Anchored Learning

I was first very perplexed about finding a website that demonstrates Anchored Learning. After I read the article, I realized that it did not provide a distinct example of how to use Anchored learning in the English classroom. Since that is my field, I sought to find something that resembled this form of instruction. I found a site that I use all the time but never noticed an interactive portion for children. The web site's address is: http://www.literacymatters.org/teachers/compare2.htm# There are a number of things about this site that I think makes it exemplary demonstration of Anchored Instruction. One of the first things that I like about the site is its use of animation as the instructors. There are 3 characters and one of them is having a hard time deciding what to do over the summer. His other 2 friends have already decided what they will be doing and provide him with information regarding their jobs. I like that the site first poses a problem for the students to deal with and they have to think of a way to solve it. While the site is interactive, I think it has a limit to how much so. The skill that the students are to learn is how to compare and contrast in order to help the confused character make a decision. There is a condition-action pair is established for students to realize that if a decision has to be made, one strategy is to compare and contrast to see which one you prefer. It shows students how to use a grid to organize information and this is a useful tool that can be used in many subject areas. Students take part in completing the grid after one example has been given. The site is interesting and the colors are bright and child-friendly. Because students want to help the character make a decision, they will view the explanation of using a grid to compare/contrast as useful, relevant information. By seeing the information as relevant, the knowledge should not remain inert.