When I first started looking up different ideas for word walls, I kept getting the same old boring ones. I understand the simple background with the simple words laid out in a specific order for the younger students. However, I came across this and my ideas for word walls blossomed. Oh. My. Goodness. You can do creative word walls like this for kindergarten, even. Have a smaller word wall bordering one wall of the classroom, and have 3D objects attached where possible. This would be doable for first grade's word walls, as well. I love the idea of having visuals for the older kids, not just the younger ones.
This next one I instantly fell in love with! This is exactly the height I was talking about for the word wall in my previous paragraph. This word wall is commonly used in preschool classrooms, but why not use it kindergarten or first grade classrooms? I feel like having the words more on their level and not so high up in the air, as most word walls are, would be much more beneficial. Not to mention, students could be spread out in the area and would all be able to utilize the word wall at the same time. I really, really, really like the idea of this one.
My final favorite of all the word walls I found has got to be this one!. HOW. GENIUS. This word wall would allow all students to see it no matter where they sit. I absolutely love this. My only eery thought is that you would get too many words and it would get in the way. Also,
I would like to hang student art work around the room so even though I like the idea of this one, I might not use it in the younger grades but maybe for the older grades.
Overall, looking at word walls helped me see it is important for them to be easily visible, easily readable, font must be black and bold, and it must be easily accessible to students. I often see in kindergarten or first grade classrooms the word walls are up extremely high on the bulletin board or above the smart board even. It makes so much more sense to me to have it eye-level with the students. I just think they would utilize it so much more.
Hi Jordan! I've seen word walls like the second and third ones you posted but I've never seen one like the first one! Wow! Adding 3D elements is such a cool idea! Thanks for the examples!
ReplyDeleteHi Jordan, I agree with Amanda I love the examples you found. I also have yet to see a 3-D word wall but I think the kids would love that. If you did one like that do you feel it would be better for older elementary grades? I think the younger kids would pull on the objects causing them to fall off.
ReplyDeleteThe ideas you found for word walls were awesome Jordan! I especially like the first two personally :D
ReplyDeleteI like how you researched and thought of different and more creative word walls. It’s easy to go with the typical ones, but it shows that you have pride and creativity when you dig deeper into finding one that matches your style and/or vision. I like these word walls. What grade(s) do you aspire to teach?
ReplyDeleteI got goosebumps looking at these word walls. If you hung your students' artwork from the ceiling, instead of the words, then you could use the walls for the words! I love the lower height word wall. All my kg teachers did that and the students loved it. The words were attached with velcro, so they could go over, take off a word, go to their seat and write it. They they would put it back. I can't even tell you how many lessons there were in that word wall! (paralipsis, anyone?)
ReplyDeleteJordan,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog! I am so glad you were able to find these ideas, I may just have to borrow the idea with the words all along the bottom portion of the wall so students can see them at eye level! Love it! Great thoughts and ideas!
Michelle P