Word Wall Resources
Word walls provide visual references for students as they learn new vocabulary and concepts and can be used at any grade level, for any subject! In Marzano’s book, “Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement: Research on What Works in Schools,” (2004) he writes that “Students’ comprehension will increase by 33 percentile points when vocabulary instruction focuses on specific words important to the content they are reading…” Knowing this, it is possible that using word walls could be an effective strategy to helping build strong vocabularies, resulting in better comprehension and writing skills.
There are several staff members in Valley Center using word walls for reading, spelling, math, social studies, and science! A teacher from a different district mentioned that they use the poster tri-folds (science fair boards) for their word walls because their wall space is limited. Whatever the method, the important piece is making if a teaching and learning opportunity where the words are explicitly taught and students interact with the words and use them as a resource.
Below are a few word wall websites shared by my colleagues:
- Math Word Walls: http://ladybugsteacherfiles.blogspot.com/2010/12/math-vocabulary-cards.html
- Word Walls in Middle School: http://www.suite101.com/content/use-word-walls-in-middle-school-a77221
- Using a Word Wall in the Secondary Classroom: http://www.markville.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/mm/oise2005/bestpractice/wordwall.htm
