Back when I was teaching preschool, I followed the “Letter of the Week” routine like most of us do.
Each Monday, we’d kick off a new letter. We had the songs, the crafts, and the snacks. It was cute, organized, and easy to plan around.
But the more I leaned into it, the more I noticed something.
A few years ago, I walked into a classroom and saw the neatest word wall I’d ever seen.
It was color-coded, laminated, AND alphabetized.
There were words like island, x-ray, and volcano.
It was beautiful.
It was organized.
But it wasn't helping children learn the alphabet.
None of the children actually cared about the words posted on the word wall.
Why?
They didn't currently have an interest in islands.
They weren’t pretending to be radiologists.
They weren’t playing volcano rescue in the block center.
While the words looked good on the wall, they didn’t actually mean anything to the children because they didn't tie to what they were currently interested in.
And we know: If children aren't interested, they aren't learning.
So, instead of posting theme-based words on a wall, my challenge for you is to try this:
Give your children word banks.
I know what your next question is going to be...
Stacy, what’s a word bank?
It’s a personal collection of words that matter to each child.
Here’s how it works:
1. Give each child an envelope or small binder ring with index cards.
2. When they’re drawing, playing, or writing and they ask how to spell something or show interest in a letter or word, you ask if they'd like to add it to their word bank.
3. If they say yes, write the word or letter on a card and let them add it to their envelope or binder ring.
Then, keep their word bank somewhere they can grab it anytime they need (hanging in their cubby is a GREAT place!).
This works because it helps children see that letters and words have meaning, and that meaning is connected to their world.
When we link learning to what matters to them, it’s more likely to stick.
Cheering you on,
Stacy
