Literacy Element

The picture above illustrates our classroom word wall. I am in a kindergarten classroom, and find this resource to be extremely convenient for the children. Each week, my mentor teacher introduces new words to the word wall, after discussing the words to the class. The words that appear on the word wall are either high frequency words that the students must know, or words specific to the theme of the lessons for that week. This week, for instance, they are discussing St. Patricks day and all of the concepts that go along with it. The word "lucky" listed at the bottom is a special word that the students will be working with often during this week. This word will be frequently seen in books being read, as well as on math worksheets and writing responses.

In our class, the words on the word wall are known as "popcorn words." When working in the work books, the students "butter" the popcorn words (use yellow crayons to color highlight them). The students look at the word wall so often and practice highlighting the words, that they quickly are able to read and spell a majority of the words on this wall. The students are also able to take a word off of the wall to take back to his/her seat if having a difficult time spelling it. I like that this is easily accessible for the students, and that they are able to use it when needed but without taking advantage of it. I would suggest a word wall in this format to others, as the students are able to visually see the high frequency words that are important, and can access them if needed.