Why is a Classroom Calendar Important?

A classroom calendar is an important tool in elementary classrooms. All first, second, third, fourth, and fifth grade classrooms should not only have a calendar posted in their classrooms, but be using it regularly. I know some teachers may have visions of “calendar time” being strictly a primary experience, but upper elementary can benefit from it too. Lower elementary students may answer questions like, “What is the date today?” and “What will the date be tomorrow?” Upper elementary students, on the other hand, may answer questions like, “Juan’s birthday is in 2 weeks and 6 days. What is the date of his birthday?” Calendar concepts often come up on standardized tests, but are not necessarily part of your school’s curriculum.

How to Create a Classroom Calendar in 10 Easy Steps

Below are 10 easy ideas for how to set up a classroom calendar.

1. Identify What You Want on Your Calendar Wall

Make a list of components you want to include on your calendar wall. This list could include things like a calendar, the number of days in school, the date written out, weather, question of the day, etc.

2. Pick a Location for Your Calendar Wall

Pick a spot in your classroom that will be your calendar area. Ideally, it should be accessible from your whole class meeting area so that you can use it as a daily teaching tool. In addition, consider how you will need it to be visible and accessible from the spots where your students will be working in the classroom and will need to access parts of it (like a model of the date written). For example, because my students access the calendar when working on their number of the day activities as well as when using the calendar task cards during our daily math workshop with guided math groups I needed to keep it in a spot that was visible from all around the room.

3. Measure Your Space

Use a tape measure to measure the wall space you will designate for your calendar area.

4. Create a Sketch of Your Calendar Wall

Sketch your dream calendar wall on a piece of paper.

5. Choose Materials

The fifth on this list of classroom calendar ideas is to choose materials. Decide if you are going to purchase a classroom calendar pocket chart or poster board. Read the pros and cons of both below to help you decide which one is best for you.

The Pros and Cons of Purchasing a Classroom Calendar Pocket Chart

For a few years, I had my calendar in one of those pocket charts that are specifically designed with 7 rows to hold calendar pieces. Here are the pros and cons I found:

Pros

1. It saves you time: All you need to do is hit the “add to cart” button and check out. After it is delivered to you, it is super quick to assemble.
2. It can last you several years: It is often pretty sturdy and can last a long time if you take good care of them.
3. It is easy to hang: It is super easy to hang on cork bulletin boards using push pins and white boards using magnets.

Cons

1. It’s expensive: They can cost upwards of $20-$30 for a basic one.
2. There’s no place to write the date: It does not include a place to write the date and if you are like me and require your students to date everything, it is really important to display a model.
3. It can get worn down over time: The pockets can tear or stretch out over time, especially when you have students changing out the cards each month.

The Pros and Cons of Purchasing a Classroom Calendar Poster Board

After a few years of having the calendar pocket chart, I ditched it and bought a poster board calendar instead. Here are the pros and cons I found:

Pros

1. It’s a cheap solution: You can find the poster board for as cheap as $3 or $4.
2. It is easy to hang: It is light, so you can use staples, tape, or small magnets to get it to stick to your wall.
3. It is customizable: You can add ribbon, washi tape, and colorful tissue paper to have it match your classroom theme or color scheme. You can find so many ways to tie in themes ranging from black and white to cactus. It’s amazing!

Cons

1. It requires more time: It depends on how much you customize it. It can take as much or as little time as you let it.
2. This option may need to be replaced after a few years: Consider laminating it if it isn’t already to help it last longer. Over time it may bend or rip.
3. It often does not come with everything you need: You may need to scoop up some number and month cards. You can find ones that fit your classroom theme or color scheme.

Once you have selected the materials you are going to use, head on down to the next item on the list of classroom calendar ideas to consider.

6. Purchase Materials

The sixth on this list of classroom calendar ideas is to purchase the materials you need. If you don’t already have them, you’ll need to purchase a calendar pocket chart or poster board, washi tape, stapler, donut magnets, tissue paper, bulletin board paper, etc. Be sure to consider funding options: Donors Choose, school’s math budget, personal budget, etc.

7. Print Resources

Print all of the resources you purchased and gather all the materials you purchased and need. Don’t forget to grab things like staplers, tape, and scissors that you need so you can complete the project uninterrupted.

