Word Walls Using Word Walls to Support the Learning in our K-12
Classrooms
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The man with a scant vocabulary will almost certainly be a
weaker thinker. The richer and more copious ones vocabulary and the
greater ones awareness of fine distinctions and subtle nuances of
meaning, the more fertile and precise is likely to be ones
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
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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
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Word Walls Using Word Walls to Support the Learning in our K-12
Classrooms In todays 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
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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
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Criteria Build word walls over time with shared student-
teacher 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
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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
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High Frequency Word Walls Using High Frequency Word Walls to
Support the Development of Vocabulary in Grades K-5
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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
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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
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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
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Doing a Word Wall Means Practicing the words by chanting and
writing them Struggling readers are usually not good visual
learners and cant just look at and remember words. Incorporate
rhythm through clapping, stomping, etc. ~ Patricia M. Cunningham,
Dorothy P. Hall, Cheryl M. Sigmon
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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
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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
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Procedures for Word Walls
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On the day new words are added, the new words are called out,
clapped, chanted, and written. The weeks new words are often
reviewed on the second day. ~ Patricia M. Cunningham, Dorothy P.
Hall, Cheryl M. Sigmon
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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
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On-the-Back Word Wall Activities Purpose is to extend childrens
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
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Kindergarten Word Walls ABC Ava Ben Carson Allison
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Kindergarten Word Walls Student Names Color Words
High-Frequency Words
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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
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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
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Third Grade Word Walls A necessary resource to support children
that misspell common, non-pattern- following 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
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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.
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Fourth and Fifth Grade Word Walls 2.Hold students accountable
for the words on the Word Wall once theyve 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.
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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.Dont crowd the Word Wall with words other than the
high-frequency and commonly misspelled words.
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Content-Specific Word Walls Using Content-Specific Word Walls
to Support the Development of Content Vocabulary in Grades K-12
(Also known as Theme Boards)
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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
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Theme Boards Temporary displays to support current learning in
content areas Smaller than Word Walls Contain vocabulary words,
pictorial representations, and definitions, when appropriate
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Theme Boards
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Monitoring Words Monitoring the Use of Word Walls and
Content-Specific Word Walls (Theme Boards) in K-12 Classrooms
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Monitoring Evidence in lesson plans Observed student
interaction Consistent, neat appearance Evidence in student
reading, writing, speaking, and work products
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Supporting Words Supporting the Use of Word Walls and
Content-Specific Word Walls (Theme Boards) in K-12 Classrooms
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Word Walls Using Word Walls to Support the Learning in our K-12
Classrooms