Word Walls That Work: Supporting English Learners in the Math Classroom
- buggedaboutmath
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
If you've ever had a student who was perfectly capable of doing the math, but struggled to understand questions and explain their thinking, then you've seen firsthand how language can be a barrier in math classes. For English Language Learners and struggling learners, math isn't just about numbers. It's about vocabulary, sentence structures, and confidence.
That's where word walls can help. When used intentionally, they can be one of the most powerful tools for supporting ELLs in the classroom.
Why Word Walls Matter for ELLs
People often think math is just numbers, but the reality is, it's it's own language. Student are expected to learn it quickly and use it accurately. For ELLs and many other students, that can feel overwhelming, especially in secondary math where new and increasingly complex terms are constantly appearing.
A word wall helps students by:
Making academic vocabulary visible and accessible
Reducing anxiety when students don't remember a term
Supporting during discussions, partner work, and understanding directions
Encouraging independent problem-solving
Instead of stopping instruction to ask, "What does that word mean?" or continuing in a constant state of confusion and misunderstanding, students can reference the wall and keep going helping build knowledge and confidence.
What Makes a Word Wall ELL-Friendly
Not all word walls the same and for me it certainly has been a growing process. Just look at one of my first word wall cards, it was simple and honestly fairly ELL-friendly.
An ELL-friendly word wall is designed with clarity and student use in mind. Aesthetic become a second thought and the focus becomes helping students understand the information. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Clear, Student-Friendly Definitions
Definitions should be written in simple, accessible language, not copied directly from a textbook. If a definition wouldn’t make sense to a student reading at a lower proficiency level, it needs to be adjusted. Short sentences, familiar words, and concrete examples make a big difference. I generally aim to write my simple definitions around a second-grade level and more technical words around a fifth-grade level. This gives students a chance to understand while keeping the core meaning in tact.
Visual Support
Images help anchor meaning. For ELLs especially, a visual provides immediate context and reduces the cognitive load of translating words in their head. The goal isn’t decorative clipart, but purposeful visuals that reinforce the concept. I choose from an example, a diagram, or related images to support the concept.
Consistent Language
Use the same wording students will see in directions, notes, and assessments. Consistency builds familiarity, and familiarity builds confidence. When students recognize a term on the wall, it feels less intimidating when it shows up in a word problem or test question.
Limited and Intentional
More isn’t better. A crowded word wall quickly becomes background noise. Instead, focus on high-frequency and high-impact vocabulary, terms students will see repeatedly and need to use when explaining their thinking.
Student Access
If students can’t read it from their seat or reference it during work time, it’s not doing its job. Word walls should be placed where students naturally look and be large enough to actually be useful. One idea I'm currently considers is mini-word walls, a collection of printed terms that students can use in place of a word wall. These could be kept in student binders as part of the vocabulary section or in folders they could grab and use as reference. This would be especially helpful for students with visual impairments and to help ensure all students have the same visual aids no matter where they are seated.
How Word Walls Support Math Discourse
One of the biggest benefits of a strong word wall is the way it supports student talk. When students have access to vocabulary, they’re more willing to participate in discussions, explain their reasoning, and ask questions.
Instead of saying:
“I don’t get it”
“This thing goes up”
Students can begin to say:
“The slope is increasing”
“The coefficient changes the graph”
For ELLs, having language available removes a major barrier to participation. They don’t have to hold everything in their head, they can focus on the math.
Word Walls Aren’t Just for ELLs
While word walls are essential for English Language Learners, they benefit all students. Struggling readers, students with learning disabilities, and even high-achieving students use them as a reference tool.
In secondary math classrooms especially, vocabulary is often the difference between a student who understands the concept and one who shuts down because the question feels unreadable.
A Tool, Not a Decoration
Word walls aren’t meant to be pretty posters that fade into the background. They’re meant to be used, referenced, pointed to, and talked about daily.
When implemented intentionally, word walls:
Reduce confusion
Increase independence
Support language development
Build confidence over time
And for ELLs, that confidence can be the key to finally showing what they know in math.
Designing an effective word wall takes time: writing clear definitions, choosing visuals that actually help, and keeping language consistent. That’s a lot to juggle on top of everything else teachers do.
To make this easier, I created premade math word walls designed with ELLs and struggling learners in mind. They focus on student-friendly definitions, simple visuals, and layouts meant to be used, not just displayed.
They’re meant to be a starting point or a support, whether you’re building your first word wall or refreshing one that no longer meets your students’ needs.
If word walls feel like one more thing on your plate, using premade resources can help you support math vocabulary without starting from scratch.
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