What is a word wall?

Our word wall is a list of words that first graders frequently use in their daily reading, language, and writing.  four words are introduced each week that will be repeatedly used throughout the week.  They will be found in our basal reading book as well as our individual guided reading books.  The words are used and reviewed numerous times each week.  Once the words have been introduced, they will be posted on the word wall display in the classroom.    Children can refer to the wall for assistance in spelling the word.  Children also practice these words during hands on center time activities.

Before Reading Street

go    he   the    see    you    is    to

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 4

Unit 5

• Use each word in a sentence
• Find Rhyming Words
• Use your flashcards and have someone quiz you
• Cut out words using magazine letters
• Pudding paint each word on paper...remember to ask for help and clean up your mess
• Go online and have fun exploring words at the websites listed below.

     www.wordoftheday.com

     www.factmaster.com/wordwise

     www.dictionary.com

Activities We

do in Class

• Show your child one word, and have him/her say the word.  If he/she does not remember, give some clues.  For example, if green is the word, your clue could be…”The grass is  _____.”  Continue in the same manner for the rest of the words.

   

• Have your child name the letters that make each word.  (First show the word, then, try from memory.

   

• Practice writing the new word.  First have your child copy it a few times, then see if he/she can write it from memory.

   

• Spread word cards out and ask your child to find a word that begins with a “B” and ends with an “S”; or find words with two letters, three letters, words that rhyme, words that have one vowel, two vowels, etc...get creative

   

• Word Wall Bingo: Each child has a bingo card with six blank spaces.  The children write one word of their choice in each space.  Then the words are removed from the wall container, and pulled out one by one.  If the word that is pulled out is on a child's card, that word may be covered with a marker.  When the entire card is covered, a child has won and will call out, BINGO!

• Word Wall Concentration: When our new words come home on Monday, make two sets of cards.  After reviewing the words, lay all the cards out face down.  then you, and your child, can take turns trying to match the words.  When someone locates a match, they must say the word in order to keep the match.  The person with the most pairs of words wins.

• Word Wall Go Fish:  Make two sets of the sight word cards and wild cards.  Wild cards can be old sight words or other cards that can be matched.  everyone is given cards until they are all passed out.  If anyone has a pair in their hand, they may it down, but must be able to say the word in order to keep the set.  Each person then draws one card from the other person and tries to get a match.  This game continues until no more matches can be made.  The person with the most matches wins the game.

• Writing the Fun Way:  Take a cookie sheet and cover it with pudding or finger paint.  Have your child write their word in the pudding or the paint.  If your child likes to use their hands, this could be a great way for them to learn.  After they have written each word, have them say it, erase it and start with a new listing of words.  PS, using the pudding is much more FUN...and there your child will probably INSIST on helping to clean the cookie sheet.  (ha ha)

• Putting Back the Pieces:  Cut the word into individual letters or use magnetic letters.  Tell your child a word and have them use the letters to spell it.  Then have your child repeat the word they have made.

• Sentence Building:  As your child gains an understanding of several words, work with them on creating sentences with the words they know.  This will help them to use the words in context.  Try to use between 5-7 words in each sentence.

• Bean Bag Toss:  Materials: One shower curtain, butcher paper, or floor divided into 20 squares, bean bag, word wall words printed on large cards with a small number on the corner of each card.
• Attach one card to each square.
• Divide the class into two teams.  each team will take turns throwing the bean bag to a square.  If the student can read the word the bean bag lands on the team gets the number of points on the card.  If the student misses the word, the other team gets a chance to say it.  The team with the most points wins the game.

• Around the world: All students sit in a circle or in their desks.  One student will stand behind or to the side of another student.  The teacher then flashes them a sight word.  Whichever child says the word first will move on to the next player.  The student who moves furthers around the room or back to their seat is the winner.

• Wordo:  Play this game like bingo...but instead of having numbers on the cards use word wall words.  In order for the child to win, they need to correctly read each word back and read the spelling of it with the help of the class.

• Tic-Tac-Toe:  Divide the class into teams of X's and O's.  Write sight words in the tic-tac-toe spaces.  Team members take turns coming up and selecting a space to read.  If the child reads the word correctly he/she may mark it with their X or O.  If the answer is incorrect, the other team gets to send a player to the board and try to read the same word.

• Baseball:  Divide the class into two teams.  Place 4 signs around the room to identify 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base, and homeplate.  Have one team stand up in a single file line facing the playing field and the other team.  Hold up a word wall card to the first player...if they identify it correctly, they move to first base.  If they miss it it is strike one and they will be given another chance.  If the player misses it a second time, they have received strike two and now need to ask their team for help.  If they missed it this time, they earned an out for their team.  Three outs and their team is down.  Play continues in a similar fashion until three outs or a designated amount of time for each inning.  The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

• Word wall Hopscotch:  On a hopscotch game board fill in a word wall word in each square.  As children play, when they have placed their marker in a box they need to jump over, they also need to read the word wall word.  If they do it successfully they continue their turn.  If they miss it, they wait for their next turn to continue playing.

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http://pbskids.org/sesame/letter/index.html- letter recognition and practice with some of your favorite Sesame Street characters.

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