Word Wall
A word wall is a display of words, usually arranged alphabetically under the corresponding letter in large font that students can read from their desks. Word walls can be displayed on the wall, bulletin board, or white board. Word walls should include high frequency words and words that students ask for or use frequently when writing (Wright, 2010, p. 224).
The word wall should be built upon starting from the beginning of the school year. Words are added as students and teachers discuss the meaning.
Students can place the words on the word wall in the correct place. Some teachers use Velcro to attach the words to wall, in order to easily remove them if students wish to take them to their desks as a support as they are writing (Wright, 2010, p. 225).
Words walls can be used with interactive activities or games or during centers time. Using word walls help students develop their vocabulary skills and give extra support to students who struggle with oral language or writing proficiency. According to the Echevarria, Short, and Vogt in 2013, during a lesson, key vocabulary is reviewed with use of a word wall where content vocabulary words are listed. This strategy was designed for reinforcing and teaching sight words for emergent readers. The words displayed on the wall are frequently revisited and students are encouraged to use them in their writing. Limit the number of words added and choose them carefully.
Word walls are a great support for ELLs, and may be organized around a number of concepts, including the alphabet and phonetic sounds, new vocabulary words, sight words, grammar rules, conversational phrases, and writing structures. Words can also be organized by category (Reading Rockets, 2015).
Copying words from word walls may be difficult for some students. For these students, supply them with the words written on a piece of paper. Tape the word wall word list to their desk or writing folder for easy reference.
The word wall should be built upon starting from the beginning of the school year. Words are added as students and teachers discuss the meaning.
Students can place the words on the word wall in the correct place. Some teachers use Velcro to attach the words to wall, in order to easily remove them if students wish to take them to their desks as a support as they are writing (Wright, 2010, p. 225).
Words walls can be used with interactive activities or games or during centers time. Using word walls help students develop their vocabulary skills and give extra support to students who struggle with oral language or writing proficiency. According to the Echevarria, Short, and Vogt in 2013, during a lesson, key vocabulary is reviewed with use of a word wall where content vocabulary words are listed. This strategy was designed for reinforcing and teaching sight words for emergent readers. The words displayed on the wall are frequently revisited and students are encouraged to use them in their writing. Limit the number of words added and choose them carefully.
Word walls are a great support for ELLs, and may be organized around a number of concepts, including the alphabet and phonetic sounds, new vocabulary words, sight words, grammar rules, conversational phrases, and writing structures. Words can also be organized by category (Reading Rockets, 2015).
Copying words from word walls may be difficult for some students. For these students, supply them with the words written on a piece of paper. Tape the word wall word list to their desk or writing folder for easy reference.
Word wall activities can be used to improve literacy in all curriculum areas by helping students build vocabulary, improve spelling in written work, and explain ideas through oral communication.
This adaptation comes from Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model.
Science: Students will define and correctly use the vocabulary words found in a text about mummies. The students will brainstorm words about mummies that they already know first. Then, they will create a word wall with the brainstormed words. In a small group, they will read the first few pages of the reading and add new words to the word wall selected by the students. Students will then complete a graphic organizer listing initial steps used by scientists. The following day the students will review the listed words and repeat them.
Language Arts: As part of an explicit lesson on prefixes and suffixes, the students find and add words with these types of word parts to the wall. The teacher can integrate this lesson with a read-aloud of the story If You Were a Suffix by Marcie Aboff and the use of a graphic organizer. This helps with word analysis and word study.
Math: For the use of word walls in mathematics, teachers should focus on creating concept word walls. For example, if the teacher is teaching a lesson on fractions, the teacher will add the academic or content-specific vocabulary related to fractional concepts on the word wall as students engage and explore these concepts.