Congratulations – we survived another Monday!
As I am new to the teaching world, I am constantly overwhelmed. However, there’s at least one aspect of my job that I am an expert at: bulletin boards. Keep scrolling for some tips and pictures of my favorite boards.
1. Make it 3D.
Yes, I know what you are thinking. “If I make my bulletin board 3D, students will rip it down.” As my classroom is right next to the bathroom, I just knew my snowman would be destroyed by the end of the month. I was so wrong; all of the kiddos loved him so much that he stayed intact!
3D requires a little extra work (like balling up recycled paper to stuff your snowman) but the outcome is worth it.
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| He won “Bulletin Board of the Month!” |
2. Tailor your board to your students’ interests.
This board was not my favorite – but it was a favorite of kids from all grade levels. I love the little burst of pride I get when I hear a student walk by my room and say “WOAH! Look at that bulletin board!” This Pokemon board got everyone excited and it made my 2nd grade kiddos think that their teacher is the coolest EVER for making a Pokemon bulletin board. (She is.)
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| This character trading card is available in my TPT store. |
3. Get the kids involved.
For Read Across America week, I decided to change my bulletin board to “Oh the Places We’ll Go.” Of course, I could not complete the board without the multi-colored landscape featured in the book. Did I have the time or desire to color the hills? Of course not. Do I have students who are dying to help me and to have their work displayed for everyone to see? Absolutely. I put them to work, and it looks fine.
Here’s another tip: Need a specific font for your letters other than what’s available on your Ellison? Download the font, type, print on cardstock, and have a student who needs to practice their motor skills cut them out for you.
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| My board is so long, I had to take a panoramic picture – eek! |
4. Use pictures.
Incorporate pictures of your students into your bulletin board design whenever you can. Your students and coworkers will love it! I like to take pictures with my iPhone during independent work. I use a big piece of colored butcher paper as my background. Then I use the Kicksend app to send pictures to my nearest Target to be printed for less than $5. Easy!
5. Post the assignment details and the corresponding standards.
Now that your bulletin board is the best in the school, let your administrators and coworkers know that not only was it fun, but it is also aligned with the Common Core standards.
6. Don’t make it harder than it has to be.
Notice anything about my bulletin board? Yep – I haven’t changed the paper or border all year long. Pick something simple that will go with everything. None of us have the time or energy to change the background paper on a 10-ft bulletin board every month!
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A fabulous bulletin board will make it look like you have it all together… even if you don’t. Do you have any other suggestions for being a successful bulletin board decorator?
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