Word Wall

Nearly every elementary classroom "has" a word wall nowadays. The question is... Do you "do" the word wall or simply "have" a word wall? There is a BIG difference between the two!

When I first started teaching it was accepted practice to "have" a word wall. We would get a new word wall word each week and place it on the word wall. Of course, there wasn't much else that went on with the word wall.

Oh, how times have changed!!! The word wall in my classroom has become a hub around which my classroom and my students' learning revolves. The word wall is not only a place we put those special sight words, but it is a foundational routine we enjoy each day.

Here are some ideas to help implement and actually use you word wall each day. Some of these ideas I've come up with and others are ideas I've attained from various places.

***Snap and Clap***

Read a word wall words (www)

1. Clap as you read the word.

2. Snap as you spell the word.

3. Clap again as you read the word.

For example, If I was going to Snap and Clap the word 'like', it would be done this way:

like (clap) -- l (snap), i (snap), k (snap), e (snap) -- like (clap)

It is important the kids LOOK at the word as they Snap and Clap. Do NOT allow them to simply recite them without looking. Looking, saying, and clapping/snapping help imprint the word in their brains!

***Flashlight Word Wall***

Turn off all the lights, hand a child a flashlight. The child choose a word wall word as the whole class recites this poem:

"Flashlight, flashlight, oh so bright.Shine on a word with all your light!"Kids can read the word then "Snap and Clap".

***Eraser Race***

1. You can either use index cards (or cute diecuts) with word wall words printed on them or simply write various word wall words on a board.

2. Give 2 kids an eraser. Call out a word wall word and then kids "race" to erase that word wall word. The first one to erase correct word gets to choose the next person to compete.

***Jenga***

1. Print a different word wall word on a set of Jenga blocks (one www per block).

2. Kids build a Jenga tower.

3. They play Jenga like normal except as they pull out a block they must read the block.

4. The one with the most Jenga blocks at the end wins (although in kinder I really try not to focus on competition).

***Tall Towers***

1. Make a set of word wall words(WWW) on index cards. On the back of the card, assign points (1, 2, or 3)

2. Kids take turn reading a word. If correct, they choose that number of unifix cubes and stack them in a tower.For example, if they read a word with a number 3 on back - they stack 3 unifix cubes into a tower.