An anchor chart is a reference poster that captures key thinking from a lesson so students can use it on their own; it is a learning tool, not decoration. Use this checklist as you plan, build, and review your charts. It walks you through purpose and clarity, accurate and grade-level content, building the chart with students so they take ownership, and design that is easy to read and access, which matters especially in ASL/English bilingual classrooms. It also prompts you to keep charts current and useful, and to ask whether students can use them without your prompting.
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A walkthrough checklist administrators use during class visits to see whether professional learning is showing up in teaching and improving student outcomes.
A short walkthrough tool administrators use during 5 to 10 minute classroom visits to note how anchor charts, student-built reference posters, are made and used.
A one-page chart staff use to tell languages apart from the teaching approaches built around them, so ASL, English, and instructional methods are not confused with one another.