Word Walls for Teachers
Are word walls a part of your strategy for boosting literacy skills in the classroom? Or maybe you're looking for word wall ideas and printables to add to your teacher toolkit?
The Teach Starter teacher team has carefully created and curated this collection of word walls for elementary teachers to cover your needs — whether you're helping your kindergarten class stay on track with sight words or introducing new social studies vocabulary to your 3rd-grade class!
New to this concept? Our expert ELA teachers have got you covered with a few quick tips to help you determine if a word wall is right for your classroom!
What Is a Word Wall?
A word wall is pretty much what the name implies — a classroom wall display with words in large print that can be read by students from across the room.
What goes on a word wall? Oh, the possibilities!
- Sight words
- Unit vocabulary
- Parts of speech
- Prepositions
- Content area words
- High-frequency words
- Word families
- Spelling words
- And more!
Used as an interactive tool, word walls tend to start out small and grow as you progress through a lesson or unit and students learn new sight words or vocabulary to be added to their word wall.
How to Make a Classroom Word Wall
If this all sounds good so far, let's talk about how to actually create a word wall. There are plenty of ideas out there, from using pictures alongside the words to printing your words on fun shapes, but here are some important tips our teacher team stands by:
- Make sure your words are printed in large text that can be easily read even by students who are seated across the room.
- Keep contrast in mind to ensure readability — you might want to use a dark background with lighter text.
- Organization is key! Many word walls are set up in alphabetical order to make it easier for students to find the words they are looking for right when they need them, but you may want to organize unit vocabulary terms by how they connect to one another or group word families together.
- Choose a spot on your classroom wall that has space for additional words to be added.
- Keep your students' usage in mind when you're mounting words to the wall. Using sticky tack or similar mounting putty will make it easier for students to be able to remove a word and take it back to their desks when necessary. You can also set up a word wall with wall hooks and place words on book rings (or looseleaf rings) so students can take them down to flip through!
Easy Word Wall Ideas
Looking for easy-peasy word wall ideas? Our team has got those for you, too, with word lists developed by teachers for teachers! Explore this collection of printable word walls that cover a variety of subjects and grade levels to save your precious planning time.
- Print and display the vocabulary cards that are provided.
- Use the customize option to add content words of your own.
- Use the blank cards at the end of the resource to add any specific words that your class finds during their learning experiences.
- Plus Plan
Election Words - Election Vocabulary Word Wall Cards
Printable election-related vocabulary word wall for teaching election vocabulary.
- Free Plan
Weather Word Wall Vocabulary
Use this teacher-created weather resource to teach weather vocabulary. Build a word wall with your students during your weather lessons.
- Plus Plan
World War 1 Vocabulary Words
Display important WW1 vocabulary words with a printable and customizable word wall.
- Plus Plan
"Ow" Words - Illustrated Cards
Help students practice reading words with the vowel team “OW” with a set of 24 illustrated word cards.
- Plus Plan
Understanding Volume - Vocabulary Cards
Promote math vocabulary development with this set of 15 vocabulary cards focusing on volume.
- Plus Plan
Order of Operations – Vocabulary Cards
Promote math vocabulary development with this set of 11 order and operations vocabulary cards.
- Plus Plan
On the Farm - Vocabulary and Writing Prompts
Inspire young farmers to read and write about the farm with farm-themed writing prompts and word wall cards.
- Free Plan
Halloween Word Wall Vocabulary
Sixty Halloween-related vocabulary cards for a word wall.
- Plus Plan
Dinosaurs - Vocabulary Cards and Writing Prompts for Second Grade
Inspire young paleontologists to read and write about dinosaurs with a dinosaur-themed writing center and word wall.
- Plus Plan
Dia De Muertos Vocabulary and Writing Prompts
Learn and use the language of Mexican tradition with a Dia de Los Muertos vocabulary word wall and writing activity.
- Plus Plan
Ocean Writing Center
Build stronger vocabulary and writing skills with an ocean-themed writing center.
- Plus Plan
New Year's Vocabulary Cards and Writing Center
Create a vocabulary and writing center with a New Year's Day word wall and writing templates for primary grades.
- Plus Plan
Fire Safety Vocabulary Cards
Build a Fire Prevention Week writing center in your classroom with illustrated Fire Safety Vocabulary word wall cards.
- Plus Plan
Patriot Day Vocabulary Cards and Writing Center
Increase vocabulary and build background knowledge about Patriot Day (September 11th) with a set of vocabulary word wall cards and writing worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Labor Day Vocabulary Cards and Writing Center
Learn about Labor Day and write sentences using academic vocabulary with a Labor Day word wall and printable writing templates.
- Plus Plan
Groundhog Day Vocabulary Cards and Writing Center
Create a vocabulary and writing center with a Groundhog Day for Kids word wall and writing template.
- Plus Plan
Columbus Day Vocabulary Word Wall
Increase vocabulary and build background knowledge about Columbus Day with a set of vocabulary word wall cards.
- Plus Plan
Halloween Words - Vocabulary and Writing Center
Stretch your students’ vocabulary and writing skills with a devilishly-delightful Halloween Vocabulary and Writing Center.
- Plus Plan
Westward Expansion Visual Word Wall
Build vocabulary with a visual/picture word wall aligned with your Westward Expansion unit of study.
- Free Plan
Women's History Month Word Wall
Celebrate important terms, events, and people in women’s history with this set of 37 vocabulary cards for your classroom word wall.
- Plus Plan
Sorcerer Supplies – Word Wall Template
A set of Sorcerer Supplies themed vocabulary word wall cards.
- Plus Plan
Circulatory and Cardiovascular System Word Wall
A set of Circulatory and Cardiovascular System themed vocabulary word wall cards.
- Plus Plan
World Currencies – Word Wall Template
A set of world currency-themed word wall cards.
- Plus Plan
Money – Word Wall Template
A set of money-themed word wall cards.
- Plus Plan
Penguins – Word Wall Template
A set of penguin-themed word wall cards.
- Plus Plan
Digestive System Word Wall Vocabulary
Learn about the vocabulary related to the digestive system with a printable word wall.
- Plus Plan
Wet and Dry Environments Word Wall Vocabulary
48 wet and dry environment vocabulary word wall cards.
- Plus Plan
Recount Writing Word Wall
A set of 30 vocabulary words related to recount writing.
- Plus Plan
Eid-al-Adha Word Wall Vocabulary
Twenty-seven Eid-al-Adha related vocabulary cards for a word wall.
- Plus Plan
Independence Day - Word Wall
Teach your students about the Fourth of July and inspire them to read and write with an illustrated Fourth of July Word Wall.
- Plus Plan
Sports - Word Wall Template
A set of sport-themed vocabulary word wall cards.
- Plus Plan
Calculator Pattern - Word Wall Template
A set of calculator pattern themed vocabulary word wall cards.