Do you have some PDF resources that would make fantastic anchor charts? Have you ever wished you could print anchor charts in a much bigger size?But, you’ve never actually made them into charts – because that would require some serious art skills (and time!!)

 Well, did you know that it's possible (and super quick!) to print your digital PDFs – poster-sized? 

I’m telling you – it’s a game-changer! 

In this post, I’ve got the step-by-step printing instructions, along with examples of some of my favorite ELA and math anchor charts, as well as descriptions of how I use them in my classroom. 

Poster Size Printing Instructions

Here are your step-by-step directions on how to print a PDF file and make it poster size in the printer settings.  

No Cutting/ No Assembly Printing

Step 1 – On your computer, open the PDF file you want to print. 

Step 2 – Select “Print” to open the print dialogue window. 

Step 3 – Under “Paper Size” select “Manage Custom Sizes”.

Step 4 – Enter the dimensions for your largest-sized paper. For most copy machines, this is 11.0in X 17.0in. 

Step 5 – Adjust the margin size based on how much white space you’d like to have around the outside of the image. 

Step 6 – Print!

For an Even Larger Poster (with a tiny bit of assembly)

Follow steps 1-3 above

Step 4 – Enter the dimensions for any size – as large as you'd like!

Step 5 – Cut and glue the printed pages together to make a poster custom made to your preferred size

Using Your Printer at Home

My Favorite Poster-Sized Anchor Charts for ELA and Math

Here are samples of some of my favorite poster-size anchor charts that started as PDFs. 

Each of these posters can be found inside the Lucky Little Toolkit, our comprehensive pack of 60+ ELA and math resources. The kit includes all kinds of handy tools your 1st or 2nd grade students will need to be able to access math and literacy tools independently – in the classroom or at home. And these same tools can be printed out for use as poster-sized anchor charts in your classroom!

ELA Posters

1. Comprehension Strategies Anchor Charts

I use these charts to introduce comprehension strategies to my students. I display these on the wall right next to the spot where we gather as a class for read alouds. This way, we can refer to the chart as we discuss the book we are reading – a great way to authentically practice comprehension skills! Then, when kids are reading with a partner, they refer to the thinking stems to ask each other questions to check for understanding!

2. Reading Question Anchor Charts

I find that students are so much more successful with the skill of retelling stories when they have a chart with prompts to guide them. I often have my students visit the “retelling” station, where they read short stories, then use a “pointer” to help walk through retelling the essential story details. Anchor charts to help with teaching text evidence.

3. Sentence Writing Anchor Charts

I like to give students the chance to self-evaluate when the opportunity presents itself. One way this is done is by asking students to check their writing against our complete sentences anchor chart. Also, when they try to turn something in with obvious mistakes, I challenge them to figure out which of the five things needs fixing before I’ll accept it. Works like a charm!

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Math Posters

1. Addition Strategies Anchor Chart

As I teach different math strategies explicitly, we add them to our master anchor chart. So, when students are practicing math problems independently, all they have to do is refer to the chart to remind them of all the different strategies they can use when they get stuck! 

This works really well for number talks too… All I have to ask is, “Who can share another way to solve this problem?” Kids know exactly what they can demonstrate just by referring to the different strategy options on our chart!

2. Coin Identification Anchor Chart

Recognizing coins can be so tricky! But, with an easy and poster-sized reference tool on the wall of the classroom, students learn the differences in no time. 

I have also cut these posters into fourths and used each section as labels for items in my classroom store. Students earn play money for top-notch citizenship and effort, then “buy” items a couple of times each month when I open the store. This gives them authentic practice with money and serves as a huge motivator for first-class behavior!

3. Rounding Rules Anchor Chart

I refer to our rounding rules chart so often we all have the cute little chants memorized! When students are solving problems in which rounding is required, we review the rules as a class using this chart. 

Also, I find that my struggling math learners do so much better when they have a visual guide to walk them through multi-step strategies like rounding. 

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Anchor charts make such a big difference when students are learning and practicing new concepts. And the good news is that you don’t have to be a gifted artist to create beautiful poster-sized charts for your classroom! 

The Lucky Little Toolkit has everything you need – and with a few adjustments to the printer settings, you’ll have all the charts you need – in minutes!