Educators seeking free instructional materials often turn to online platforms that offer downloadable resources to support classroom teaching. Among the most popular tools are instructional writing anchor charts, which help students understand and apply the structure and conventions of procedural or instructional writing. These charts serve as visual aids that can be used during lessons, displayed in classrooms, or provided to students for personal reference. Based on the available information, several free resources are accessible through educational websites and marketplaces, offering teachers ready-to-use materials without cost.
Available Free Resources
Multiple free instructional writing anchor charts are available through educational resource platforms. These resources are typically designed by teachers for teachers and are distributed through sites such as Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) and individual educator blogs. The materials vary in scope, from single-page anchor charts to multi-component writing guides.
Instructional and Procedural Writing Charts
One freebie provides a focused resource for instructional or procedural writing. It includes an overview anchor chart and a specific "how to write instructions" guide. The material also accommodates different terminology by including the word "procedural" for educators who use that term instead of "instructions." This resource is intended for use as a classroom anchor chart, a learning support tool, or a smaller writing chart for individual students.
Descriptive Language and Writing Process Charts
Another free offering includes anchor charts for descriptive language. This resource provides two different charts available in color, printer-friendly black and white, and editable formats. One chart explains descriptive language by showing examples and non-examples. This material is part of a larger lesson on descriptive language and is meant to help kickstart instruction on the topic.
A separate freebie focuses on the writing process. The printables can be used as an anchor chart or clip chart in the classroom to teach the stages of writing. The resource is designed to support instruction on the complete writing cycle.
Opinion and Informational Writing Supports
For opinion writing, a free set of anchor chart labels is available. This resource includes a surprise bonus and is designed to help students understand the components of opinion writing. Another free resource offers a complete paragraph student anchor chart and checklist, specifically created to support emergent learners and students who need help with open-ended writing tasks.
Informational writing is also covered through free anchor charts. One such resource is a must-have for classrooms, featuring five easy-to-understand writing hooks (leads) for nonfiction introductions. It is a printable PDF that can be printed as a poster for classroom display or in mini-size for students' personal reference. Another informational writing anchor chart helps teach the components of an informative writing piece and can be used for teaching, review, and posting on a classroom writing wall. A third-grade informational writing lesson includes an expository essay anchor chart, a graphic organizer for brainstorming, and a lesson plan.
Sentence Structure and Transition Words
Additional free materials support foundational writing skills. A resource designed for K-1 students includes anchor charts and writing checklists for teaching how to write complete sentences. These come in color and black and white formats, with the color versions intended for lamination and use in writing centers.
Transition words are the focus of another free chart, which categorizes transition words for students to use in their writing. This resource includes both color and black and white versions and is suitable for personal student folders, interactive notebooks, or digital classrooms like Google Classroom, with the stipulation that it not be placed on public websites.
Interactive and Student-Focused Charts
A distinct category of free resources involves interactive anchor charts. These are designed to be created in front of students, making the learning process engaging and accountable. The concept addresses the challenge of creating charts in real-time during a lesson and the desire for professional-looking materials. Interactive anchor charts are described as quick, engaging, and useful for formative assessment. Some educators offer these as freebies, often requiring an email sign-up to receive the chart directly via email.
Accessing and Using the Resources
The free instructional writing anchor charts are primarily distributed through the Teachers Pay Teachers platform. Users can browse the "free" section and use search terms such as "instructional writing," "descriptive writing," "opinion writing," "informational writing," and "writing process" to find relevant materials. Some resources are also available directly from educator blogs or websites.
These materials are typically delivered as digital files, such as PDFs, which teachers can download, print, and use as needed. The licensing for most freebies allows for classroom use, but users should be aware of any specific terms of use provided by the creator, especially regarding digital distribution.
Conclusion
The internet provides a wealth of free instructional writing anchor charts for educators. These resources, offered through platforms like Teachers Pay Teachers and individual teacher blogs, cover a wide range of writing topics, including instructional, descriptive, opinion, and informational writing, as well as foundational skills like sentence structure and transition words. Many of these freebies are designed for flexibility, allowing use as full-class charts, small-group supports, or individual student references. By leveraging these free materials, teachers can enhance their writing instruction without incurring additional costs.