How interactive is your Word Wall? If you're like me, when you were in the classroom it was probably growing cobwebs! Until an Instructional Specialist came in a modeled for me how to make it interactive in one of my science stations. From there, I used the same idea during my math stations! From then on, I realized the power of Math Word Walls in the language development as well as the mathematical success and confidence of my students!!
One focal area for this upcoming year will be WORD WALLS on my campus! Although the demographic make-up of our campus is thirsty for language development, you don't have to be an English Language Learner in order to benefit from such tools as Word Walls!
This link lists some additional tools that are best practices for all learners. I, myself, am a visual learner so any teacher that uses hand movements, allows movement, lets me talk and draw pictures provides the perfect atmosphere for me to learn. I can't tell you how dreadfully bored I am when I go to a training where my am held captive to my seat while the presenter does ALL of the talking (much less when they insult my intelligence by reading the Power Point to me word by word). But I digress!
I want to share a website with you that might assist you with a Word Wall station you could create in your class!
Google "Free Math Apps" and look for "The Math Learning Center". Or simply click on the link just listed. You should come to page like so:
Now, let me paint the picture for your classroom set up.
All of your students are sitting on the carpet in a semi-circle around you and you have invited a student up to stand across from you. Prior to class (ideally during the course of the unit) you have placed up about 10-15 vocabulary words on your wall (via index cards or maybe printed out from one of these websites).
Math Word Walls
Vocabulary Cards
You hold an iPad with this free Web App pulled up called "Math Vocabulary Cards".
You read the definition of the missing vocabulary word to your partner, then turn the iPad to face him/her and let them look at the visual/definition. You encourage them to look at the words listed on the WORD WALL behind you two and use the clues on the iPad to take an educated guess. Once they guess...you hit the EYE looking button in the top right corner to reveal the answer.The two of you trade places or you hand the iPad to him/her. They hit the PLAY button and you switch turns becoming the one using the clues to guess the words.
Once this "game" is introduced to your class, I might suggest putting students in pairs and letting them practice it for about 3 minutes while on the floor. Have a mini-discussion about procedures and expectations and then later in the week, make it a station!
In the station, put up a poster with your expectations and "I can" objectives such as:
"I can orally describe key math vocabulary using picture models and definitions."
If you want to differentiate for your more advanced learners, click on the little "HIDE/SHOW" button in the bottom middle and choose to either hide the definition (causing students to create their own) or hide the picture (prompting students to draw their own).
What a buzz this station will be! You kids will love picking a partner and growing in proficiency as they conquer more words each week! You might even have them create 3 columns in their math journal labeled "Don't know", "Sort of know" and "I rock" and as they conquer more words, they can write them on sticky notes and move them from the "Don't know" category to the "I rock" category!!
If you have additional ideas, don't hesitate to leave a comment or two! Enjoy!
