What are word walls primarily used for in literacy instruction?

Word walls are primarily used in literacy instruction to display high-frequency words. These are commonly used words that students encounter frequently in reading and writing. The presence of these words on a wall in the classroom serves as a visual reference that helps students recognize and effectively use these words in their own writing and reading practices. High-frequency words are often tricky to spell or may not follow standard phonetic patterns, so having them readily available promotes literacy development by encouraging word recognition and fluency.

Utilizing word walls in this manner aids in building a strong vocabulary base, enabling students to transition from decoding words to reading with comprehension. In turn, this supports their overall literacy skills, as students become more confident in using these essential words in various contexts. The other options, while valuable in their own right, do not encapsulate the primary function of a word wall as effectively as the display of high-frequency words does.