WORD
WALLS!
Ahhhh....love/hate
relationship. We are told to have them in our rooms, but if they are not set up
correctly and the students aren't taught how to use them, it's wasted
space.
Why
use one?
Most,
if not all students are visual learners. Yes, they also might be kinesthetic,
verbal etc., but we all learn best by seeing and doing. This goes the same for
words.
Seeing
words on the wall helps students become excited about words and understand
that words are important and can be used over and over again. The word wall
helps them learn the names of letters, ABC order, and letter-sound
relationships. It provides extra exposure and challenge for students who are at
many different skill and interest levels.
In lower-grade
levels, word walls display words students meet in their reading and other
frequently used words. As students move up the grades, word walls begin to take
on other forms and purposes.
The
key to using one---->referring to them often so students get in the habit of
using the wall in their work/assignments.
Every
year I try out a new way to set up a word wall. With limited/varying space
inside of our classrooms, word walls will all look very different.
I
loved the use a personal word wall/dictionary for each student.... especially
in the younger grades.
Colour
coding words is also beneficial if you don't have the space. For example, I
would make all "math related" words blue, and all "science
related" words green etc.
If you have a math corner or a specific subject
boards in your room, this is a neat idea. Once you have completed a math
strand, for instance, you can take the word down and add it to your math
corner/board for future reference and/or use.
Really lacking room? Haha! How about this idea?
In addition to my word wall, I also do this (see
below). I will often take words down off of the word wall once they are
mastered and add them a ring that students can take to their desks to use.
This
idea is great for Kindergarten. Every word has a picture next to it, so that if
the student can't read the word, they can at least recognize the picture.
Whatever layout you choose, the word wall can either
be a static/inanimate object or it can come alive.
Suggestions:
* Word
walls should be student generated
*New
information should be added on a regular -- even daily basis.
Content-area
material from the curriculum rather than randomly selected words should be
utilized.
*Word
walls should be referred to often so students come to understand and see their
relevance.
*Word
walls are a group effort; allow students to make suggestions for content.
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Looking
for some word work activities?
Have a great week! :)
~Kaitlin~
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