The most important use is to celebrate student work. Meaningful student work should be displayed prominently in the room. Spelling lists, copied work, identical colored pictures, mathematical calculations, etc. are not meaningful to other students and visitors. Choose instead writing, mathematical explanations, drawings, diagrams, maps, etc. that show what a student understands and can do. Keep the work on display only as long as the topic is being discussed. In this way, the student work supports current learning.
A second important use for wall space is word walls. A word wall is one of the most powerful and easy tools that you can use to help students learn large numbers of words. When used regularly as a teaching tool, students internalize both the meaning and the visual representation of the word or concept. Using a word wall promotes independence as students work with new concepts. It provides a visual map to help students remember connections between the visual representations and the characteristics that help them form categories (Wagstaff, J.M., 1999).
Other uses are as follows:
- Display maps so that students can use them when discussing specific locations
- Rules and procedures that the class has agreed upon
- Calendar appropriate for grade level
- Student responsibilities
- Daily schedule showing important activities
