Interactive Word Walls: They’re Up, Now What?

Using Interactive Word Walls as an Instructional ToolJanuary 13, 2011

Classroom Environment

Influences literacy development Print-rich environments foster literacy A variety of artifacts are present

Word Wall Uses

Elementary: display basic words, word families, showcase interesting words

Middle and High School• Language arts: may display challenging words• Math: to display mathematical symbols• Social Studies: to categorize important

historical terms

Uses cont’d

Instructional potential for enhancing vocabulary learning

Powerful tools for supporting specific word learning objectives of middle school curricula

Study Findings 43.1% used the term word wall 12% could not identify the word wall Almost 60% had a general understanding that word walls

were for learning new vocabulary 50%could not explain how the word wall helped them

learn new words 16% thought word wall was only helpful when they

already new the word meanings

Effective Vocabulary Instruction Falls on a continuum Need for multiple exposures Students need to understand how and why

some words are used and some are not. Associative learning Active Engagement Student Choice

Ineffective Vocabulary Practices Research has shown the ineffectiveness of the

following vocabulary instructional practices:• Define words and then write sentences• Using dictionary definitions as primary

instructional tools

Word Wall Activity Students can help to select the vocabulary Introduce the words Make Connections With the Vocabulary Apply the Word to Real Situations Present Words to the Class

Next Steps

Students need to do more than the superficial definitional level of word meaning

Students need opportunities to engage in higher levels of cognitive processing

Thanks!

If you liked this show, tell your friends!