An anchoring activity is an ongoing assignment or task that students can work on independently when they finish other assignments early or are waiting for teacher assistance. The purpose is to provide meaningful work that ties to the content being studied. Anchoring activities can be used across subjects and include options like creating bulletin boards, doing math puzzles, writing stories, or reading silently. They work best when student expectations are clear, tasks are practiced beforehand, and students are accountable for their work. Benefits include maximizing instructional time and differentiating for student needs.

1. Anchoring
Activities

2. One premise in a differentiated
classroom:
“ In this class we
are never
finished---
Learning is a
process that
never ends.”

3. What Is An Anchoring
Activity?
When?
1. Students have finished an assignment or
project
2. Students first enter class
3. Students are ‘stumped’ and waiting for the
teacher’s help
• Ongoing assignments that students can work on
independently throughout a unit, a grading
period, or longer.

4. Purpose?
• Provide meaningful work for students when they finish an
assignment or project, when they first enter the class or
when they are “stumped”.
• Provide ongoing tasks that tie to the content and
instruction.
• Free up the classroom teacher to work with other groups of
students or individuals.

5. ANCHOR ACTIVITIES
Can be:
• used in any subject
• whole class assignments
• small group or individual assignments
• tiered to meet the needs of different readiness levels
• Interdisciplinary for use across content areas or teams

6. Anchoring
Examples
• Create Bulletin Board
about current topic
• MAP Practice Packets
• Learning Centers
• Magazine Articles
• Math Puzzles/Games
• Research Projects
• Commercial Kits
• Centers
• Write a skit or talk show
about a current topic.
• Learning Logs
• Journal Entries
• Activity Box
• Silent Reading
• Create a storyboard for a
commercial
• Etc…..

7. Work Best When:
Student expectations are clear.
Tasks are taught/practiced
before use.
Students are accountable for
on-task behavior and/or task
completion.

8. Characteristics
Instructional clarity
Based on performance indicators
Curriculum-based
Differentiated to meet the needs
of each student
Engaging

9. Benefits of Anchoring
Activities
 Maximizes instructional time
 Facilitates Differentiation
 Tailors activities to student needs
 Connects to future learning
 Creates tone of “Student as
worker”

10. Using Anchor Activities to
Create Groups
Teach the whole class to work independently and
quietly on the anchor activity.
Half the class works
on anchor activity.
Other half works on
a different activity.
Flip-Flop
1/3 works on
anchor activity.
1/3 works on a
different activity.
1/3 works with
teacher---direct
instruction.
1
2
3

11. Planning for Anchor Activities
Subject/Content Area:
Name and description of anchor activity:
How will activity be introduced to students?
- Points - What does the activity demonstrate?
- Rubric - Portfolio Check
- Checklist - Teacher/Student Conference
- Random Check - Peer Review
- On Task Behaviors - Other _______________
How will the activity be managed and monitored?

12. Planning for Anchoring Activities
Subject/Content Area: ___________________
Name and description of anchor activity:
What is the rationale for using specific content?
How will students be grouped?
How will activity & process be introduced to students?
How will the activity be managed and monitored?
How will student work be graded?

13. What are the benefits
of using
an anchoring activity?
Brainstorm good times to use
anchoring activities. Think about
transition times.
What might be the
concerns / problems
in using an anchoring
activity?
Brainstorm how you will overcome
the
concerns/ problems
in using
anchoring activities..