Students can then shout out an example, the definition, or even a counter-example. Turn off the lights and use a flashlight to point to a word on the wall. This game is great for those last few minutes of class as a sponge activity. These are our school values, and it is important that these words are referenced by students and me daily. I have character words like tenacity, curiosity, courage, and community on my walls too. Word walls do not have to be specific to your content area. You give them a prompting such as “2, 4, 6, 8” are examples of _” And the first student to swat the word ‘multiples’ earns their team a point. Two students face off with flyswatters in hand. If you are like me and don’t bother to cover up anything in your room before a test, this will help remind students where to look when they are stuck. If you want students to get familiar with your word wall, use the Flyswatter Game. If they don’t know it, they can take an extra second to look up at the word wall. During mad minute exercises, I include vocabulary that they can provide a definition with one word (example: product=multiply). When students are about to begin practicing a new skill, I ask students to point to the word that will help them if I am unavailable.
To do this, I incentivize using academic language by giving classroom dollars to students who use the vocabulary correctly when answering a question or explaining an answer. This means that students need to be aware of its existence and its usefulness. Word walls look great and all, but ultimately, they should be used if you are going to devote wall space to them. We start my favorite unit in a couple of weeks- Algebra! I then include the words and as each unit ends, I move on to the next category of words. I love when a student can see how a proportional relationship and a linear equation are connected! In the beginning of the year, I only have the categories posted at the top of the wall. This helps students to use academic vocabulary and make connections between the different units. I like my words to stay up all year as we learn and review the words. Some of my fellow teachers even use the Spanish translation as additional leverage for students.
I have many English Language Learners in my classes, so word walls are especially helpful for them. This might sound obvious, but if students are relying on the Word Wall daily or weekly, the text should be visible from across the room, and should be in a place where a majority of students can see it. Sometimes, a definition is not necessary. Yes, the word alone is helpful, but ultimately, your word wall should include at least an image or an example that can be connected back to the word.
At my school, word walls are mandatory, even the PE space has a word wall! At first it can seem that a word wall is more like a decoration, but overtime I have come to love my word wall! I especially love when students use the word wall! Here are a few tips I have for maintaining a word wall and getting use out of it in my middle school math classroom.
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