Interactive Word Walls

Denise Burson
Mar 29, 2010

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! The key to a successful word wall is the word, "interactive". Students need to actively interact with the word wall. Interaction includes cheers and chants for the new words of the week, activities that expand the students' understanding of how words work and the use of the word wall during writing.

Guidelines:

  • Add words gradually, five per week depending on grade level

  • Make words very accessible by putting them where every student can see them, writing them in big, black letters, and using a variety of background colors so that the most often-confused words (there, their; what, when) are different colors

  • Be selective about what words go on the wall, limiting additions to those really common words which children use a lot in writing

  • Practice those words by chanting and writing them

  • Do a variety of review activities to provide enough practice so that words are read and spelled instantly and automatically

  • Make sure that Word Wall words are spelled correctly in any writing students do

Activities for the use of Word Walls:

Scavenger Hunt- Use old magazines or newspapers. Students try to locate as many of the word wall words as they can, they can cut them out and paste them into their books.

Sign Language - This works best when the sign language pictures are also available. The children use sign language to spell the word the teacher says. Print a rhyming word for 10 of the word cards or word wall words.

Add an ending (s, ed, ing) - The students take out their notebooks and add endings to each of the words where appropriate.

Change a letter- Students try to make new words by changing just one letter.

Word wall stories - Write a word wall story, see how many of the words you can use.

Fluency - Use a timer to see how fast the words can be read.

Journal Entry - Write in a journal and underline the word wall/card words.

Clap, Chant, Write - Introduction of New Words

Introduce 5 Word Wall words per week by having students:

  • see the words

  • say the words

  • chant the words (snap, clap, stomp, cheer)

  • write the words and check them together with the teacher

  • trace around the words and check together with the teacher

  1. Have the students number a sheet of paper 1-5.

  2. Place one of the 5 new word cards in the pocket chart. Say the word, use the word in a sentence, have students write the word on their paper. Continue with 4 additional words.

  3. When all five words have been written, point to the words and have the students clap and chant the spelling of the words.

  4. Students use a red pen, marker or crayon to trace around the word.

  5. On the following days of the week, teacher practices the new Word Wall words and reviews previous words with practice activities.

Sigmon, C. (1997). 4-Blocks Literacy Model. N.C.: Carson Dellosa Publishing.

Rhyme with the Word Wall

Say a sentence which contains a word that rhymes with one of the Word Wall words and is spelled with the same pattern. Children must decide which word rhymes and how to spell it.

1. Students number their paper just as they do for Clap, Chant, Write, 1-5
2. Give the following clues for the lessons words. a. Number one begins with a t and rhymes with walk
Student writes talk on paper
b. Number two begins with an m and rhymes with by
Student writes my on paper
c. Number three begins with an f and rhymes with end
Student writes friend on paper
d. Number four begins with a w and rhymes with bear
Student writes wear on paper
e.Number five begins with an f and rhymes with car
Student writes far on paper
3. To check the answers, say the rhyming word and let students say the word they wrote and chant its spelling

Cunningham, P.M. (1999). The Teacher's Guide to the Four Blocks. N.C.: Carson-Dellosa.

Flashlight Fun

1. Turn out the lights.
2. Say the poem together with the class:
Flashlight, flashlight, oh so bright,
Shine on a word with your light.
3. Shine the flaslight on individual words for the class to read and chant.

Let's Cheer

1. Choose 5 words from the word wall.
2. Print each letter boldly on paper for each word.
3. Cheeleaders face the class holding the letter papers to spell the word.
4. Call out the first letter of the word.
5. The student holding that letter steps forward and raises the letter paper as the class says the letter.
6. Continue until the entire word has been spelled.
7. Say the word 3 times in unison.
8. Take turns being cheerleaders and spelling the rest of the words.

Gruber, B. (1998). Instant Word Wall High Frequency Words. CA: Practice and Learn Right Publications.