#1589. Introducing New Word Wall Words

4 Blocks, level: all
Posted Tue Feb 22 18:47:18 PST 2000 by Julie Gray (nag@voyager.net).
Tri-County North Elementary, Lewisburg U.S.A.
Materials Required: Bright colored flash cards or index cards and markers.
Activity Time: 5-10 minutes
Concepts Taught: Providing a hook for students to retain spelling words.

When I introduce new word wall words, I have the words written in big black marker onto a brightly colored flash card. These words are kept in a pocket chart all week long until we ceremoniously add them to the word wall on Friday. On monday the students help me make up a rhyme or a chant about each word. We sing the chant/rhyme all week long and by Friday they don't even have to look at the word they have it committed to memory! For instance: we-nt we went to a movie! Jump high j-u-m-p (clap,clap,clap). T-a-l-k don't talk to me that way! The kids love it as well as the parents. When we come across word wall words in our reading I just start the cheer and they automatically know it.