LEADERS - Color Coding the Word Wall

LEADERS Handbook of Early Literacy Strategies and Activities

Time: Varies
Group Style: Whole group
Grade Level: K-6

Rationale

• In order to promote fluency by recognizing high frequency words, student can identify decodable vs. sight words from the word wall.

Materials

• Index cards or oak tag (in 2 colors)
• Markers
• Word Wall

Procedure

• Color-code the words on the word wall. Sight words are one color and decodable words are another.
• Explain the rationale to the students. Some words cannot be sounded out.

Teacher Comments

• This gives the student another strategy to use while they are reading or writing.
• Ideally the same 2 colors would be used on word walls throughout the school.

For More Information about Working with Word Walls see the Four Blocks website.

"Must Have" Word Wall Sources:

	Throop, Sara Success With Sight Words: Multisensory Ways to Teach High-Frequency Words PhD Creative Teaching Press, 1999.
	Cunningham, Patricia M. and Hall, Dorothy P. Month by Month Phonics (Available by grade level: Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, Upper Grades) Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company, Inc., 1997.
	Cunningham, Patricia M., Hall, Dorothy P., and Sigmon, Cheryl M. The Teacher's Guide to the Four Blocks: A Multilevel Framework for Grades 1-2 Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company, Inc., 1999.
	Hill, Sandi Developing Literacy Using Reading Manipulatives Creative Teaching Press, 1997.
	Lynch, Judy Making Word Walls Work A Complete Systematic Guide with Routines, Grade-Perfect Word Lists, and Reproducible Word Cards to Help All Children Master High-Frequency Words Teaching Resources, 2005.
	Callella, Trish Making Your Word Wall More Interactive Creative Teaching Press, 2001.