How to Make a Sound Wall Folder for Phonics Instruction

Feb 7

The Science of Reading has recently reminded educators of the importance of daily, systematic phonics instruction. What if your students had access to a personal sound wall? Follow these steps to learn how to create personal sound wall folders that your students can access during writing and spelling instruction.

Looking for more information on the benefits of using a sound wall? Read this post to learn what a sound wall is and how to use one in your classroom.

How to Make a Phonics Sound Wall Folder

Choose your sound wall design
Add new words, as needed
Personalize the cover
Assemble to use year after year

Choose Your Sound Wall Design

There are many sound wall folder designs to meet the individual needs of your students. Each design is available in full sheet or 2 sheet spreads.

There are simple designs with little color and no pictures, and designs with bright colors and pictures associated with each word.

A diagram showing example of phonics sound wall folders for students to use in the classroom

2. Add New Words

Want to add your own words? You can customize your folders with your own words and pictures. There are also blank templates for you to differentiate folders to meet the needs of all students.

Your students will write and spell with confidence when they have the knowledge of phonics sounds at their fingertips.

3. Personalize the Cover

Personalize each sound wall folder by adding the names of your students to the cover. Do you have different reading groups? Put the name of each group on the cover of differentiated folders.

The cover of a student phonics sound wall with the heading that says "Alexie's Sound Wall" with the image of a girl writing

4. Assemble the Resource

When you have decided on the sound wall design and personalized them, you are ready to print and assemble.

Print each page of the sound wall on card stock for durability. Using a file folder, glue the cover to the front. Open the folder and glue the first piece of the sound wall. Turn the folder over and glue the remaining piece. Laminate the folders to ensure this resource lasts all year.

Wrap-Up

Instead of having your phonics sounds where they are hard to read on a bulletin board, with this resource, students will have a portable list of sounds and words stored in a file folder.