K-3 classrooms should be literacy-rich environments where teachers focus throughout the day on developing children's use of oral and written language. One way to enhance the growth of literacy in young children is to use word walls. Word walls are alphabetized lists of words, posted on the walls for student use.
Word walls may consist of high frequency words for building sight vocabulary and fluency in reading, thematic words related to content area units of study, spelling words, or interesting words taken from children's literature. Because they are alphabetized, particular words are easy to find, though separate word walls for high frequency or spelling words and content area vocabulary may be desirable for older children.
Using Word Walls With Phonics Instruction
One of the best uses of word walls is practice with letter-sound relationships. For very young children, the alphabetization of the words posted on the wall serves as a logical point for the study of beginning consonant sounds. Children can also hunt for words that share long and short vowel sounds or "word family" patterns. For example, using the word "band" to begin, students can find "sand," "hand," and "land" from the wall.
Word sorts may be done individually or in pairs are also beneficial. Give children 10-15 index cards with one word from the wall written on each of them (or allow them to choose a word from the wall for each). Then ask them to sort the words into categories based on letter-sound relationships, such as beginning or ending sounds, long or short vowels, spelling patterns, etc.
Using Word Walls to Reinforce Spelling Instruction
One common issue for elementary teachers is finding the best way to help children transfer the skills they use when they pass their spelling tests each week to the everyday writing they do for other content areas. Often young children are not held accountable for what they have demonstrated when taking a spelling test, and therefore, as they grow, they develop a carelessness about spelling that becomes frustrating to everyone by the intermediate grades.
Word walls can help. If the spelling words are posted after the each test, the wall becomes a reference tool. Even young children can be held responsible for spelling the words on the wall correctly in their everyday writing because the words are posted and can be copied if necessary. Children should also be encouraged to circle words that look misspelled in their rough drafts, so that teachers may use these words for future study.
Using Word Walls to Build Vocabulary and Fluency
Word sorts may be used to focus on meaning. Ask children categorize words, whether they were originally posted as spelling words, phonics study words, or content area vocabulary. For example, children may find "boat" and "car" on the wall, decide on "Transportation" as a category, then add "bicycle," "feet," and even "camel." Because high frequency sight vocabulary words are posted as well, these can be used on flashcards or in simple paragraphs for oral reading practice to increase fluency.
Posting words alphabetically for children to use as a reference is just the beginning. By using the words as a foundation for vocabulary and writing activities, and allowing students to contribute their own words when appropriate, teachers can ensure that children develop a large working vocabulary, the conceptual understanding of word meanings and structure, and the ability to use letter-sound relationships for decoding and encoding words.
Further Reading
Campbell-Rush, Peggy. Reading, Writing, and Word Walls. Petersborough, NH: Crystal Springs Books, 2007.
Wagstaff, Janiel. Teaching Reading and Writing with Word Walls (K-3). Washington, D.C.: Teaching Strategies, Inc., 1999.
Barbara Abromitis - Barbara Abromitis, Ed.D. is a freelance writer and educational consultant, with degrees in reading education and educational psychology, ...
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