Word Walls
Debbie AlliLa Porte I.S.D
College Park Elementary
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Objectives
(4) Listening/speaking/communication. The student communicates clearly by putting thoughts and feelings into spoken words. The student is expected to:
(A) use vocabulary to describe clearly ideas, feelings, and experiences (K-3);
Research
“Words remain the most important tool the writer has to work with”.
Ralph Fletcher, (1993), What A Writer Needs, (p. 32).
Research
“Words are absolutely essential in our classrooms. As teachers and students work through texts together, we need to have words in full view, so the students can see them and use them in their writing.”
Janet Allen, (1999) Words, Words, Words Teaching Vocabulary in Grades 4-12. (p. 75).
What is a Word Wall?
“A word wall is a systematically organized collection of words displayed in large letters on a wall or other large display place in the classroom. It is a tool to use, not just display. Word walls are designed to promote group learning and be shared by a classroom of children.”
McCarrier, Pinnell & Fontas (2000): Interactive Writing: How Language & Literacy Come Together, K-2. (p. 46).
Word Wall - Uses
Support the teaching of important principles about words and how they work
Foster reading and writing Promote independence of young
students as they work with words in writing and reading
Word Wall - Arrangement
Choose a location in the room where every student can see all the words. Put the alphabet headings, A-Z, at the top of the wall or bulletin board.
Write the words on cards in large print with black ink
Starting at beginning of list
Word Wall - Guidelines
Add words gradually, five a week Make words very accessible Be selective about what words go
on the wall
Word Wall - Guidelines
space efficient useful memorable hands-on interactive Janiel Wagstaff (1999), Teaching Reading and
Writing with Word Walls (p. 65).
Word Wall - Example
Word Wall - Categories
High frequency words Contractions Antonyms Synonyms Homophones
Irene C.Fountas & Gay Su Pinnell, (1999): Voices on Word Matters (p. 104).
Word Wall - Instruction
Look at the word and study it. Make a mental picture of it. Write it down Check it. If you forget a word, look up at the word
wall.Lucy Calkins and Natalie Louis (2003), Writing for Readers:
Teaching Skills and Strategies: (p127).
Word Wall - Assessment
Make Sentences Rhyming Be a Mind Reader Word Sorts
Joan P. Carroll (2001). Survival Words (p. 23).
Word Wall - Activity
Comics Captions
Procedure:1. Read through the comics section of the newspaper and select
your favorite series.2. Cut out three sequential frames from the comic strip you like
best, and glue the frames, in order, onto the boxes on the reproducible.
3. Re-write the captions/dialogue for each phrase using as many high frequency words. 4. Students will share their creative endeavors.
Word Wall - Modifications
ESL Students: Write words in English with their
Spanish translation.
Differentiating
Auditory Learners:Have students record themselves on cassette tape, reading the words and their meanings or translations.
Kinesthetic Learners: Allow students to play games that use
their entire body or allow movement.
Word Walls – Differentiating Instruction
GT Learners: Allow students to research
historical origins of words, creating a of their record derivations
Irene C. Fountas & Gay Su Pinnell (2001),Guiding Readers and Writers, Grades 3-6 (p. 28). Joan P. Carroll (2001). Survival Words, (p. 93).
Bibliography
Irene C. Fountas & Gay Su Pinnell: “Voices on Word Matters”
Ralph Fletcher: “What a Writer Needs” Patricia M.Cunningham & Richard L. Allington:
“Classrooms That Work” Andrea McCarrier, Gay Su Pinnell & Irene C. Fountas:
“Interactive Writing-How Language & Literacy Come Together, K-2”
Janet Allen, (1999) Words, Words, Words Teaching Vocabulary in Grades 4-12. (p. 75).
Irene C. Fountas & Gay Su Pinnell: Guiding Readers and Writers, Grades 3-6”
Lucy Calkins & Natalie Louis: “Writing for Readers: Teaching Skills and Strategies”