How to Build a Word Wall for your Classroom

They are an amazingly fun learning tool for classrooms, simple to construct, and versatile in their functioning capacity.

Word walls are beneficial for all age groups so can aide elementary, secondary, college, and university students alike. There are many examples set out on how to build a word wall for your classroom, but which one you choose will depend upon the needs, and personality of your classroom setting.

All photos found on this article are ©Jolene Belmain

A word wall is simply a wall where words are placed for study. The words can be written on bright multicolored construction paper, they can be written on sticky Post It notes, or written with a plain black marker on simple white paper. You select how you will choose to display your words.

Once specific words are chosen they can then be taped onto your classroom wall, or tacked onto cloth, or cork wallboard displays. It is best to not add too many words at once, but to instead add one to five words onto the wall, at regular daily or weekly intervals.

Once a word is in place it can be pointed out and focused on. An open discussion can be used to discover the words meaning and appropriate usage.

Students can then be encouraged to create a written project around this word, attempt to use the word as often as possible during the class session, or to use this new word in a creative manner within their home setting.

The main point of a Word Wall is to encourage as many forms of learning as can possibly be employed to aide in the development of language skills. People learn in many different ways, and challenging the verbal, written, and subconscious levels at which people pick up knowledge can greatly aide in their ability to retain language and the many concepts that surround it.

Students should not be overloaded by adding too many words at once, instead it is best to add these words at a respectable interlude, and thereby allow more time for them to be digested and analyzed by the mind.

Over time the word wall will begin to fill up, but do not try to reduce it's clutter by removing older posts, these older previously posted words are still very important.

Subconsciously the words surrounding them will always be vivid in a students memory. Having the word wall kept active within the classroom allows newly posted words, as well as older posts, to remain readily available to the student's mind for further study.

Word walls can be used in virtually any classroom setting whether it is a Math, English, Science, Lab or Home Economics class. Popular terms, verbs, nouns, and symbols can be placed on the wall to encourage student's use and knowledge of these subjects.

If you are interested in creating a word wall for your classroom simply discuss the concept with your instructor. Word walls are an amazing tool for learning and most educational institutions are only too willing to implement them into their programs.