8. Hang the Bulletin Board Background

The eighth on this list of classroom calendar ideas is to hang the backdrop of the calendar area. You could use bulletin board paper, a bed sheet, or a shower curtain. You’ll also want to use a border to define the space.

9. Post All of the Components from your Dream Calendar Sketch

If your calendar wall is magnetic, consider using donut magnets. One of my classroom walls was a retractable wall that allegedly has the ability to open up to the neighboring classroom to create one giant space, but has always been treated as a permanent. It’s magnetic and for a few years I had my calendar on that wall and used number cutouts with donut magnets hot glued onto the back. This made changing them each month super easy.

If your calendar wall is a cork board, consider using these handy little clips to hang the numbers on your board. They are perfect for displaying paper and because they are attached with a squishy adhesive of sorts the clips can be repositioned, removed, or reused. Attach one clip to each day.

10. Add Finishing Touches

The last idea on this list of classroom calendar ideas is to add the finishing touches. Take a step back and look at your calendar wall as a whole. Add finishing touches as needed. For example, to spruce it up I used party streamers to create ruffles around the perimeter. I actually sat with some of my students during a rainy indoor recess and they made the ruffles for me by scrunching up the streamers and stapling them at the bottom to hold the ruffle together. I then stapled them to the calendar and attached ribbon to hide the staples and give it another pop of color to match my classroom color scheme.

In closing, we hope you found these classroom calendar ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• 60+ Classroom Decor Themes for Elementary Teachers
• How to Teach Calendar Math in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Classrooms
• How to Set Up Your Whole Group Meeting Area

The post Classroom Calendar Ideas for Setting Up Your Learning Environment appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

I wanted to feature them on the blog today in case anyone was still looking for them. I love how the black matches so many classroom themes and color schemes. This means it can be used year after year even if you decide you want to change your classroom theme or color scheme. When consulting with teachers on classroom organization and classroom decor, I always recommend teachers buy black or white containers, caddies, etc. so they will not need to repurchase all of those items if they decide to do a classroom makeover in the future. Neutral colors are so versatile!

Read below to get tons of ideas about pocket charts and how to use them in your classroom!

What is a Pocket Chart?

A pocket chart is a tool elementary teachers use in many different ways for instruction and organization. They come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and styles. For example, some are designed for the purpose of holding calendar pieces and others are designed to hold schedule cards. They are often characterized by having clear pockets (although not always) and metal eyelets at the top for hanging purposes.

How to Hang a Pocket Chart

Below are 6 ways to hang a pocket chart.

1. Wire command hooks
2. Clear command hooks
3. Binder clips
4. Magnet clips
5. Scotch mounting tape
6. Pocket chart stand

8 Ways to Use Pocket Charts in Your Classroom

Below are 8 ways to use pocket charts in the classroom.

1. Calendar
2. Daily schedule
3. Lunch count
4. Attendance
5. Student mailboxes
6. Organizing supplies (e.g. white board markers)
7. Organizing tools (e.g. calculators)
8. Instruction (e.g. graphing)

Where to Buy Pocket Charts

Below are 15 places where you can buy pocket charts for your classroom

1. Amazon
2. Target
3. Michaels
4. Office Depot
5. Staples
6. Walmart
7. Really Good Stuff
8. Scholastic
9. Lakeshore Learning
10. Oriental Trading
11. Carson Dellosa
12. Dollar Tree
13. Office Supply
14. W.B. Mason
15. Wayfair

Black Anchor Chart Examples

Below are the black pocket chart items I was able to locate online. You can click on any of the affiliate links to go directly to that product and purchase it.

In closing, we hope you found these pocket chart ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Classroom Calendar Ideas for Setting Up Your Classroom
• How to Create a Visual Classroom Schedule Display
• First Day of School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers

The post Pocket Chart Ideas for Elementary Teachers (Grades 1-5) in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

How to Create a Classroom Birthday Display

Below are instructions for how to create a classroom birthday display.

1. Download the Birthday Display Resource

Download the Classroom Birthday Display from my Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers store. It includes printable title options, monthly cards, birthday photo props, as well as tons of tips and ideas for celebrating students’ birthdays. You’ll have the printable resources you need to create a birthday display you are proud of!

2. Print the Packet

Select either the color or the greyscale version of the birthday month cards and print them out along with the title and the cupcake circles. You can print the directions and teaching ideas or keep a digital copy you can reference as needed.

