Every year, it seems we get more and more visual learners coming into our classrooms, learners who benefit from a math word wall that shows concepts and vocabulary in action. This approach has worked wonders in my classroom and has given me back so much of my time previously spent on explaining and re-explaining concepts. And I know the same will be true for you!
Creating a math word wall for my classroom has made it easier for me to reach my students and easier for them to learn. The references completely changed how my students have been able to access our math vocabulary and the concepts we learn in class. Our math word walls are covered in examples and visuals that show the math concepts in context along with the vocabulary words we cover in class.
From math vocabulary reminders to greater student independence to making the room an inviting place to learn, there are so many positives to adding a visual math word wall to any classroom.
In this post I want to highlight 5 reasons I believe so strongly in math word walls, especially ones that show examples and concepts in context, and why have them in my classroom. I'll also include photos of the pdf math word walls I've made covering grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and Algebra, Geometry and Algebra 2.
Reason #1: Greater student independence
You're at the board in the middle of an amazing lesson when a hand goes up. The good thing? It's not to go to the bathroom. The bad? It is about a concept not at all related to your awesome lesson.
Students are forever asking questions that have nothing to do with what is currently happening. A lot of times these questions are long-held misconceptions or misunderstandings. Magic happens when those confusions are ironed out. Those are the "lightbulb moments" we all live for as teachers.
With references on the walls, students can independently access the information that is clogging up their thinking so that they can get back to the current topic. The boost in confidence this gives students is reason enough for a word wall.
Reason #2: Keeping the class on track
This one is the teacher version of reason #1. Word walls help keep the class on track. When I am able to point to a reminder on the wall and quickly get that one student over that speed bump, class runs so much more smoothly. I believe in answering all questions, especially those "you should have learned this 3 years ago" questions.
It is an honor to have students ask questions that are not on grade-level and I never, ever, ever use "should" in my teaching. Asking these questions means that they trust me with their insecurities and this means so much to me. That being said, random math questions increase the possibility that the rest of the class will start snapchatting. Math word walls help me move faster through these questions so that my class stays on track.
Reason #3: An inviting classroom
In Broken Window Theory, the idea is that a small thing like a building's broken window sends a loud message that the building is not being cared for. The theory states that people will then break more windows because what does it even matter anyway?
When a building is cared for, people know it. When we put even a little effort into making our classrooms warm and inviting, it sends a powerful unspoken message that we care about our students and their learning. It also sends the same message to parents. A principal once gave me some advice about parents. He said, "Parents just want to know that you like their kid." Now as a mom, I completely get it.
Reason #4: Connections to previous topics
Many of my students in Algebra 2 don't automatically remember what the x value at a y-intercept is or how to find the slope of a line. Even though Algebra 1 is not taught in my classroom at all during the day, I have Algebra 1 references on my wall.
Over and over again I go to that wall to point to the vocabulary my students had seen 2 years earlier. By having those reminders there, more difficult Algebra 2 topics are more accessible.
When one of my students forgets what a zero is, I can point to our linear graph's x-intercept and make the connection. Breaking hard problems down into easier examples is also a useful skill, especially during dreaded standardized tests.
Reason #5: Low floor, high ceiling
Math can be super intimidating for some kids, and those are the same kids who may not always feel comfortable asking questions. Math word walls create a classroom environment with a "low floor, high ceiling" where all kids can enter and then grow.
I'm reading Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler and am finding that it puts into words everything I want to be as a teacher. To be quite honest, between work, family and exhaustion, it's the first book I have read in probably 5 years. That is embarrassing to type, and at the same time I am so thankful my first book back is this book. I'm an exceptionally slow reader, which makes me think about my students with diagnosed and undiagnosed reading disabilities. If it's hard for me to read, how must it be for them?
I make sure to make word walls accessible for all with visual references that are not too wordy. This allows kids with learning disabilities, English Language Learners and kids who are afraid of math to enter into the conversation.
Over the years, teachers have sent me some great photos of their classroom word walls. Here are just a few:
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| Ms. Davenport's math word wall |
Ms. Davenport's choice of yellow background paper is just so happy.
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| Ms. Mac's math word wall |
Ms. Mac chose a bright orange to display her unit circle word wall.
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| Ms. Heaton's math word wall |
I'm a huge fan of black in general so I really like how Ms. Heaton's and Mr. Caruso's math word walls came out.
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| Mr. Caruso's geometry word wall |
The blue and yellow that Mr. DeVore chose to back his math word wall makes for a really nice display. (He also has some math pennants along the top.)
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| Mr. DeVore's math word wall |
To meet the needs of classrooms with technology and to allow for students to access their math word walls digitally, I updated every PDF math word wall to now also include a digital version.
Every math word wall now comes in both PDF (color and black & white) and digital (in Google Slides). You can see them all here.
From math vocabulary reminders to greater student independence to making the room an inviting place to learn, there are so many positives to adding a visual math word wall to any classroom.
All math word walls are available individually here. Each now comes in printable PDF (color and black & white) and digital in GOOGLE Slides. All three formats are included in the same file.
Math word walls to download:
◉ Area Word Wall
◉ Unit Circle word wall
◉ Financial Literacy word wall
