Anchor Chart Linky Party

Ms. M's Blog is having an Anchor Chart Linky Party! I started stalking some of the blogs that joined the party and I found some great ideas.  Sara at Smiling in Second Grade has a great chart to remind her students the proper form for writing a letter (her class writes a letter to their parents every friday... I have to remember this idea for the future!).

I made an anchor chart when I was teaching Grade 2 last year to enforce quality work in the classroom.  I related work quality to cupcakes and this is what I created...

There are 4 Levels of work:
1. Baking Apprentice - this baker only makes plain cupcakes. They rush their work and could have spent more time adding icing, sprinkles.. etc.
2. Sous Baker - this baker started to add some details to their work, but did not complete their work to the best of their ability.
3. Head Baker - this baker makes their work stand out and puts pride in their work.  They are still missing some pieces, but they still have a beautiful cupcake.
4. Executive Baker - this baker takes time with their work and produces quality cupcakes.

I explain these 4 levels and we relate each baker to our own work.

After that discussion I sell the class on the idea by asking them which baker they would like a cupcake from.  I hear a lot of cheers for the executive baker!  I then keep this as an anchor chart in the room and when a student comes to me asking if their work is complete I send them to this chart.  It is a good reminder to add the extra juicy details to their story, create a picture with their writing, check for equal signs in their math... etc.

I stayed away from showing exemplars of other students work as "Executive Baker" or "Baking Apprentice" because I feel that each student has their own "baking" potential.  I didn't want to discourage or limit their individual abilities.  I found that as a class they were able to easily relate to the cupcake concept. I really noticed improvements in students that had previously rushed their work started to slow down and take pride in their work. 

If you have a great anchor that you use in your classroom I would love to hear about it!