Word Walls
Overview
A word wall helps build the mathematical vocabulary and Language Skills that are necessary for problem solving. Doing activities with the wall, such as gesturing, encourages participation, helping students remember the words even better.
Example: Use This Strategy in the Classroom
Watch how this third grade teacher created a math word wall to promote mathematical vocabulary understanding. By introducing five new math words a week, students expand their vocabulary and Language Skills.
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.
Easy access to seeing the relationships between numbers promotes number sense as students see these connections repeatedly.
Cards with strategies for managing emotions help students remember how to act when faced with strong feelings.
Timers help students learn to self-pace and transition.
