Classroom decor gives your room personality. For a teacher, decorating their classroom is one of the most exciting things they do to prepare for the school year. Teachers can get wrapped up in the excitement and make overdo it! Here are some tips and ideas for your classroom decor that help create a positive and invigorating learning environment.
Avoid Clutter~ Less is More!
Teachers can get excited about the school year ahead and over-decorate their classrooms. This can cause students to get overwhelmed and prevent them from being productive and being in the best learning state. It is important to have white space on the walls that promote calmness to clear your students’ minds.
Display Student Work
At the beginning of the school year, teachers need to plan for student work bulletin boards. To help make the room more engaging at the Open House and the first couple days of school, teachers can post “Amazing Work Coming Soon” in their classroom colors or theme. This does two different things. It is a placeholder that goes with your classroom and it gets the students and parents excited to see their work displayed. Students are proud and have a sense of accomplishment when their work is displayed in and around the classroom.
Use Visual Aids
Visual aids include anchor charts and word walls. I use math anchor charts and word walls all year long. Here is a 4th-grade anchor chart and word wall bundle for prime/composite, factors, and multiples that I have created. These anchor charts are easy and great resources for students. Anchor Charts are an artifact of your classroom learning. They lead your students to discover concepts by exploring them on their own before teaching content. Anchor charts can be displayed as reminders of prior learning and built upon over multiple lessons.
Feature Inspiring Role Models to Convey Core Values
Establishing and displaying core values for your classroom is vital to your classroom culture’s success. Use inspiring role models quotes and stories to convey your classroom’s core values. Role models are able to pour positivity and inspiration into teachers.
Utilize Classroom Corners
Set up a calm-down corner. This is a safe place for students to use when they feel their emotions are running high and they need space to regain physical and emotional control. You want the area to be warm and welcoming. They can include a mat to designate the space and a basket with items that promote calmness and mindfulness. I include a breathing ball, coloring books, markers, mindful cards, and magnet balls. I teach the students how to use them and encourage them to use them when they appear to need them.
Choose an appropriate and up-to-date theme
Classroom themes have pros and cons but overall themes can help keep your classroom organized and inviting to others. Themes promote excitement about learning and encourage creativity. It is important to make sure your theme is not outdated and it doesn’t take over the classroom. Themes also get cohesiveness from the beginning of the school year.
Pick the colors that promote learning
Colors can impact how your students perform in the classroom. Avoid reds. Reds promote excitement which leads to distractions and lack of concentration. Stick with greens, blues, white, and neutral colors. Green promotes calm, concentration, and learning retention. Blue promotes happiness and peace. White is more boring but it allows students to rest from visual stimulations. Neutral colors help calm the mind and improve attention.
Classroom decor is fun but needs to be purposeful. When you are preparing to select classroom decor, be aware of these tips and ideas to help create a positive and invigorating learning environment.
