How To Use a Word Wall to Teach Reading Skills
Lesson Ideas to Help Elementary Students Read and Write Better
Aug 11, 2008
A Word Wall is a large graphic organizer displayed on a primary classroom wall or bulletin board. Each letter of the alphabet is listed in order with space left under each letter for words to be placed. As elementary school students learn and study new words they are added to the Word Wall under the appropriate letter.
The teacher uses the Word Wall to review and practice sight words, to teach sounds, rhymes and word patterns, and as a visual aid during reading mini-lessons. Students use the Word Wall to analyze words, to aid with spelling, and as a reference while reading and writing.
Create a Primary Classroom Word Wall
Teachers can purchase a prepackaged Word Wall from a teacher’s store or supply catalogue or make their own. Word Walls can be made using large laminated letters of the alphabet. The letters should be posted in alphabetical order on an easy-to-see bulletin board or wall. Space should be left under the letters to post the words.
Have Students Create Their Own Word Walls
Student Word Walls are made with file folders and markers. Each student uses markers to list the letters of the alphabet inside the folder with space underneath. Students then can add words to their Word Walls that come up in Writer’s Workshop mini-lessons or during content area instruction.
Elementary Word Wall Lesson Ideas
Word Walls are used by elementary teachers in many ways depending on the needs of the students. The more students interact with the words the more effective the Word Walls are. Teachers should vary the Word Wall activities they use to keep students’ interest peaked.
- On the first day of school the teacher can put his name, the name of the school, and the grade of the class on the wall.
- Grade level sight words can be placed on the Word Wall after the teacher introduces them. A teacher can place familiar environmental print, such as a cereal box title, on the Word Wall to illustrate a new word pattern.
- The teacher can give the students clues about one of the words on the Word Wall and have the students guess the word.
- The students can clap as they chant and spell the words on the Word Wall to practice him.
- Students can use the words on the Word Wall to create practice games such as Memory or Hangman.
A Word Wall is a teaching tool that elementary teachers use to aid students during reading and writing lessons. It can be used to teach sight words, sounds, rhymes, word patterns, and spelling. Teachers use a variety activities to help students interact with the Word Wall words and increase students ability to read and write them.
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