DIY Word Board for Learning New Words

Getting my kids excited about reading is always at the top of my parenting priority list. We love sight word activities, spelling word games and family reading time.

I’m always looking for new ways to encourage a love of reading. Which is why I’m so excited to announce the release of a new book that focuses on just that! Two of my very favorite reading experts are behind this new Scholastic book, Allison McDonald (of No Time for Flash Cards) and Amy Mascott (of Teach Mama).

Raising a Rock-Star Reader: 75 Quick Tips for Helping Your Child Develop a Lifelong Love for Reading hit shelves this fall and I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advanced copy. (Thanks ladies!)

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Tip #20 in Raising a Rock-Star Reader caught my attention immediately. TIP #20 – USE AN AT HOME WORD BOARD.

Of course a big part of learning how to read is learning new words. The best way to learn new words is to make it fun. And a great way to make it fun is to do it as a family!

DIY Word Board for Learning New Words

What you need: Picture frame, white paper and dry erase markers (or wet erase), new words to play with, a thesaurus (optional).

Making the word board. There are a lot of ways you can set up a word board. You can use a white erase board or put a piece of paper on the fridge. I like the idea of using a pretty frame because it makes the word board feel more like a family thing rather than a kid thing.

For our word board I used a picture frame. Find a bigger frame, 8 x 10 works great. Place a piece of white paper into the frame. Use a dry (or wet) erase marker to write a word in the middle. Keep the markers near by so that everyone can add words as they think of them.

Finding the words to use. Get creative when finding new words for the board.

• Seasonal words.
• Weather words.
• Color words.
• Words that you find while you’re reading.  (That is how we decided on ADORN. Little M didn’t know what it meant.)
• Words that relate to something you are learning together.
• Have the kids find a word to start with.
• Use a thesaurus to find as many words as you can that relate to a start word.
• Take turns filling the board with words.

“The Word Board serves as a visual reminder for parents to weave these words into their daily conversation, offering the child more opportunity to hear the words being used correctly.” Amy Mascott and Allison McDonald in Raising a Rock-Star Reader: 75 Quick Tips for Helping Your Child Develop a Lifelong Love for Reading.

Have you tried a word board at home? Or maybe you have another fun tip for learning new words?