Constructivist Approach to Vocabulary through Word Walls

1
Constructivist Approach to Vocabulary through
Word Walls

• Interactive Learning Experience Coaches
• Emily (Franz) and Jared (Hanz)
• We are here to PUMP YOU UP!

2
Talk Time

• Table Discussions about
• word wall knowledge
• feeling about word walls
• constructivism and word walls

3
Sit back and relax.

• LISTEN

4
Talk Time

• How do you feel about word walls?
• Are you for word walls or against word walls?
• Why do you feel this way?
• Do you use or can you picture using word walls
  in a constructivist way?

5
Word Wall Changes

• The approach has changed
• No longer used to fill space
• Words dont stay the same
• Several fill up a single classroom
• Student creation and management
• How can you turn your word walls into a
  constructivist viewpoint?

6
Constructivist Word Wall

• Students could have complete control of picking
  word wall words.
• The Dot Along the way jot down words you find
  important or words you want to uncover.
• Students can find meaningful ways to group or
  pattern words.

7
One Constructivist Approach

• Students chose materials to make individual or
  class word wall through classroom discussion.
• Think to yourself what materials you will need
  to create a beneficial word wall?

8
Materials for Word Walls

• Sticky Notes
• Paper
• Shower curtains
• Journal
• Blinds
• Ribbon
• Cut out letters
• Science board
• Magnet boards
• Chalkboard
• Ceiling word walls
• Bulletin Boards
• The list goes on and on.let your students be
  creative

9
Kinds of Word Walls

• The kinds of word walls are limitless!
• Content Word Walls
• Holiday
• Character
• Name
• Connections
• Vowel Pattern
• Words I want to know more about!
• Chunks
• Describing Words
• Action Verbs
• Alliterations

10

• Try It!

11
Now what can a constructivist teacher do with
these word walls?

• Word walls should be ever changing.
• Promote more in depth projects with the words.
• Hold group discussions of words found on the word
  walls (discussing grouping of words, what do you
  think this word means?).
• Questioning words on word wall.
• Making words interactive.
• Develop interaction with word walls during
  literacy stations.

12
Final Thoughts

• Janiel Wagstaff has written a book on Word Walls
  and states
• Word Walls are catching on - many teachers
  build them.
• After this class we are challenging you to have
  the students build the Word Walls in your
  classroom.

13
More Final Thoughts

• Tobias quotes Perhaps instead of spending so
  much time and effort tying to convince our
  children to move onto the path weve designed, we
  could encourage them to get to their destination
  by allowing them a few minor detours. Who knows?
  We may even discover some places wed like to
  travel off the beaten path!

14
Your Thoughts

• How do you feel about word walls now?
• How might you change your word walls to meet the
  constructivist approach?

15
References

• Olson, Sally. (2006). Retrieved June 12,
  2007, from teachnet.com Website
  www.teachnet.com/lesson/langarts/wordwall062599.ht
  ml Reynolds.
• This website provided us with many benefits of a
  word walls.
• Peter H. (2003). The Dot. Cambridge
  Candlewick Press.
• Vashti believes that she cannot draw, but her art
  teacher's encouragement leads her to change her
  mind.
• Tobias, Cynthia. (1994). The Way They Learn.
  Wheaton Tyndale House Publishers.
• Tobias describes ways students learn differently.
  It discusses the importance of learning your
  students learning style to help implement your
  instruction.
• Wagstaff, Janiel M. (1999). Teaching Reading
  and Writing with Word Walls. New York
  Scholastic.
• Janiel provides a resources on implementing and
  constructing word word walls.