board with a pencil border. 

You can suspend some cut outs of pencils, pens, erasers, and paper from fishline, just above the board. Wahla! Instant b. board, that students can refer to all year long. If you don't have a bulletin board, simply put the black paper on a bare wall and frame it with the boarder.

"Said is dead; use these words instead!" has also been a very popular anchor chart. This too, could be part of your writing wall.

click on the link to view/download Said is Dead anchor chart.

I’ve spent the last week creating a variety of anchor charts that I think you’ll find helpful.

The above are about writing, but I also have ones for math as well as other subjects. A popular math set of anchor charts has been the addition and subtraction set.

addition-subtraction anchor charts.

I’ve also gotten permission from several new clip artists to use their work, so I think you’ll be delighted with the graphics as well.

I will continue to make anchor charts through the summer.  If there is a chart you’d like for your classroom, shoot me an e-mail and I’ll see what I can do. diane@teachwithme.com

I find that if one teacher needs it, there are lots more who will be happy someone asked!

When you pop back to see what’s new, to view all of the anchor charts and posters, click on the classroom management apple on my home page and then click on anchor charts.

To view the charts for today, click on this quick anchor chart link.  Scroll down and choose whatever charts and posters you like.  Enjoy.

Thanks for visiting!  Feel free to PIN anything you think others will find helpful.

Do you have an anchor chart that you can’t live without? Post a comment and link here! We’d enjoy hearing from you.  

"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles." -Washington Irving

Anchors Away!

I think anchor charts serve a number of valuable purposes.

They are a quick reminder of facts; they assist students in visualizing a concept; they help children understand parts of a whole; a good one is concise; generic charts can help jump start students’ thoughts + they make great and practical decorations for your classroom.

I’ve designed several that involve a variety of subjects:  reading strategies,   vowel, coin, magic e,  flat shape POSTERS, candy and 3-D shape posters, an ABC Dolch sight word list, blends, ending the confusion of b and d, alphabetical word-letter sounds, long & short vowels and how to ask a question, to name just a few.

Click on the links to view/download them.

I have a “to do” list of about a dozen more that are in the works, so stop by often.  There’s at least 2 new things posted every day!

I wanted to design one where students could make their own mini version to help reinforce the lesson.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is an all-time favorite of my students and perfect for a spring anchor chart that helps students recall the various parts of a book.

This one includes a teacher’s poster and a mini template for students to label.

To add the artwork, simply have students make a pencil line of the caterpillar’s body and fill it in my dipping their index finger in the various colors of paint and then making prints on the line.

If you don't want to use paint, stamp pads work well too.  Baballa uses sponges soaked in paint to make the perfect fingerprints and avoid big blobs.

The picture on the right is from her site. Click on the link to check out her other "muy lindo" ideas.

Add details with markers when the paint dries.

Click on the link to view/download Parts Of A Book Anchor Chart

Need some more anchor charts?

Ms. M's Blog is throwing a Linky Party featuring anchor charts for K-2^nd grade.  Click on the link if you’d like to check it out.

Be sure and pop back tomorrow for more fun tips for springtime (although, here in Michigan, Mother Nature is having some sort of identity crisis. 

(She can’t seem to make up her mind whether it’s spring, summer or winter again…sometime all in the same day!)