Word Wall

Here's a new method for you this week in teaching your child to read.

Start a word wall.

Schools make word walls and usually put them in alphabetical order. In my son's preschool, it has color words, classmate names, months, days, etc.

It doesn't have to be a permanent deal. It can be just sticky notes on a board or wall, or whatever way works for you.

Think about things you do or use everyday with your child. Snack foods, furniture, toys, etc. are great words for the wall. As they learn, you can add more words or switch around. This is even really helpful for getting your child to use their words instead of grunting or, "I don't know."

For example, the words juice, water, potty, bed, couch, TV, eat, drink, grapes, crackers, play and milk are put on the board. Throughout the day, when your child wants something or you are changing activity, go to your word wall and sound out words on the board. When they find a word they want, they can touch and read it to get the item or activity. If it is time for bed, you could go to the board and have them look for the word, bed.

You can have different words each day, and the more you do it, the more they will learn. For the smaller ones, feel free to add a picture to the word first, then after a few times, have only the word. For beginners, the pictures will give them a clue to the word without being overwhelmed. If your child has trouble expressing themselves, add feeling words such as angry, sad, mad, etc. Include pictures for younger ages.

Older kids? Try more challenging words or their weekly vocabulary words. Put them around the house on their frequent spots or drop a word at any time for them to practice them. This will help them to retain the information long term instead of cramming before their weekly test.

Where will you put your word wall or word board?