November 3

Every Monday your child brings home a new Word Wall List. Find a place to post the new list. Some families use the fridge door. Others have a spot in the child's room.

Here are some things you can do with the list that will help your child.

1. Read the words together. Not every child will be able to read the words yet. Give as much support at needed.
2. Play Mystery Words. Take time with your child giving clues to each other about words from the list. For example, if the word you want your child to find is to, you could say, "The word rhymes with Boo!" Or if the word you want your child to find is up, you could say, "The word is the opposite of down."
3. Ask your child to show you the Grade One way to print the new words -- or any words -- from the list.
4. Write the words on "cards." Pieces of paper will do. Take turns with your child. Draw one or two cards and make a sentence with the word(s) you've drawn. At this stage, simply saying the sentence is good enough for all but the most advanced students.
5. Make rhyming words with a specific Word Wall Word. Being able to hear and reproduce rhymes is an important reading strategy.
6. If you see your child spelling a Word Wall Word incorrectly, point out that that is a Word Wall Word and ask your child to correct the word. NOTE: These are the only words I hold children accountable for spelling correctly, and even then, I insist on correct spelling only if they can see the list.

The list above contains ideas to prime your pump. You and your child will find other uses for the words. The more fun you have with the list, the more valuable the list will be to your child.