Word Walls
Using Word Walls to Support the Learning
in our K-12 Classrooms
“The man with a scant vocabulary will almost
certainly be a weaker thinker. The richer and
more copious one’s vocabulary and the greater
one’s awareness of fine distinctions and subtle
nuances of meaning, the more fertile and precise
is likely to be one’s thinking.. Knowledge of
things and knowledge of the words for them grow
together. If you do not know the words, you can
hardly know the thing.”
Henry Hazlitt, Thinking As a Science
“Many teachers have a word
wall. For struggling readers,
having a word wall is not
sufficient. You have to do the
word wall.”
~ Patricia M. Cunningham
Word Walls
Using Word Walls to Support the Learning in our K-12 Classrooms
In today’s webinar, you will receive the following
information
• Definition and criteria for a word wall
• Types of word walls
• Purposes and procedures for word walls
• Samples of effective word walls
• Strategies for supporting and monitoring word wall
usage
Word Walls
Using Word Walls to Support the Learning in our K-12 Classrooms
A word wall is an ongoing,
organized systematically
displayed compilation of key
words that provide visual
reference for students.
Word Walls
Using Word Walls to Support the Learning in our K-12 Classrooms
Criteria
• Build word walls over time with shared studentteacher responsibility
• Display words as uncluttered as possible
• Use word wall on a daily basis
• Make words legible and visible from all areas of the
classroom
• Make word wall interactive and hands-on
Word Walls
Using Word Walls to Support the Learning in our K-12 Classrooms
Types of Word Walls
• High Frequency Word Walls
o K-5 classrooms
o Focused on high-frequency words found in elementary reading and
writing
• Content Specific Word Walls
o K-12
o Academic Words
o Thematic or Unit Specific Words
High Frequency
Word Walls
Using High Frequency Word Walls to
Support the Development of Vocabulary
in Grades K-5
Doing a Word Wall Means…
Adding words gradually
•
Add five new words (in most cases)
each week
•
The word list and sequence of
words will be provided for grades
K-3.
~ Patricia M. Cunningham, Dorothy P. Hall, Cheryl M. Sigmon
Doing a Word Wall Means…
Making words very accessible
• Placed where every student can see
them
• Written in big, black letters
• Variety of paper colors used so most
often-confused words (for, from) are
on different colors
~ Patricia M. Cunningham, Dorothy P. Hall, Cheryl M. Sigmon
Doing a Word Wall Means…
Being selective and “stingy” about
what words go on the wall
• Limit words to really common words
which children use in their writing
• The word list and sequence of words
will be provided for each grade level.
~ Patricia M. Cunningham, Dorothy P. Hall, Cheryl M. Sigmon
Doing a Word Wall Means…
Practicing the words by chanting and
writing them
• Struggling readers are usually not
good visual learners and can’t just
look at and remember words.
• Incorporate rhythm through clapping,
stomping, etc.
~ Patricia M. Cunningham, Dorothy P. Hall, Cheryl M. Sigmon
Doing a Word Wall Means…
Doing a variety of review activities
• Provide enough practice so that the
words are read and spelled instantly
and automatically
~ Patricia M. Cunningham, Dorothy P. Hall, Cheryl M. Sigmon
Doing a Word Wall Means…
Making sure that Word Wall words are
spelled correctly in any writing
students do!
~ Patricia M. Cunningham, Dorothy P. Hall, Cheryl M. Sigmon
Procedures for Word Walls…
Procedures for Word Walls…
Procedures for Word Walls…
On the day new words are added, the
new words are called out, clapped,
chanted, and written.
The week’s new words are often
reviewed on the second day.
~ Patricia M. Cunningham, Dorothy P. Hall, Cheryl M. Sigmon
Procedures for Word Walls…
During the rest of the week, any five
words from the wall can be called out.
Words with which children need much
practice should be called out almost
every day.
~ Patricia M. Cunningham, Dorothy P. Hall, Cheryl M. Sigmon
On-the-Back Word Wall Activities…
• Purpose is to extend children’s
knowledge of the Word Wall
words or to help them learn to
spell other words
• On-the-back Endings
• On-the-back Rhymes
• On-the-back Cross Checking
• Be a Mind Reader
Kindergarten Word Walls…
A
B
Ava
Ben
Allison
C
Carson
Kindergarten Word Walls…
• Student Names
• Color Words
• High-Frequency Words
First Grade Word Walls…
• Begin with an introduction of
procedures using student names
• Continue with the addition of five
high-frequency words each week
• Students are expected to read and
write all Word Wall words
Second Grade Word Walls…
• Purpose is to support students’ writing
• First words added to the Word Wall
are they, said, was, have, and
because
• Remaining words represent
common blends and vowel patterns,
contractions, and homophones
Third Grade Word Walls…
• A necessary resource to support children
that misspell common, non-patternfollowing words
• Word Wall words include:
• most frequently misspelled words
• most commonly confused homophones
• most common contractions
• most common compound words
• examples of words with common suffixes
and prefixes
Fourth and Fifth Grade Word Walls…
The protocol for Word Walls changes in Grades
4-5. Word Walls for these students should be
created and used according to these six
recommendations:
1. Expose students to commonly misspelled
words through a Word Wall that is ever
present in the classroom.
Fourth and Fifth Grade Word Walls…
2. Hold students accountable for the words on
the Word Wall once they’ve been taught.
3. Ask students to remain accountable, even
after they leave the classroom.
4. Teach students specifics and interesting
tidbits about words that will help them to
retain the words.
Fourth and Fifth Grade Word Walls…
5. Continue to review the words that are placed
on the Word Wall through “On-the-Back”type activities.
6. Don’t crowd the Word Wall with words other
than the high-frequency and commonly
misspelled words.
Content-Specific
Word Walls
(Also known as “Theme Boards”)
Using Content-Specific Word Walls to
Support the Development of Content
Vocabulary in Grades K-12
The Need for More Words…
• Wall space is reserved for really
important words that are content specific
and academic
• Example: content specific – integer;
academic - analyze
• In addition to a Word Wall, elementary
classrooms need display boards/areas
for these other important words.
~ Patricia M. Cunningham, Dorothy P. Hall, Cheryl M. Sigmon
Theme Boards…
• Temporary displays to support current
learning in content areas
• Smaller than Word Walls
• Contain vocabulary words, pictorial
representations, and definitions, when
appropriate
Theme Boards…
Theme Boards…
Theme Boards…
Theme Boards…
Monitoring
Words
Monitoring the Use of Word Walls and
Content-Specific Word Walls (Theme
Boards) in K-12 Classrooms
Monitoring
• Evidence in lesson plans
• Observed student interaction
• Consistent, neat appearance
• Evidence in student reading, writing,
speaking, and work products
Supporting
Words
Supporting the Use of Word Walls and
Content-Specific Word Walls (Theme
Boards) in K-12 Classrooms
Word Walls
Using Word Walls to Support the Learning
in our K-12 Classrooms