Whether you plan to teach the alphabet, numbers, or sight words in grades PreK–2, or will be teaching character traits, text structures, or U.S. geography in grades 3–5, there’s always a creative and engaging way to transform your classroom into a rich learning environment. Here are 3 tips to keep in mind:
Simplify and subtract.
Too much visual stimulation can be distracting and overwhelming for students, so stick to what is most relevant to your instruction.
Ask students.
Designate a space for student work. By displaying your students’ creations, they’ll feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for their learning.
Reconsider the walls.
Choose decorations that reinforce your current curriculum or lessons you’re about to lead in to. Are your walls supporting student learning?
Wondering which classroom décor will be best for your students? From social and emotional learning to reading and language arts, these new and bestselling items from Scholastic will refresh your classroom and engage students.
Bulletin Boards
From establishing classroom culture to reinforcing the curriculum, bulletin boards can help to set the tone in your classroom. These 5 ideas will give you a headstart on creating core focal points, each for under $10.
- Kindness is a Gift Bulletin Board
- Active Listening Bulletin Board
- Conversation Starters Bulletin Board
- Colors and Shapes Bulletin Board
- Our Feelings Bulletin Board
Borders + Trimmers
To refresh a brilliant bulletin board, add a finishing touch to your door, or set off a place to display student work, a new trimmer is a great place to start. Shop bestsellers, all for under $5.
Pocket Charts
There are endless applications for pocket charts. Fully customizable, these can provide teachers with classroom calendars, daily schedules, counting exercises, literacy centers, and poetry lessons. Here are a few that teachers turn to year after year.
- File Organizer Pocket Chart
- Standard Pocket Chart
- Monthly Calendar Pocket Chart
- Daily Schedule Pocket Chart
- Word Wall Pocket Chart
Posters and Accents
For the finishing touches, these ideas will help you organize your classroom library, share activities that support literacy, and get to know your students better.