LoginWord Walls
Submitted by Leanne (09-11-2012)
Word Walls
by Leanne
(Sydney)
Hello!
I have heard and seen many ideas for Word Walls, and word resources. I would love to hear some more ideas though!
I found that my class last year were a bit scared of having-a-go when it came to spelling unknown words. One of the ways that I tried to conquer this fear was through the use of 'post its'. My class LOVED post it notes. I encouraged my kids to have-a-go at spelling the word on a 'post it note'.
After having-a-go they could go to the Alpha-Case to see if they were right (if they could not see the word in our room which was literally bursting with environmental print on every surface).
Our Alpha-Case is a fun, bright fabric holder that held laminated letter cards. I used the alphabet letters that Donna has on this site and printed them onto a landscape layout A4 sheet of paper, 3 across the long edge. I then laminated and cut them, so each letter had a length of white space beneath it.
Over the course of the year during writing time children would come to me with a 'post it' that they 'had-a-go' spelling the word in question on as well as the letter card that the word started with. I would then write the word on the card in permanent marker.
Kids had-a-go at spelling the word, and also got the correct spelling. I also only had to do it once with each word, as the kids knew to check the letter card first before coming and asking me.
The laminated letter cards live in a holder that I made. I sewed up a colourful rectangle with strips of material going across, then segmented each strip to the size of the letter card, plus 1cm. That way I can add another card if needed, as some of them got quite full by the end of the year.
Each letter of the alphabet could be seen for easy locating, but admittedly the actual words could not be seen - (a significant downfall!)
I also use word towers in my room. I copied 300 dolch words into excel and sorted them into alphabet order. I then copied them into 'Microsoft Word' and made 6 lists.
I pasted the lists into 3 columns (two columns with words, one blank for trimming off). I printed the lists onto brightly coloured paper and trimmed off the edges. By trimming off those sides I was able to fit all three sheets into an A3 laminating pouch. Just after laminating, while they were still warm I bent them into 3 to make towers (I stuck sticky tape along the inside of the open edges to close them off).
What are some of the ways that you use word walls, or word resources in your rooms?
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What others are saying...
Sorry, missed the bit about the sleeves! Yes you certainly could use plastic sleeves, thats a great idea! I just used fabric because I was feeling creative one day, and I had seen something similar in another class. The only question with sleeves would be the durability? With kids pulling them in and out all the time they could possibly tear quite easily...though if you trimmed off the corners that would help... hmmm I feel new ideas brewing, thanks!
Hi ladies,
Thanks for your comments. I will send some photos to Donna when school goes back (it is up ready for the year already, and I can;t get in until the week before school, sorry!)
I have my Alpha-Case pinned to a bulletin board, although I had a thought the other day that I could put rings in the top and hang it off some hooks on the bottom of the whiteboard as well.
I have had Year 2 for two years, and this year I am on a year one class, but you cold use it for any age really, just print new alphabet cards and let the students add the words that they want to them.
I have seen word towers used in many different grades, again just with the words being grade/age appropriate.
Cheers,
Lee
Hi Leanne,
Could you please post some photos of your resources?
Hi Leanne - you can email them to me (Donna) at donna (at) k-3teacherresources.com
Thanks Leanne
Great ideas- thanks for sharing them with us.
Could you use clear plastic sleeves A5 /A4 size for your alpha case? How do you set it up? pinned to wall? in a box?
What age group? Thanks again.
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