What Is a Word Wall? Get the Definition Plus Dozens of Teaching Ideas

Do you dream of a learning resource that makes your classroom expect more bookish, inviting, and kid friendly, even as it helps students become more independent? A give-and-take wall could be just what you're looking for!

[📷: Top image by missmskindergarten on Instagram.]

What is a word wall?

A discussion wall is only that—a wall dedicated to displaying high frequency words (these could be sight words or words that are used a lot in your course) that are of import for your students to know and apply. In early uncomplicated classrooms, these are words that children are learning to read and write. In upper grade classrooms, these can be words related to concepts and topics that students are learning virtually. You could have a discussion wall nigh math that incorporates math definitions and symbols. Or, a science wall that, over the course of a unit, gets filled with biomes and animals that live in each. Y'all'll know you have a successful word wall when students employ information technology daily to find just the right word when they're reading or writing.

Why employ a discussion wall?

Word walls are a staple of early elementary classrooms. They're important for young readers because they:

• Provide a place to post high frequency words that accept already been taught. Students tin can use the words equally a reference during reading and writing, making them more independent while educational activity them how to employ a reference tool;
• Help students see patterns and differences in words. Having the words the, they, their, and there together on the wall helps students recognize the similarities and differences between each give-and-take; and
• Brand words concrete for young learners as they find words on the word wall using their finger or a arrow.

Give-and-take walls can help upper simple, centre, and high schoolhouse students as well by:

• Reinforcing the spelling of important terms across a unit or of often misspelled words;
• Housing words that you want students to apply more in their writing or discussion; and
• Expanding student vocabulary by helping students see how words connect, as in a word wall that displays lists of synonyms.

How do I brand a good discussion wall?

Having a word wall is about more than printing Dolch words or a vocabulary list and posting information technology on your wall. Effective word walls are role of daily teaching and are a tool that students will use throughout the twenty-four hour period. To brand a word wall:

• Place the word wall in an area of the classroom that is visible and attainable and use a dark background to make the words stand out.
• Organize high frequency words in alphabetical order to support students' knowledge of the alphabetic principle.
• Organize other words walls that brandish vocabulary words, synonyms, or other concepts in a fashion that helps students see how the words connect or in a way that makes the virtually sense for student utilise. For example, a list of scientific discipline terms may be listed in alphabetical society, while words used during reading may be organized by prefix.
• three×v note cards are a good size to mail service (you'll fit a lot on one wall, and they are big enough to be read from a altitude). Use different colors to add another reference point for students. If they inquire near a word, you tin can direct them to the "pink card under the L." Writing words on unlike color cards also helps children distinguish like words.
• This seems obvious, but write in large dark messages, once more, and so the words are easy to see from anywhere in the classroom.
• Insider tip: Keep the materials (3×5 notation cards, black mark, tape) that y'all'll utilize to create a word handy, and then you can make and add words to the discussion wall during a lesson. Students may even advise words that they desire added to the wall equally you teach.

Okay, my word wall is up. Now, how do I utilise information technology?

• First, don't overdo it. Teach three to five new words each calendar week.
• Teach children how to use the word wall. Model how to utilize the word wall to discover and spell words during writing or how to "read around the room" using a pointer or their finger to read the words on the wall.
• Use the word wall each day. Incorporate words that are already on the wall into daily activities, like word sorts, give-and-take ladders, and word practice.
• In addition to high frequency words, add words that are content specific. The more relevant the words are to students' experience, the more than they'll exist used and the faster students will learn to read and write them. Fifty-fifty pulling words from the school vocal and incorporating those into the word wall is a great manner to generate words for the wall.
• Spend a few minutes each day playing a word wall game, like bingo or charades.
• Each fourth dimension a student asks about a word that is on the word wall ("How practise you spell … ?") create and employ a mitt signal (maybe use the American Sign Linguistic communication signs for "word" and "wall") that refers them to the give-and-take wall. After all, the whole betoken is that they'll employ it on their own.

I already have a word wall; how do I take it to the next level?

One time you've mastered the basic discussion wall techniques, you lot can take it farther:

• Utilize Velcro or sticky tack to brand the words removable so students tin take the word they demand to their desk for reference. Or, write the words on the back of envelopes. Put that note cards, with the word written on each, inside the envelope. Then, postal service the envelope and let students select a note carte du jour for reference when they need it.
• Add a new give-and-take to the wall for a period of time and have students hunt for this visiting give-and-take. Then, meet if they can utilize the visiting word in their writing and word.
• Challenge students to write a story (or article) using as many words from the word wall as they tin can.

Get even more word wall ideas:

• How to ready your literacy infinite so that it focuses on literacy skills and content (give-and-take walls are ane of them).
• Inspiration for word walls that are works of art.

Come and share your word wall ideas in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out vocabulary ideas that make words stick.

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Source: https://www.weareteachers.com/what-is-a-word-wall/

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