Interactive Word Walls

We have all seen and heard of word walls. They come in a variety of formats:

Letters on a Wall

Cute Bulletin Boards

Pocket Charts

My incredible mentor shared with me the cons of word walls. She said that by the end of the year they are too overwhelming for the students to use. Plus they are all the way across the room not nearby where the students can use them.

While becoming a Nationally Certified Teacher, she learned about interactive Word Walls!

Using a trifold board, 3" bulletin board letters and velcro... she created this word wall. Words go on the wall for a month and also into the students personal dictionaries for future use. Students can come over to the wall and literally take the word off the wall, bring it to wherever they are working at and use it. Then they return it.

It is amazing to watch in action. The students truly do learn more. This method reinforces knowing initial phonics sounds. Have to know that to know where to look for your word. It encourages alphabetizing as all words are kept in alphabetical order under each of the letter headings. It teaches responsibility as the students have to bring it back. It adds movement to their writing process which improves their thinking abilities.

The students were all very eager to tell me how the wall works. I love how one student says that during a test he can see the word floating across the room to him to land on his desk and guide him to spell the word correctly. What a great visual! Other students in the room have expressed similar thoughts.

I did ask "but the words go away at the start of the month!" The students responded only from the wall but we have them here in our books and we can always see them even if they are invisible.

I can't wait to make one of these for my room!!

Update:

Look at this one I found! It is magnetic! The fabulous Mr. E made it.This allow him to take his words to the white board and use them when he needs them and then to store them here. Love this idea!