3. Gather Materials

You will need the following materials:

• standard-sized poster board for background
• ribbon to use as a border
• thin ribbon to hang cards onto
• hole-punch
• mini clothespins (you could use paper clips or decorative binder clips instead)
• printables from this birthday display packet

4. Prep the Printables and Assemble Your Display

Follow the steps listed below to prep the materials and assembly your classroom birthday display.

• Cut out the pieces from the birthday display packet.
• Punch a single hole in the center of each of the cupcake circles and the title card.
• Thread a piece of your thinner ribbon through the holes.
• Glue your decorative ribbon around the border of the poster board.
• Attach the cupcake/title ribbon along with three additional pieces of the thin ribbon to the board (I did this by making the ribbon longer than the board, wrapping it around the edges and taping it behind the board. I then added small dots of glue to secure it in places on the front. Use the printed.
• Cards to help align the ribbon prior to attaching.
• Hang the cards onto the ribbon.
• Write the students names onto the card with their birth dates.
• Take a group photo of all students sharing the birthday month and attach it to the card. this would look great if they were holding a printout of their birthdate.

5. Post Your Classroom Birthday Display

The last step is to pick a location in your classroom and post the birthday display in a place that both you and your students can see. Consider picking a spot that is out of the way, so that you don’t take up valuable wall real estate in your classroom.

In closing, we hope you found these classroom birthday display ideas for celebrating students’ birthdays. If you did, then you may also be interested in the resources below, as well as these blog posts:

• Back to School Read Aloud Books for Elementary Teachers
• How to Set Up Your Whole Group Meeting Area
• 5 Behavior Management Systems that Work

The post Classroom Birthday Display Ideas for Celebrating Students in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

And then the desire slowly fizzled and the demands grew and time became limited and priorities changed and now bulletin boards have become something else on the to do list. Occasionally, the creative bug will bite and I’ll whip up a masterpiece, but for the most part I try to keep it simple.

I have a lot of “interactive bulletin boards” in my classroom now. These are things like word walls, a weekly language arts focus wall, and my guided math workshop rotation board that are ongoing throughout the year. There are some boards, however, that I changed regularly. One example of this is my student work display.

To create a student work display, simply provide each student with a space on the wall that belongs to them. You could hang a background paper and label it with the child’s name. Let the student select what they want to display and allow them to put up the work they want to showcase in that spot.

If you are looking for student work display ideas for elementary teachers, then you found the right place! In this post, I’ll share my updated student display board for the new school year.

What is a Student Work Display?

A student work display is a designated space in a classroom that showcases students’ work. It is often displayed on a classroom bulletin board or wall.

Why are Student Work Displays Important?

Student work displays are important because of the following reasons:

• Student work displays gives students a sense of pride in their work.
• They motivates students to show their best work.
• By posting everyone’s work, students have the opportunity to learn from one another.
• Students feel like their work is valued when it is posted. This strengthens the learning community.
• Posting student work also shows what your students are working on to anyone who enters.

5 Tips for Creating a Student Work Display

Below are 5 tips for creating a student work display in your classroom.

1. Designate a Spot for Each Student

Provide each student with a space on the wall that belongs to them.

2. Label Each Student’s Section with Their Name and Number

At the start of the year, the display is a tool to help everyone learn the names and numbers of each student. Label each square with a student’s number before students arrive. I will soon add their names and a headshot photo of each of my new little friends.

3. Offer Students the Choice about What to Display

Let each of your students select what they want to display. Take it a step further and allow them to put up the work they want to showcase in their spot on the wall.

4. Make Changing the Work Out Quick and Easy

When deciding how you will hang students’ work, try to make it as simple as possible. This will help you to switch it out more often and limit the risk of the work being damaged. Below are some simple options to make changing the work quick and easy.

• Slip a paperclip over the back of the construction paper background. The child can slip his work under the clip.
• Attach a self-sticking plastic clip (same effect as the paper clip, but more costly)
• Mount photo corners to the background paper. This looks very cool and artsy, but has some downfalls. I found that the students are limited to the size of the work they can hang. Some students lack the fine motor skills to use the photo corners.
• Tie a line of string, twine or fishing line and provide each student with a clothespin that has his name on it to hang the work with.
• Staple a large Ziploc bag to the wall and let the students slip the work into the bag.

