Word Walls and Guest Columnist

This week has been a whirlwind.  Our D.A.N and I.P.D.P were up for review.  D.A.N = Data Analysis Notebook.  This is the adult version that is so big that a five inch binder is stuffed full and unable to accept any new papers.  YIKES!  I.P.D.P = Individual Professional Development Plan.  We are to write narratives, discuss interventions, determine if goals are being met, etc.  I'm grateful all these meetings came the week before spring break.  Next week I can official take a brain break!!!

As you are aware, I'm a monthly guest columnist for Really Good Stuff.  This week my article of interactive math word walls was published.  A sweet follower asked that I follow up with pictures of my wall and file folders.  

First, click here to read the article!

Next, preview the pictures below to see how we develop our wall!

Students help represent words on the visual projector.

My students take ownership of the words!

Pictured above are a few of our current words.

After the words are created, they are glued to the file folders and hung by clips on the wall.  When introducing the essential question, I have a volunteer pull down our current words to bring in our meeting area.  This allows for the words to be displayed at their eye level.  This also helps the kids understand where to find the words in the classroom.  Older words are moved to heights that big kids like me can hardly reach!  =)  Once the unit is complete, the words are moved to a filing bin for kids to reference throughout the year but may not be in current play!

For more complex representations, I use curriculum resources.

A few of the words in the two above pictures are featured in a previous post.  Here is a link to this post with words made available by SW Georgia Schools! 

The article features a game called What's My Name?  This interactive approach can be used with a fun piece of technology.  Here's a previous post that features this product and other ways I  use this FUN marquee!