Word walls help students in all grades develop and reinforce vocabulary. Teachers use word walls to remind students of new and essential words. As students learn new words, teachers write them in large print and post them on the wall. Students repeatedly see the words, which strengthens their memory, and teachers can easily refer to them during lessons. Word walls also support students in spelling the words accurately.
Sound walls go a step further—educators base them on the science of reading, and experts highly recommend them for literacy instruction.
TYPES OF WORD WALLS
Sight Word Wall:
Sight words make up the majority of text in primary grades. When students master the sight words for their grade level, they can read 50–75% of the words in most texts. Teachers and parents can help by writing each new sight word a child learns on a sentence strip or 8½ x 11” paper and posting it alongside mastered words. Over time, the wall grows to include all necessary grade-level sight words.
Literature-Based Word Wall:
Teachers create these walls to support literature studies. They select key vocabulary, new words, or characters’ names from the text the class reads. As students encounter the words during reading or vocabulary lessons, teachers write them on sentence strips or computer paper and post them centrally in the classroom. This visual support helps students learn vocabulary and access important terms during class discussions.
Seasonal Word Wall:
Elementary teachers often organize instruction around seasons. As they introduce seasonal keywords, they write them on sentence strips or computer paper and post them in the classroom. Over time, students build a collection of seasonal words. At the end of each season, teachers move the words to another area, allowing students to compare seasonal vocabulary and see how it changes throughout the year. types of word walls
types of word walls
Writing Word Wall:
Teachers use writing word walls to support students during writing instruction. Young writers often struggle to retrieve appropriate vocabulary. Teachers post useful word lists—general or specific—on the wall to spark memory. When focusing on a writing style, such as compare-and-contrast, teachers might post words like “similar,” “different,” “same,” and “opposite” to guide student writing.
Spelling Word Wall:
Spelling word walls provide year-round spelling support. Teachers organize these walls alphabetically so students can quickly find words. They include words students want to learn to spell, such as common spelling errors, key vocabulary, weekly spelling words, or classmates’ names. Teachers regularly add new words as students encounter them and often keep the wall visible even during tests, covering it temporarily to avoid giving away answers.
Parts of Speech Word Wall: types of word walls
To help students categorize words and understand grammar, teachers build word walls organized by parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs). When students learn new words, they place them under the correct category. This approach supports vocabulary development and strengthens grammar knowledge. For example, students may question whether pretty functions as a verb, noun, or adjective. A parts-of-speech word wall helps clarify this confusion.
types of word walls
Phonics/Phonemic Word Wall:
Teachers and parents create phonics-based word walls to connect sounds with printed letters, helping students develop phonemic awareness. They organize familiar words by sound categories. For example, under the short “i” sound, they might post it, in, and sit. This sound-based organization helps students make connections between what they hear and what they see in print.
Content Area Word Wall:
Word walls also work well in subjects such as science, math, and history. Many students struggle with content-specific vocabulary, and word walls offer the necessary support. Teachers write key terms on sentence strips or paper and add them to the wall as they teach them. Students use the wall as a reference when discussing or writing about content. The wall evolves throughout the year as students learn new concepts and words.
Unit/Chapter Word Wall:
Teachers can also build word walls specific to a unit or chapter. They choose key terms, write them on sentence strips or paper, and post them on the wall as students learn them. At the end of the unit, teachers can remove the wall. This approach is efficient in classrooms with limited space.
Standardized Test Preparation Word Wall: types of word walls
Each standardized test uses specific language in both questions and answer choices. Teachers help students prepare for tests like the MCAS by posting common test terms on a dedicated word wall. They write these terms on sentence strips or paper and display them year-round. Students become more familiar and comfortable with the test vocabulary, improving their test-taking confidence and performance.
Work Cited – K12 Reader
7/18/25