5. Change it Out Regularly

Students’ abilities grow so much over the year. Consider changing out students’ displayed work monthly to accurately display their current abilities. It can be fun to align it with the holidays that occur in the month. For example, October’s display could be foliage, Halloween, or pumpkin themed.

In closing, I hope you found these student work display ideas helpful! In my classroom, I had a narrow bulletin board along one wall in my classroom. I used solid color card stock alternated with black and white patterned scrapbook paper to create a checkerboard effect. I ended up overlapping the papers instead of cutting them. Truth be told it was out of laziness as I didn’t feel like cutting. However, I do like the staggered look. Next, I attached a black number cutout that I bought in a package at Dollar Tree. I printed my students names in text boxes with bold borders and stapled those on too. When school started, I take a photo of each of my students, printed them in black and white and attached them to their square with photo corners.

In my classroom, I assigned a number to each student and we used those numbers to make things more efficient in class. I used the number to label supplies, pencils, etc. The students wrote their number in the top right hand corner of all assignments which made alphabetizing them quick and easy. This saved me time recording grades and returning their work to their student mailboxes. This board also helped us learn everyone’s student number. As the year progressed, I use the space to display student writing. I often made photocopies of their writing on a reduced size setting to fit the space.

If you found this post about student work display ideas helpful, then you may also be interested in my Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers store, as well as these posts:

• Classroom Calendar Ideas for Setting Up Your Classroom
• First Day of School Read Aloud Books for Elementary Teachers
• How to Decorate the Classroom of Your Dreams

The post Student Work Display Ideas for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

5 Classroom Wall Display Ideas

Below are 5 tips and ideas for creating wall displays in your elementary classroom.

1. Cover the walls using paper or fabric.

Before covering the walls in your classroom using paper or fabric, check what fire codes your school needs to adhere to. Some towns have strict regulations about the amount of paper or fabric that can be on the wall. Personally, I think it’s a bit silly that a building filled with graph paper, construction paper, primary-ruled paper, intermediate-ruled paper, and drawing paper limits the amount of wall space that can be covered, but I digress. Once you have the information you need about the fire codes at your school, you can begin covering your walls. It’s is a great way to bring the room together and to hide any unsightly chips, yucky colored paint, and institution-feeling cinder block walls. In addition, covering wall space allows you to create displays in different areas.

I had just about finished this wall, but I felt like something was missing. My classroom has amazingly high ceilings which is great because it makes the room brighter and feel bigger than it actually is. The downside is that it feels like a lot of wasted space and often looks “barren” at the top as opposed to the rest of the room. Since it is high, I don’t want to place resources that need to be accessed by the students in that space. Those should be at their eye level. Instead, I’ll use the space for something that will stay up all year long and make the students feel special.

My plan is to snap a candid shot of each student within the first few weeks. I’ll print it in black and white onto 8.5 x 11 inch paper with their names on it. This will provide a resource for students to spell their classmates names. Plus it will look gorgeous on the black backdrop. I had done something similar for Open House a few years ago. I loved the look of the candid black and whites. Another thought is that I may have them watercolor a self-portrait. I always include that in my back-to-school plans. I may hang those in that space. Time will tell!

2. Use black borders.

The second on the list of classroom wall display ideas is to use black borders. Using black borders helps create a more uniform look in your classroom and also helps define spaces. Consider using a simple, solid, black border or mixed it up a bit by using black borders with grey/white designs.

3. Stick to a simple color scheme.

Sticking to a simple color scheme creates a classroom that appears clutter-free and visually appealing. You’ll want to pick colors that fit three criteria. First, you want to pick colors that you love. Second, you’ll want to select colors that compliment each other. Third, you’ll want to choose colors that will provide a nice background for your room. Blues and greens look great together. Yellows, reds, and oranges are another good combination. I recommend following the 60-30-10 Rule. When decorating your classroom, divide the color elements into 60 percent of your dominant color and 30 percent of your secondary color. Fill the additional 10 percent with an accent color such as black, white or brown. On a side note, I suggest buying black or white baskets, bins, and other storage solutions. This makes it so you can reuse them even if you change colors or themes next year.

4. Cover open shelving.

The fourth on the list of classroom wall display ideas is to cover open shelving. It seems like every teacher I talk to all says the same thing… Kids are less and less attentive each year.  For that reason alone, it is so important to eliminate as much distraction from learning as possible.  One way to do this is by covering any open shelving you have in your classroom.  Consider using poster boards or curtains to

5. Create lasting and purposeful wall displays.

Think of your classroom as a large tool kit for your students. In addition to creating a literacy rich environment in your classroom, you’ll want to create a numeracy-rich environment as well. When you design your wall displays, consider creating interactive bulletin boards that support student learning. Below are examples of displays that can stay up all year long and be added to throughout the school year.

