A pocket chart is a specific type of storage system with plastic pockets that many teachers use in their classrooms for organization and lesson planning. Usually made of vinyl, a pocket chart has metal eyelets at the top for easy hanging and plastic pockets sewn on the front. Pocket charts vary in size, color, and style and can serve many different purposes.
In the classroom, the possible uses for a pocket chart are nearly endless. Teachers can place pieces of paper or cardstock into the individual pockets, creating anything from attendance and behavior charts to a lesson plan for spelling, reading, or writing. A pocket chart with very large pockets can be used to hold student’s folders or schoolwork, while charts with smaller pockets could be used to create calendars or used to hold monthly curriculum themes for various classroom centers. Teachers can also insert prompts for journaling and foreign language lessons.
Since pocket charts are available in a variety of sizes and are reasonably priced, they make an ideal organizational and display tool. Though most are square or rectangular in shape, some pocket charts come in fun shapes like apples. They can be used interactively in the classroom when combined with specially designed flashcards made for teaching numbers, letters, sequencing, and more.
Pocket charts serve a wide variety of purposes in the classroom, but they can be used at home for some of the same purposes. Parents can organize children’s schoolwork, keep school supplies handy, and store reference books and supplemental workbooks all in one place. When using a pocket chart at home, be sure to place it at a level where children can easily reach it. A pocket chart can also be a useful organizational tool for the office.
Pocket charts are available at specialty stores selling school supplies and in the school supply section of some mass merchandise retailers as well as online. Most charts are designed for hanging from the wall, but some smaller pocket charts are made to be freestanding for use on a table or desktop. They typically range in price from $10.00 to $50.00 US Dollars (USD) depending on size.