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Early Childhood Association of FloridaSeptember 28, 2007
Dr. Janice Wood & Dr. Bronwyn McLemore
Using the Word WallWall to Boost Vocabularyand Concept Development
Early Literacy and Learning Model/Plus
Goal: Increase
opportunities to
learn and acquire
basic skills needed
to become
successful readers
and learners
Comprehensive,
Research-Based,
Literacy-Focused
Curriculum
for 3-, 4-, 5-Year-olds
Emergent Literacy• Reading Aloud, Emergent Comprehension,
and Independent Reading
• Print Concepts
• Letter and Sound Knowledge
• Phonological Awareness and Phonics
Connections
• Emergent Writing
• Oral Language, Listening, Vocabulary, and
Concept Development
• Parents spend 7
minutes per hour
interacting with a
child who is saying a
few words.
• They spend 20
minutes per hour
with a child who has
learned to talk.
• Parents spend 42
minutes per hour
with a child who is
saying a few words.
• They spend 55
minutes per hour
interacting with a
child who has
learned to talk.
Children from
Low Income
Homes…
(Hart & Risley, 2001)
Children from
High-Income
Homes…
600-Word Gap in Vocabulary by 3 years
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Professional Working-class Welfare
1100
words
750 words
500
words
Es
tim
ate
d C
um
ula
tiv
e V
oc
ab
ula
ry W
ord
s
Children’s
vocabularies
provide them with
opportunities to
access their
knowledge in
ways that will help
them understand
the world around
them. (Watson, 2003)
Young children need teachers who take
time to work with them individually, in small
groups, and sometimes with the entire class
– to help them develop their skills and
interest in learning news things about the
world.
Young children need teachers to teach
new words and concepts, and explain new
vocabulary.(U.S. Department of Education, 2002)
Oral Language Lays the Foundation
for Early Literacy Development
Effective Instruction
for Early Learners
Review
Practice/Use
Teach
Connect to Background
Knowledge
Explain the Purpose
Print-rich environments are necessary forchildren to learn the components of literacy.
(Allington & Johnston, 2001)
What is a Word Wall?
For young learners, a Word Wall is an alphabetically
arranged collection of words with pictures used as to
help children develop fluency in working with letters
and words.
Word Wall SongTune: “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”
Oh, we love to sing and play
with the Word Wall every day.
There are letters there to see, and
some words that we can read.
We get smarter– so will you,
if you look and listen too,
during our Word Wall time.Music stimulates attention, increases energy
levels, and integrates thinking and creativity.(Biller, 2003)
Quality
children’s
books introduce
new vocabulary
words while
reinforcing the
concepts that
our children are
learning.
(Fisher et al., 2004)
Word Wall CardsChildren’s comprehension increases by 33
percent when direct vocabulary instruction
is provided on specific words while reading.(Marzono, 2004)
Where Do I Begin?
Come Along, Sing the Alphabet Song
Begin with
Children’s Names
Environmental Print
Children are familiar with print in their environment:
logos and signs on stores, restaurants, and products.(Prior & Gerard, 2004)
Favorite Cookies
• Talk with the children about the picture.
• Say the word and ask children to repeat it.
• Go through one of the following activities:
• Letter Count - As a group, count the number of
letters in the word (say each)
• Cheerleading - Create a cheer for the word with a
motion for each letter
• Comprehension - Have students use the word in a
complete sentence.
• Add the word to the Word Wall.
Adding Words to the Word Wall
Young children
learn words best
when vocabulary
instruction is
integrated into
their classroom
routines.(Xue & Meisels, 2004)
Wake Up, WillieTune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Wake up Willie,
It’s time to start the day.
Point to a Word Wall word.
Show us what to say.
Word Wall Helper,
Word Wall Helper,
help us today.
Find the word
___________
right away.
Word Wall Helper
Skunk
Mouse
Stomp, Stomp, Clap
Blow a Kiss
Dribble and Shoot
Raise the Roof
ChantsRepetition increases
the strength of neural
connections.
Encouraging children
to listen to and repeat
words helps them
build neural
connections that will
in later years enhance
their capabilities of
learning words.(Wolfe & Nevills, 2004)
I Know the Name
Vocabulary
and Concept
Development
MathScienceSocial
Studies
Motor
DevelopmentSocial and
Emotional
Development
The
ArtsPhysical
Health
Mat
h
LITERACY
Concept Development Ants live in colonies.
Ants have six strong legs so they can move
quickly.
Ants use their antennae for touch and for their
sense of smell.
An ant has two stomachs – one with food for itself
and a second with
food to be shared
with other ants.
Vocabulary and Concept Words
When the Word Wall is an integral part of their
daily activities, children actively construct their
own literacy knowledge and learn to about
letters and words naturally and playfully.(Teale & Yokota, 2000)
Reach In The JarTune: “Are You Sleeping?”
Reach in the jar, reach in the jar,
and grab a word, grab a word.
Use it in a sentence.
Use it in a sentence,
So we can learn,
So we can learn.
Building working vocabularies and conceptual
development in young learners is facilitated
through social interactions. (Winters, 2004)
I am thinking of a word.
What can it be?
Listen to my definition
and please tell me.
? ? ? ? ?
To play make-believe or put
put on an act.
Teachers should engage children in rich
conversations and expose them to rare words
that are not encountered in everyday speech.(Vukelich & Christie, 2004)
Actively engaging
children in Word
Wall activities
increases student
learning. The more
involved the
children are, the
more likely they
are to use the
Word Wall with
purpose.
(Wagstaff, J., 1999)