• math word wall
• math rotation board
• job charts
• birthday displays
• student work walls

In closing, we hope you found these classroom wall display ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in the resources in my Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers store and these posts!

• 50+ Classroom Bulletin Board Ideas for Elementary Teachers
• How to Set Up Your Whole Group Instruction Area
• How to Use Math Word Walls to Teach Vocabulary

The post Classroom Wall Display Ideas for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

But do you know what? They in that decade+ I can’t recall ever, ever, ever seeing one of my friends (and I’ve taught Kindergarten, first, second and third grade in that time) look to these quirky little pencil friends for guidance. Instead, it was always the charts we had created together in class that were getting all the love.

Research says that kids need to “anchor their learning” by creating these charts, but I don’t always believe the latest “research.” In regards to this though, I would say it’s spot on. My friends are constantly looking to the visuals we have made together as a reference. They look up from where they’re sitting. They get out of their seats to get closer looks. They ask about charts that have been retired when they need some info. Clearly these were effective. The pretty charts, posters, diagrams, etc that I had spent a small fortune on over the years at the teacher stores… not so much. And while I’ve slowly been phasing out all of those packaged resources over time, I made a very conscious decision this year to actually banish them from my classroom. Instead, I am using anchor charts. Below I share tons of anchor chart ideas and tips!

What are Anchor Charts?

An anchor chart is an interactive tool created by teachers with the support and contributions of students in the classroom. The teacher creates a visual (usually on chart paper or on the computer) that represents the important knowledge, strategy, or process of a skill from that day’s lesson. When creating it, the teacher makes his or her thinking visible by writing down and verbalizing his or her thoughts. During the creation process and afterwards, both teachers and students can add to it. It is a working document, so new learning, discoveries, and interesting ideas can be added to it.

As the name implies, it “anchors” the learning for students, which means it is something that students can refer back to throughout the learning time as needed. The visual can come in a variety of different forms, but they fall under two main categories: handwritten and digital. Either way, the anchor chart has a single focus and is posted in a way that students can access it with ease. By posting it, students will be reminded of their learning, which will support them in making critical connections between prior learning and new learning. You can have more than one anchor chart posted at a time, but the ones posted should reflect what students are currently learning and need continued support and scaffolding with. Some anchor charts may stay up all year like ones that outline routines and expectations, while others might only be up for a couple of weeks.

Why are Anchor Charts Important?

Anchor charts are an essential tool in classrooms for many reasons. Here are the top ten reasons why.

Anchor charts…

• are a reference tool that students can refer back to as needed.
• support independent work.
• encourage students to make connections between prior learning and new learning.
• allow anyone who comes in your room (students, parents, administrators) to know what you are teaching.
• contribute to a literacy-rich classroom that promotes reading, writing, spelling, and more.
• make complex concepts more manageable.
• serve as gentle reminders regarding expectations and procedures.
• engage students in learning by inviting them to have a voice in the learning process.
• allow a teacher to model appropriate sizing and spacing of letters and numbers.
• are working documents that display growth within the classroom and can be used as a formative assessment.

Types of Anchor Charts: Handwritten vs Digital Charts

Anchor charts can come in a variety of different forms, but they fall under two categories: handwritten and digital.

Handwritten Anchor Charts

Below are the pros and cons of using handwritten anchor charts.

Pros of Using Handwritten Anchor Charts

• You are modeling letter formation and appropriate spacing.

Cons of Using Handwritten Anchor Charts

• It takes longer to handwrite something than it does to type it for most people. This results in the students sitting on the rug longer, which can lead to student misbehavior.
• It can be difficult to store the large chart paper in the classroom.
• It is difficult to make changes because you are writing with a marker.

Digital Anchor Charts

Below are the pros and cons of using digital anchor charts.

Pros of Using Digital Anchor Charts

• It is much faster typing than it is handwriting something for most people.  This can reduce the amount of time on the rug, which ultimately decreases student misbehavior.
• You can save it on your computer and pull it up whenever you need it.
• You can edit it and add to it easily.
• Learners are more engaged in learning when technology is used.

