Word Wall Complete!

Yes, it's finished, and it feels so good to cross something off my list!

Here it is:

Excuse the fire alarm...

I wish I had taken a closer up picture...the color of the felt ended up going really well with the ribbon. Here's a closer view of the title:

The whole thing is above my coat rack. I'm glad I had a big wall available, because there are several ways I want to use it. I really don't want it to be a place where I stick words on there and the kids just look at it every so often to check their spelling.

Instead, I want my students to be part of the process of adding words to the wall and I want the wall to be utilized often as a resource and place for inspiration.

Here are a few of the ways I plan on making this happen:

1) I will have some important sight words up, as well as special words that might be used often (such as the name of our school).

2) Words specific to each subject/unit will be added as we learn new vocabulary. Students will help choose which words in the unit should be posted on the wall (a great formative assessment too--I can see if they choose the most important terms).

3) Students can submit interesting words they found in their independent reading books (just thought-- we could also decide as a class if we find a neat word in a read aloud).

I'm going to have students fill out a word web (I definitely need more practice with googledocs. It's really easy to make though!). Basically, they find the definition, synonyms, and antonyms and they use the word in a sentence. They can illustrate the word on the back (or not, if it's too difficult or they choose not to). Then they'll add this to a binder and we'll have "Our Class Dictionary". This way, the students will actually interact with the words, and if someone wants to use a word on the wall but aren't sure what it is, they have a quick way to find out.

We will be getting 8 computers in our room this year, and I think I'll have students fill out their word webs during their time on the computer. (Love, love, love Merriam-Webster's Word Central for students to use!). I'm not sure exactly how that's going to work out yet, and I'll be sure to report back on how all this works out.

4) Finally, we'll add words during writing time. I'm especially thinking about whole class lessons when we talk about "showing not telling" and describing things in their stories. However, it could also be when someone is sharing and the class likes a word they used.

So far that's all I've got-- any other ideas out there? I hope the "Garden of Words" really does become an awesome resource for our room!

Part 2- Easy as ABC

I was a bad blogger and didn't take pictures of each part of my letter making process. But that's okay, because it was mainly trial and error. Steps 1-8 are in my previous post.

STEP 9 begins on your couch with a Project Runway marathon playing. [I can't believe they are starting a 9th season! Crazy!]

Lay out your felt, scissors, and di-cut letters- one of each letter in capital and lowercase.

Contemplate giving up and buying pre-cut letters. Compare the cost of the $2 for felt to pre-cut letters. Re-commit yourself to the felt.

STEP 10: Trace the di-cut letter on the felt using blue marker so it won't show. Then try to re-trace inside the letter because you want the letters smaller. Cut it out and decide it's still too big, so trim around the edges until you like it.

STEP 11: Do some variation of step 10 about 52 times. Painstakingly match previously made letters to make sure they're all the same size.

STEP 12: Get stuck on the X. Consider removing X from the alphabet to save you the trouble. Finally accept your best attempt.

STEP 13: Sit back and admire your bounty of letters.

Oh and an added bonus to this project...

You can feel a teensy bit like the blue man from Big Fat Liar. (You know you saw this movie.)

Now I just need to add these letters to this:

And of course get more ribbon [and the correct ribbon] to finish sectioning it off. Then I'm going to use the space to the right of the board to title it. I think I'm going with "Garden of Words".

Hopefully it'll all come together soon!!!

How To Come Somewhat-But-Not-Really Close To Completing A Word Wall

STEP ONE: Go to Joann's in search of the perfect ribbon. Get distracted by the 70% off aisle for 10-15 minutes, but ultimately decide you don't need any of it. Arrive at the ribbon aisle and search in vain for flowered ribbon to match your vision. Give up the vision and spend more time than you will admit holding different ribbons up to see how they look together. Finally purchase your ribbon:

The ribbon trifecta: green with checks, blue with dots, plain yellow

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STEP 2: [Important note: already have the paper & border up from the day before, when your boyfriend came to help but instead you kept taking the stapler and doing it yourself, you control freak you.]

Carefully measure the width of the board and mark off every 9.5" so you'll have 13 boxes across and 2 down.

STEP 3: Cut the ribbon into strips and start stapling.

It's all straight, riiight?

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STEP 4: Realize that you do not have enough ribbon. Grumble angrily at yourself for not thinking about this at the store.

STEP 5: Go back to Joann's. Grumble angrily when you notice there is no more of the blue ribbon. Snatch up the green and yellow anyway because you are determined to finish this project.

STEP 6: Go back to school. Start to put up the yellow ribbon and realize you bought the wrong style. Grumble furiously at yourself for not paying more attention.

STEP 7: Switch your focus to the letters for the wall. Try using the felt you bought in the di-cut machine but it gets stuck. No need to grumble...those letters are too big anyway. Di-cut one of each letter in capital & lowercase to be a stencil for the felt.

STEP 8: Realize you have a lot of tracing and cutting work ahead of you. Decide it would be best completed in front of your television.

PART TWO Coming soon:)