What are Word Walls?
A Word Wall is a systematically organized collection of words displayed in large letters on a wall or other display area in the classroom. Word Walls are not just decor for the classroom. It is a tool to use, not just display. Word Walls are designed to promote learning and are shared by a classroom of children.
A Word Wall is a systematically organized collection of words displayed in large letters on a wall or other display area in the classroom. Word Walls are not just decor for the classroom. It is a tool to use, not just display. Word Walls are designed to promote learning and are shared by a classroom of children.
Why Word Walls?
Word Walls serve as permanent records of student's language learning.
Word Walls provide ongoing support for varied language learners.
Word Walls enhance learning through practical use.
Using references is a real world strategy.
Building and Using Word Walls is easily integrated into daily literacy activities.
What are the goals of Word Wall?
To support the teaching of important general principals about words and how they work.
To foster reading and writing.
To promote independence on the part of young students as they work with words in writing and reading.
To provide a visual map to help children remember connections between words and the characteristics that will help them form categories.
To develop a growing core of words that become part of a reading and writing vocabulary.
To provide reference for children during their reading and writing.
What are the guidelines for making a Word Wall?
· Add words gradually. (approximately 5 a week)
· Make words very accessible by putting them where every student can see them, writing them in large black letters and using a variety of background colors (so the most often confused words such as three, their, what, when are different colors.)
· Be selective about what words go on the wall, limiting additions to really common words which children us a lot in writing.
· Use the word wall daily to practice words incorporating a variety of activities. such as: chanting, tracing, word guessing games as well as writing them.
· Provide enough practice so that words are read and spelled automatically and make sure that word walls are always spelled correctly in the children's daily writing.
