1. WORD WALLS Melinda Carr carrm@wcde.org
“Words. I seek words,
I chase after them.”
-Cynthia Rylant
“Artists develop a love for the feel of their tools, the smell and texture of clay,
wood, or paint. Writers are no different. Writers love words.”-Ralph Fletcher

2. Washington County K-8 Curriculum Expectations
SPELLING "NO EXCUSE" WORDS 
WORD WALLS
All K-8th students will correctly spell and correctly use in writing the words on NO EXCUSE list. There are designated NO EXCUSE words per grade level in K-2. All NO EXCUSE words are expected to be spelled correctly in grades 3-8 by the end of the first 9 weeks and documented with check marks on each student's NO EXCUSE list. For the remainder of the year, students in  grades 3-8 should be strongly encouraged to spell NO EXCUSE words correctly in their own  writing. Teachers need to spot-check students' writing from time to time for evidence of this, and put a plus mark (+) on the NO EXCUSE list next to those words spelled correctly in the context of  students' writing/composing.
A district-wide Word Wall initiative will be used to introduce and reinforce correct spelling and usage of NO EXCUSE words.

3. Washington County K-8 Curriculum Expectations
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT, ACADEMIC VOCABULARY, WORD WALLS
All K-8th students will be exposed to and taught through research-based strategies the terms and phrases identified in the Tennessee Academic Vocabulary found at the following website: vocab.pdf
A district-wide Word Wall initiative will be used to introduce and reinforce vocabulary development in all
subject areas, including English Language Arts, Reading, Math, Science and Social Studies.

4. Word Walls

5. Points to Remember
All students should be able to see and use the word wall from their desks.
When choosing words, select commonly used words that are used by students in their writing.
Words should be placed in alphabetical order.
Introduce about five words per week.

6. Setting Up Your Word Wall:
Above
Frieze Line

7. Below

8. Remember!!!
If students are not interacting and involved with the word wall, it becomes simply a decoration.
Students will only learn from the word wall if it is meaningful to them.
Student interest will be sparked when new games and activities are introduced.
Make the games and activities fun, playful, and interactive.

9. Sample Schedule
Monday: Go over the new words for the week. Note strategies for remembering the word. Point out any unusual features of the word, carefully examine, compare, contrast, dissect, look for patterns, notice rhymes, etc. with all five.
Introduction of New Words
Students add words to vocabulary notebook/folder
*4-Fold Vocabulary
*Vocabulary Graphic Organizer
*Vocabulary Rubric
Cheers and Chants
Word Shapes
Doorway Drill-Tape this week’s words on classroom door, and explain that whenever students leave the room, they must quietly read and spell the displayed words. When the entire class leaves the classroom, have students whisper the words to a partner and have the partners spell the words or give definition of word.
Clap, Chant, Write
Establish a “Word Jar”

10. Word Jars Materials: Word Jar, word cards
New word wall words are added to previously introduced words in a “Word Jar”.
Students pick a word out of the jar.
They read the word and chant the spelling.
This activity is a great filler when you have a couple of free minutes.
Example-use it when dismissing the students. Each student does a word before he/she can stand in line etc. .

12. Word Shapes

13. Word Wall Stories
Materials: Wordless picture books, pictures, paintings, etc.
Students use as many of the Word Wall words as they can to write or tell about the picture.
This can be quite a challenge to ensure that the story makes sense yet still uses many of the words and matches the illustration.

14. Games Points to Remember…
Word Wall games engage students while they learn key vocabulary, whether it be learning to explain a word, to compare it to other key concepts, or to spell it.
The suggested activities are organized as a whole class, small groups/partners, or individual activities.
The Word Wall activities are suggestions only and can be adopted or modified for use within different grade levels and subject disciplines.
In presenting word wall activities, teachers must be sensitive to students who may be uncomfortable with completing a task in front of peers, e.g., spelling exercises are suggested as individual or partner activities.

15. Flashlight Fun Flashlight Tag Materials: Flashlight(s), paper
1. Turn out the lights.
2. Say the poem together with the class: Flashlight, flashlight, oh so bright, Shine on a word with your light.
3. Shine the flashlight on individual words for the class to read and chant.
Flashlight Tag
Divide the class into two teams. One player from each team is given a flashlight and all students have paper and pencils at their desks for spelling practice.
Call out a new or unfamiliar word that can be spelled by analogy with one of the words posted on the word wall. For example, rain is found on the wall, so ask the students to spell strain.
The two players with the flashlights try to be the first to locate the word which will provide a spelling pattern for the new word. The first to highlight rain wins a point for his/her team.
All students then attempt to write the word and the player representing the opposing team is asked to write the new word on the board. If correctly spelled, this response earns one point fir the second team.
New players are selected from each team and the game continues.

16. Word-O
Materials: Blank "Wordo " sheets with 9, 16, or 25 blocks. Copy of words being studied.
Have students fill in their cards with the words that they are working on. Tell them that each card must be different and to try to mix up the words they are using.
Playing the game is similar to BINGO. The teacher calls out the words and has the students spell it out loud and then mark their spaces. Spelling the words out loud will give those who are unsure of the word some extra help.
The first child to cover an entire row calls out the word "WORDO"! The winner can call out the words the next time.

17. No More Circles

18. Word Wall Baseball/Basketball/Football
Materials: Foam shaped sport balls
Divide students into two teams.
Students race to get ball, and read directions on back. Students can phone a friend to help if needed.
The team who gets it correct is awarded the points. First team to raise hand with correct answer is awarded 2 extra points.

19. Roll and Write

20. Numbered Dots Player 2 Player 1 9 26 62 17 44 17 55 26 21 + + 62 36 9
Materials: Laminated game mats, die, dry erase markers
Students roll die to see who goes first.
Students pick eight words to put in center of mat ( 4 each).
Student 1 starts with first word and spells it out clockwise using numbered dots. The numbered dot the student ends on is the number of points the student earns. Student 1 then writes his points on his side of the board and draws a line through word.
The game continues until all words are used.
At the end of the game, students add their points to see who wins. 44
thought
genre
triangle
tariff
there
Heredity
photosynthesis
simile 17 55
Player 2 9 62
Player 1 26 17 26 21 + + 62 36 9

21. Flip It!

22. Lots of Dots Grid

23. Memory Writes 5-10 words on a dry erase board one letter at a time.
Encourage partner to predict what the words will be as you write them.
After all the words have been written and reviewed, have partner put their head down. Erase one word at a time and ask your partner to guess what word you have erased. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

24. Math Gab
Make your own mad gabs with any subject, and let the students use the word wall to figure them out.

25. There are many ways to have fun with Word Walls in math
There are many ways to have fun with Word Walls in math. See the reproducible packet.

26. Word Wall Assessments

27. Sample Weekly Schedule
Take 10 minutes and create a weekly word wall schedule that you would like to implement in the school year.
Here's an example weekly schedule:
Monday: Introduce the new words for the week.
Clap, Chant, Write
Tuesday- Friday: Review other words on wall using various games.
Flashlight Word
Mind Reader
Oops!
Word-O
With your table partner share and discuss your plans.

28. Resources
Cunningham, P. M. (1999). The Teacher's Guide to the Four Blocks. D.C.: Carson-Dellosa.
Diller, D. (2005). Practice with Purpose: Literacy Work Stations. Maine: Stenhouse Publishers
DuVall, R. Working with Word Walls
Marzano, J. R. & Pickering J. D. (2005). Building Academic Vocabulary Teacher’s Manual. VA: ASCD
Sullivan J. & Midge M. (2010) Vocabulary Games for Any Word List. NY: Scholastic.