Sunday, August 25, 2013

A Word About Word Walls

Every year I set up a Word Wall with the best intentions. However, I have always struggled with making it actually usable. I think I finally have it down! So here's what I'm doing to "Make it Work!" (as Tim Gunn says).

  • I use a chalk board or dry erase board so I can easily add & remove words
  • I use colored chalk or markers to color code my words- one color is for high frequency words, another is for enrichment vocabulary words. I bought Bistro board style chalk markers from Hobby Lobby (see pic below). They are perfect!
  • When the wall is full, I'll take a picture of it, print it, and have it available in the room for kids to refer back to during writing.
  • Pictures- I'm going to try adding pictures next to the enrichment vocab words as visual cues.
  • Get your enrichment vocabulary words from read alouds. Thank you Junie B. for the word suspicious!
  • Use SOME of the vocabulary words from your basal story. Be selective!
  • Sparkle Words- Reward students who actually use the enrichment vocabulary words in their writing. A skittle goes as long way!
  • Feature words by putting a magnet, pom-pom, etc. next to a word. If a student uses it, they get props (or a skittle)!
Yellow is for high frequency words and pink is for enrichment vocabulary words.


They are bright and beautiful!




Sparkle word & reward students who use it in their writing


Side Note: There's a "I'm Invisible" light button on my board. I turn it on when I'm testing or in small group. For some reason, 7 year olds don't understand "Do not interrupt me." But they understand a light! Thanks to my grade level team mate for sharing this idea!


2 comments:

  1. I love the Bistro chalk! Didn't even know it existed! Thank you for sharing! :)

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  2. Great idea about using a chalkboard/whiteboard! I have struggled with keeping it current and the words in shape too. I went back in over the long weekend to pull apart my bulletin board and create a whiteboard Word Wall. Thanks!

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