Cons of Using Digital Anchor Charts

• You are not modeling letter formation or appropriate spacing like you would be when handwriting the anchor chart.

10+ Tips for Creating Anchor Charts

Below are tips and ideas for creating an anchor chart.

How to Create Handwritten Anchor Charts

When you are creating a handwritten anchor chart, remember these tips:

• Prepare the framework ahead of time (e.g. title, learning objective, and headers).
• Use colors with dark tones for ease of use.
• Write in a way that models appropriate sizing and spacing.
• Use correct spelling.
• Use simple pictures to increase accessibility.
• Organize it to support student understanding.
• Position your body so you can face the students as much as you can.

How to Create Digital Anchor Charts

When you are creating a digital anchor chart, remember these tips:

• Project it on a big open space.
• Save the document so you can pull it back up again.
• Use large font that is clear.
• Print a copy and post it in the classroom.

How to Display Anchor Charts

There are so many ways you can display anchor charts! You’ll find tons of anchor chart ideas related to displaying them on Pinterest, but here are some simple ideas. If you use chart paper, you can utilize command hooks, clothespins hot glued to the walls, pocket charts, or an easel.  If you use the computer, you can project them using a projector or print it off. After you print it off, you can post it on the wall with tape or put it in a binder for students to access.  Whatever the format, it’s helpful to create a system at the beginning of the year where you can switch out anchor charts with ease.

3 Ideas for How to Store Anchor Charts

It can be difficult to find a space in your classroom to store anchor charts on chart paper. Below are 3 tips for how to store anchor charts in your elementary classroom.

1. Roll it up, put a rubber band around it, and then put it in a tall decorated cardboard box or metal basket.
2. Attach the anchor charts to two metal clips, attach the metal clips to two metal rings, and then hang the two metal rings on two command hooks.
3. Use a pants hanger to hold the anchor chart and then hang the hanger in a closet or clothing rock on wheels.

3 Common Challenges with Anchor Charts (and Solutions)

Below are 3 reasons teachers don’t like anchor charts and strategies you can use to overcome them.

1. They Make the Classroom Look Messy

I am very particular about the look of my classroom and I thought my handmade charts looked “messy.” I overcame this by doing a few things.

First, I plan out the “bones” on my charts when I am writing my lesson plans. While the bulk of the content is generated by the students, the framework for the chart is mine. I find that having a plan is helpful.

Second, I treat it as a draft. If the chart is going on the wall, I use the opportunity to model the steps of the writing process. I am always teaching my students that our published work needs to be our best quality. This is no different. If I make a chart with the students that I don’t feel is of “display quality,” I explain that it is a draft. We write the words “Rough Draft” onto the chart. I have them analyze it with me to discuss how it could improve (e.g. more color, neater handwriting, and more visuals), make note of their suggestions, and then create an improved version after school.

Prior to hanging it up, I put the two side by side and encourage student discussion about why the new chart is ready to be “published.” I have found that this has helped so much with teaching them about editing and the importance of putting forth your best work efforts. I always let a student take home the original and often try to pick a student who will most benefit from it’s content.

Third, I add additional elements to my charts. I am NOT an artistic person. I am creative, but I am not artistic. They are clearly not one in the same. That’s where I cheat a bit. I may add in photographs or glue on clipart. I use fun fonts as a guide when printing my letters. I add borders using ribbon or tape. Or I’ve also been known to farm out the final copy to much more artistic colleagues.

2. There’s No Where to Hang Them

I love making anchor charts with my students and while I find that they reference them all the time, I don’t always know where to put them. Because real estate is at a premium in any classroom and spots are often already spoken for, I found that the charts frequently ended up getting hung wherever there was space available at the time they were made.

This was problematic for a couple of reasons:

• It made the room feel messy and unplanned {which is a big no-no}.
• The students didn’t always know where to look to find what they knew existed.
• There wasn’t a rhyme or reason to where they were placed. It was possible to have a science chart taped up on the back of a door and a weekly word sort hanging out under the math workshop board.

I solved that problem for the for the coming school year, by adding designated anchor chart display areas within my classroom.

