Word Walls
Overview
A word wall helps build the Math Communication and vocabulary skills that are necessary for problem solving. Doing activities with the wall, such as playing games, encourages participation, helping students remember the words even better.
Example: Use This Strategy in the Classroom
Watch how this middle school teacher uses a word wall to help her students review various vocabulary words. Her use of gesturing and asking students to repeat provides additional support for memory formation. This activity can also be used for math terms to help students deepen their understanding of math vocabulary and strengthen their Math Communication.
Design It into Your Product
Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.
By using Padlet, students and teachers can co-create word walls, helping to move words from Short- to Long-term Memory. Watch this video to see how collaborative digital word walls can support learning.
Additional Resources
Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
Factors Supported by this Strategy
More External Memory Aids Strategies
Rhyming, alliteration, and other sound devices reinforce math skills development by activating the mental processes that promote memory.
A mnemonic device is a creative way to support memory for new information using connections to current knowledge, for example by creating visuals, acronyms, or rhymes.