Addition and Subtraction Anchor Chart Alternative
Anchor charts can be a very helpful resource for math instruction and practice in kindergarten. Young students greatly benefit from having a visual reminder of what they have been learning. However, anchor charts can have a few drawbacks, which is why I’m sharing this Addition and Subtraction Anchor Chart Alternative.
The Drawbacks of Anchor Charts
I think kindergarten teachers everywhere can agree that anchor charts can be very useful, especially when the class works together to create the resource. Students are more likely to recall things they have learned when they have a visual reminder of the classroom discussion.
Even though anchor charts can be very helpful for students, they have some limitations:
- Take Up Wall Space: Anchor charts can take up a good amount of classroom real estate!
- Difficult to Move: It can be challenging for students to reference the anchor chart they need from different points in the classroom, but it’s not feasible to move the chart around to individual students as they need the information.
- Create Visual Distractions: For many students, an abundance of classroom anchor charts can become a visual distraction.
That is why I created a simple alternative to addition and subtraction anchor charts!
An Alternative to Addition and Subtraction Anchor Charts
If you’re looking for a way to support your students with addition and subtraction visuals without filling up your walls with anchor charts, I have the perfect solution!
I have put together a set of addition and subtraction strategy posters that you can use to remind students of the many strategies they are learning throughout the year. These math posters are a great alternative to anchor charts because they can be used in many more ways than just a static wall display.
1. Create a Relevant and Up-to-Date Classroom Display
One thing I love about using these math strategy posters for a classroom display is that you can switch them out to be more relevant for students. As your class learns new strategies and moves on from others, you can add or swap out some of the posters to reflect what students are currently using. This keeps the display more relevant for your class, which means they will be more likely to turn to it when they need those reminders.
2. Customize Small Group Instruction
One of the reasons it’s important to teach students a wide variety of addition and subtraction strategies is that you never know which strategies will click for each kindergartener! As you discover which math strategies make the most sense to your students, you can customize your small group instruction and practice to best support your small groups!
You can keep a set of these math strategy posters at your small group table and pull out the most effective math strategies for each group to reference. When you have them available at the table, you don’t have to pull your group’s attention away to point at an anchor chart across the room.
3. Increase Independence at Centers Time
These math posters are also a great tool for increasing student independence at centers time or during morning work. For example, if you are using task cards that practice a specific math strategy, you can display the corresponding strategy poster at the table for students to reference. This provides a model that will help them understand what to do at that center. This is an easy way to help students be more independent during math stations in your classroom.
It’s helpful to have the poster displayed vertically instead of placing it flat on the table. You could attach it to a mini white board that’s propped up at the table, or clip it to the bucket of supplies for that center. When it’s displayed in some way, students are more likely to reference it as a reminder of what to do at the station.
4. Provide Visuals for Individual Students
Another thing that I love about these math strategy posters is that you can adjust the printing size for different uses throughout the classroom! You can print them at a smaller size and then put them on binder rings for students to reference at their desks.
As you discover which strategies work best for your students, you can help them create their own set of math strategies. When they are working on their addition and subtraction work, it will be much easier for them to find a useful math strategy from their customized set than it would be from an anchor chart that’s full of strategies that haven’t yet clicked for the student.
5. Encourage Math Practice at Home
Finally, you can use these printable math posters to encourage students to practice addition and subtraction strategies at home. Students can either have a set of math strategy cards to keep at home, or you can print them onto pages to keep in their take-home folder.
You can adjust the size and number per page to create a reference sheet for families in either English or Spanish. It’s helpful for parents to see the different math strategies that are being taught in the classroom so they can support their children at home.
Printable Math Strategy Posters
Would you like to swap out your addition and subtraction strategy anchor charts for these multi-use posters? I have put together a set of Addition and Subtraction Strategy Posters that you can print and use in multiple ways! This set includes 36 full-page posters with both black and white or color options. This easy-to-download resource also comes with printing instructions so you can create the smaller task cards for different uses in your daily learning routine.
If you’d like to take a closer look at everything included in this resource, including the strategies featured on the posters, just click below to find it in my shop.
Math Strategies Posters Addition and Subtraction Strategies
Save This Addition and Subtraction Anchor Chart Alternative
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