Word Wall Information

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.

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.

* Wagstaff, J.M.  Teaching Reading and Writing with Word Walls. Scholastic ©1999.

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.

Types of Word Walls:

• ABC Wall
• Words-We-Know-Wall
• Chunking Wall
• Help Wall
• Name Wall

* Wagstaff, J.M.  Teaching Reading and Writing with Word Walls. Scholastic ©1999.

References:

    •  Teaching Reading and Writing with Word Walls

        Janiel M. Wagstaff

Scholastic 1999

 

     •  Implementing the 4-Blocks Literacy Model

        Cheryl Mahaffey Sigmon

        Carson-Dellosa

 

    • Word Matters

       Fountas & Pinnell

        Heinemann

      •  Making Words         • Making More Words

     •  Making Big Words   • Making More Big Words

Patricia M. Cunningham & Dorothy P. Hall

        Good Apple

Return to Homepage        Previous        Next