A word wall is an interactive tool for teaching words that students need in their reading and writing. A word wall is an organized collection of words displayed in large letters on a classroom wall. Word-wall words can be organized alphabetically, by theme (weather related words, for example), or by spelling pattern. Most teachers add at least five words a week to their word walls on a regular basis; many more words are added spontaneously, as the need arises. Word walls can promote literacy by providing a print-rich environment and creating in students an excitement about words.
In the K-1 Classroom, the word wall can include words beginning with the letter of the week. When a new letter is introduced, brainstorm for a list of objects that start with the letter. For the letter B, you might have book, box, baby, bee, etc. Write the word on a card with a picture to cue the non-readers. Post the word on your word wall. You can also include the sight words that you want students to know.
In the Grade 2-6 classroom, the words on a word wall most often include words students encounter frequently in their reading and writing, as well as words they frequently misspell. For older elementary and middle school students, word walls often include curriculum-related vocabulary words as well---use the word wall to teach vocabulary used in music.
A musical word wall can be set up in the music room, or in the classroom where a classroom teacher teaches her own music. The word wall will help children learn to correctly spell musical terms. When students are writing about music they should be encouraged to refer to the word wall if they have difficulty in spelling a term. A word wall will help students increase their musical vocabulary. When you notice a term in a piece of music that the students are learning, explain it to them and post it on the word wall. When students encounter terms in music that are already on the word wall, they should refer to the wall and review that term. Incorporate the word wall into your daily activities and lessons. Play games to practice the words on the wall. Students who are learning in a classroom with a word wall are at a distinct advantage over other children who do not have that type of resource. Students will be amazed at how many words they have learned over the course of a year.
In a K-1 classroom the musical terms should be simpler than those we include in the Word Wall Kit. The terms that are charted in the Listening Kit Level 1 would be the most appropriate for a K-1 classroom: soft, loud, fast, slow, high, and low. Some additional terms are given in the Listening Kit 1 Cue Cards. These would also be suitable for use in a K-1 classroom musical word wall: short, long. You might also want to include the names of classroom instruments. Pictures with labels of classroom instruments are given in our new publication “Classroom Instrument Bingo”.
In grade 2-6 music classrooms, musical word walls can include all the terms that students encounter in their music, or that you teach as part of their music classes. In the “Word Wall Kit” publication, we’ve included 100 of the most commonly used musical terms. You can purchase the Word Wall Kit here.
There are many creative ways to design a word wall. Some teachers create portable word walls out of folding cardboard or shower curtains. Some teachers even create word walls for each student. The most important element in setting up a word wall is that the words are clearly posted for students to see, so that they are able to recognize and recall words they have studied. Word walls can be used interactively to promote group learning and cooperation. The words chosen for the word wall should be gradually added over time.
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