Word Walls
I've always liked the idea of Word Walls but from my experience in the classrooms that I have the privilege of working in and observing in, it's hard to utilize word walls the way they need to be used, due to the lack of space in the classrooms. With district and state policies saying that there needs to be so many things on the walls already from quick step by step instructions of units that need to be up, like the fact families in Multiplication, etc., the different ways to multiply and so much more. There's not enough space to have a nice word wall without it being partially or almost completely covered. The idea of Word Walls to me is also not a concept that I'm completely on board with because I often wonder, if students are still having a hard time remembering how to spell words properly or remember what the words mean, how does a word wall serve them properly?
Well after a long talk over many weeks with a 6th grade teacher and looking at the creativity of a 4th grade teacher, there was some change in my thought. I'm still not completely on board with the word wall but I see myself having one. I will insert a picture below of a word wall that I would put in my classroom but instead of placing it with the library, I would place it at the writing station or between the reading and writing station. The idea behind the Word Wall I think should be an interactive one. If students wrote the words themselves on one side of a card and the definition on the other side, for older students I would add that they should also put a synonym and an antonym. I would do note card that have lines on one side and a blank part on the other side. The part that's blank would have the word on it and maybe an pronunciation key for older students and the other side with the lines would have the definition and the synonym and the antonym for the older students. I would link the note cards together with the rings that you find at the dollar tree through a hole I would make with a hole punch. I would have words divided by the letter the word starts with.
Well after a long talk over many weeks with a 6th grade teacher and looking at the creativity of a 4th grade teacher, there was some change in my thought. I'm still not completely on board with the word wall but I see myself having one. I will insert a picture below of a word wall that I would put in my classroom but instead of placing it with the library, I would place it at the writing station or between the reading and writing station. The idea behind the Word Wall I think should be an interactive one. If students wrote the words themselves on one side of a card and the definition on the other side, for older students I would add that they should also put a synonym and an antonym. I would do note card that have lines on one side and a blank part on the other side. The part that's blank would have the word on it and maybe an pronunciation key for older students and the other side with the lines would have the definition and the synonym and the antonym for the older students. I would link the note cards together with the rings that you find at the dollar tree through a hole I would make with a hole punch. I would have words divided by the letter the word starts with.
April,
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to have interactive word walls to help engage the students with them. I believe if you have a word wall up just to have one and not utilize them the way they are supposed to be used then the students are not learning and it is not beneficial. I do not see the point of having one just to have one, I feel they need to be interactive and beneficial for the students. I like the idea of using Velcro on word walls to have the students physically place the words on the wall to give them a sense of accomplishment.
You may want to consider interactive word walls. I'll talk about those on Wednesday. There's research to share in more depth. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteHi April! I think you idea of adding different parts of speech to the cards, like you said a synonym and antonym. I had a similar idea although it was on a worksheet. It had the student do those things while also using it in a sentence and drawing a picture.
ReplyDelete