The possibilities are endless. These could range from word families, word chunks and word ending studies within the context of reading.
Word ladders could be created using the words on the word wall.
Daily repetition and quick game like activities will engage students in repeatedly and authentically working on spelling and reading the words. Again…the possibilities are endless.
Some of my favorites for daily repetition and practice are listed below. These activities always became student favorites. Now, these are not MY ideas, I've included where they came from below.
Be A Mind Reader
(Patricia Cunningham, Phonics They Use, 4th edition, page 79)
Using the word wall pictured here, put yourself in the role of the student. As you read each clue below, notice how you are scanning and reading all of the words multiple times. Imagine your students when you are giving clues one at a time. They will be scanning, reading and rereading those words with each clue given.
Teacher gives clues one a time providing appropriate wait time in between for students to write down their word choice:
Clue 1: I’m thinking of a word on the word wall.
Clue 2: It has one syllable.
Clue 3: It is a purple word.
Clue 4: It is a homophone.
Clue 5: It rhymes with could.
Clue 1: I’m thinking of a word on the word wall.
Clue 2: It has 5 letters.
Clue 3: It is a homophone.
Clue 4: It is a verb.
Clue 5: It belongs in this sentence: Mary will _______ her essay today.
Wordo
(Patricia Cunningham, Phonics They Use, 4th edition, page 80-81)
Wordo is another quick game that you can play by having students draw a grid of any size on notebook paper. You may also wish to have blank copies of grids. See the free download at the end of this post.
To get started, you will choose the number of words that will fit on the grid. As the teacher calls out a word, students write that word on any block of their grid. The teacher writes the word on an index card. Then, the teacher draws a word from her stack of index cards, the students must spell it in unison and then, students locate the word on their grid and place a marker over it just like in Bingo. When a student has a fully covered row or column, he/she wins. The repetitive spelling and reading of the words helps students to commit those words to memory making them more automatic.
Word Sorts (I like students to return to the Wordo card from above on another day)
(Patricia Cunningham, Phonics They Use, 4th edition, page 81-82)
Have students return to the Wordo card from a previous day. (See pictured above in Wordo) Students will then tear those words apart. The teacher directs students to create categories to sort the words.
Sometimes the teacher may give the categories and other times, the students will be expected to sort for their own categories and be prepared to explain their thinking. Provide time for students to share their category groupings and explanations. Then, have students decide other words not on the word wall that would fit into the categories.
Snap and Clap Review
I would have students Snap and Clap the words daily. All students would have to stand up with their hands by their sides.
*I would call out a word.
*Students would repeat the word and begin spelling it in unison.
*While spelling the word, the students would clap for consonants and snap for vowels.
*After spelling, students would say the word again and place their hands by their sides ready for the next one.
It is really a quick way to bring student attention to the words on the wall.
Teachers have done many variations of this active word work visit to the word wall.
If Snap and Clap the words is not your thing, teachers and students have...
~~cheered the words
~~rapped the words
~~stomped the word
~~the possibilities are endless
I always look to Patricia Cunningham and Tim Rasinski, but there are so many other word study gurus out there! Check out the word work tools that I have available below.
Until next time...
