This is to tranfer important comments on the word wall discussion to a category for ease of reference. The idea of translated words on the wall is clearly best as Mark, Jody, Carol, Kristy and Diana all recommend it. Jody where can we get the Connector Word Wall if it is purchasable or do we need to make it ourselves? And the Vanna White idea is sterling. I will add it to the “Jobs” category. Some kid who hates being in a restraining device pointing to words during the lesson. Sounds like it can work! Here is Jody’s comment:
The only word wall that has ever worked for my students (and me) is the Connector Word Wall. It covers an entire wall and is alphabetized in target language w/English translation in another color underneath the word and a little off to the side–half of a sideways sheet of copy paper. (I noticed a mini-version of this wall in the guy Spanish teacher photo that Carol took.)
When I do the end-of-the-year survey (which consists of one question: What are the five things that most helped you to acquire Spanish this year?), the Connector/Transition Word Wall always comes out close to the top–after stories, of course. My kids vie for the “Vanna White” job of finding and pointing to the words that come up naturally (or planned) during our work in class. The students use these words all the time during writing. At the end of the year(s), we run through them all and realize that the students know them well and can use them naturally and appropriately in speech and writing. I never teach them outright. Don’t need to.