Here’s the part that I’m tooting my own horn and high-fiving myself about. In each of the designated anchor chart spaces I hot glued a pinch-style clothespin to the background fabric. That way all I need to do is pop the charts right into them. If I want to pull it down to reference during a small group or move it closer to a group working on a related task it will be super easy, And because you know I am all about the small details that make things extra special, I added a small strip of scrapbook paper that coordinates with my classroom decor. Because I may not always have something to display and didn’t want gaping holes in random spots, I strived to create a space that looked purposeful.

• I hung fabric and a border.
• I sectioned off space for the chart paper.
• And then I added more border (in the form of ribbons) to further define the space and leave it looking like something belonged there.

3. Storage Space is Already Limited

It’s not possible to leave them all up all year so I was at a loss for what to do with that information that they would still need at a later date. In response, I came up with some ideas. I plan to take a picture of each and every chart. I am going to use those pictures in a few ways. First, I’ll use a binder to create a “photo album” of our charts. My plan is to use tabbed sections for each subject. Second, I may reduce them in size to fit several on a page and make a photocopy for each students’ notebook as we begin building up a collection. Third, I will build an ongoing Powerpoint presentation that the kids can access on the classroom computers and that I can use to project the charts onto the smart board for future reference.

In closing, we hope you found these anchor chart ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Student Work Wall Display Ideas for Elementary Teachers
• How to Set Up a Writing Center in Your Classroom
• Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers

The post Anchor Chart Ideas: How to Create, Display and Store Them in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

Having clock labels in your classroom not only prevents students from interrupting learning time to ask what time it is, but also serves as a math tool that supports students who struggle with telling time or calculating elapsed time. Most clocks are digital now, so most students will not enter your classroom with a ton of prior knowledge about how to use analog clocks. Their experience with time is typically limited to digital clocks. Read below to learn all about using clock labels for the classroom!

What are Clock Labels?

Clock labels, also known as telling time helpers, are a tool that you put around the analog clock in your classroom. Elementary teachers use them to support student learning and help create a numeracy-rich environment.

Why Do Teachers Need Clock Labels?

Some of the reasons why clock labels are an essential tool for every elementary classroom are listed below. Clock labels…

• empower students to become more independent learners. For example, if you use a bathroom sign-out routine for students as one of your classroom management strategies, students will practice telling time using this tool regularly and independently.
• serve as a reference tool for students as they continue to practice telling time.
• can be used as an instructional tool to teach students how to tell time. Better yet, you can differentiate it based on your grade level and students’ needs by putting up as many pieces as you feel are appropriate.
• provide a visual for students who are visual learners.
• offer students an additional way to learn how to tell time.
• are compatible with any classroom decor because you can print on any color or patterned paper you choose to match your room.
• reduce interruptions during class time.
• are versatile in that they can be used as a whole group lesson, small group center, or craftivity by having them make their own clocks.

How to Implement Clock Labels in Your Classroom

This classroom clock labels resource is a tool to help students learn time. It is a set of numbers (e.g. :00, :05, :10). They were created to be placed around the classroom clock. Another way they can be used it to have students put them around a paper plate or piece of round construction paper to create a clock. This option is great if you want each student to have his or her own clock. Learn how to implement these clock labels below!

1. Download the Printable Clock Labels

Download these printable clock labels from the Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers store. A version of them is also included in all of our 60+ classroom themes.

2. Print the Set of Clock Labels on Card Stock

Print the clock labels set on card stock, so that they are durable and less likely to bend. This is a tool you will want to pull out year after year.

3. Cut the Labels Out

Use scissors to cut the labels out. I recommend cutting around the outside of the outer black line.

4. Laminate the Labels

Laminating the labels will help improve durability, so you can continue to use the labels year after year.

5. Mount the Labels on Colorful or Themed Paper

Create a customized look by mounting the labels on colorful or themed paper so it matches your classroom theme or classroom color scheme to create a cohesive learning environment.

6. Stick them Around Your Classroom Analog Clock

Adhere the labels to the area around your classroom clock by taping or hot gluing them.

7. Introduce Them

Do a mini-lesson during your daily guided math workshop on how to use them and give students opportunities to practice using them.

8. Reference Them Throughout the School Year

Reference the clock labels often, especially when teaching a unit on time.

In closing, we hope you found these clock labels for classroom use helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• How to Set Up Your Whole Group Instruction Area
• How to Create a Numeracy Rich Environment
• Visual Classroom Schedule Ideas for Elementary Teachers

The post Clock Labels for Classroom Use to Help Students Learn to Tell Time appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.