Pocket Charts

Keep your classes organized and make lessons easier for students with a variety of pocket charts. These handy school supplies store things like teaching aids and schedule reminders. You can also use them at home to teach kids with educational games and in the office to organize your work day. Staples carries a wide selection of office supplies including these multipurpose displays in different sizes and colors and from multiple brands.

Choose From Different Types of Pocket Charts
While they are mostly for teaching children in classrooms and home school settings, pocket displays come in different forms and for varying purposes. Teachers and parents commonly use them to teach arithmetic, the alphabet and sentence formation but you can also use them to educate kids about nutrition, motivate them and take class attendance. A long slender chart is ideal for setting out daily class schedules and demonstrating simple math operations but you need one with wide pockets to teach languages or display poems. Most pocket displays hang on walls while a few have built-in standards for a free-standing solution. Tabletop models are small and useful for giving personal lessons.

Key Features to Consider When Shopping for Classroom Charts
Look for a pocket chart made of heavy-duty nylon and/or vinyl. Nylon and vinyl are washable, tear-resistant and able to withstand repeated use and the rigors of a classroom. The chart should have a durable construction and use fire-retardant materials. If you want to hang it on a wall, make sure it has sturdy grommets.

Choose a model that is the right size for the intended application and note the number of pockets available. If you need a display chart to mark attendance or assignment submissions, make sure it has enough pockets for your class size. These displays usually have stitched-on transparent pockets that hold teaching aids like task cards, card stock, and sentence strips. You do not need transparent pockets for a chart intended for storing folders. File organizer charts usually have fabric pockets and hold letter-size folders.

How Do You Prevent a Hanging Pocket Chart from Sagging?
Reasonably heavy display items can pull down a chart and cause it to sag in the middle. If you plan on filling yours with weighty teaching aids, make sure it has reinforced grommets and plastic dowel rods stitched into its pockets. These support the nylon and vinyl materials used for the chart.

Do You Need a Chart With a Magnetic Strip?
Some pocket charts have magnetic strips on their backs. These serve as alternatives to grommets since you can hang such displays on magnetic surfaces. Get one if you have a dry erase board or whiteboard in your classroom. Parents can also choose models with magnetic strips to hang on the fridge at home.

What Are the Benefits of Pocket Chart Stands?
A pocket chart stand is an optional accessory for hanging a chart by its grommets. It serves as an alternative method of displaying a pocket chart if you prefer not to mount it on a wall or want to set up your chart in the middle of a room. You can also hang two charts on stands like this and quickly switch between two lessons. This hanger usually has four wheels for easy mobility.