Our Word Wall
Here's What To Do
Choose a place in your home where you can display a collection of words with your child or children; make sure this place is accessible at eye level for everyone, like a blank wall in a hallway or on the refrigerator.
When you're reading with your child, ask if they know the definition of some of the trickier words in the book. If they don't know, see if they can figure out the meaning by thinking about the context of the word in the sentence, or by looking at the picture. If they can't figure it out on their own, explain the meaning of the word.
Write down new words on a sticky note or index card (or help your child write the word). Post it to your word wall.
Keep adding new words to the wall. When you have a bunch of words, read the words out loud for your child and help your child group the words into different categories.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- “Where is the best place in our home to have a word wall”
Engage:
- "Let's add 'preposterous' to our word wall now that you know what it means! I'll write it for you, and you can stick it up there."
- "Now that we have so many words on our wall, do you think you can sort them into categories? Let's read them together and see if we can figure out how to sort them."
Encourage:
- "It's okay that you don't know what this word means, it's a big fancy word. Let's see if I can help you figure it out."
- "Do you know what 'canine' means? Let's re-read the sentence and see if that helps you figure it out. The picture also might have some clues."
Reflect:
- “Look at all the new words you've learned!"
Not quite ready?
Encourage your child to ask questions about words they don't know.
Ready for more?
Continue to make a word wall with increasingly challenging words.
As your child masters this skill...
They will use strategies to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words, and will be able to group new words into categories.