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The Decoration and Bulletin Board Addiction

Elementary Techie
Jun 21, 2015
5 min read

One of the things I looked forward to most when I started teaching was decorating my bulletin board. (Which later spread to my doors and bookcases!) My school has a very different attitude towards bulletin boards then most schools. Put the bulletin board up in September...take it down in June. (YES only ONE bulletin board a year!) My complusive creativity just could not stare at the same thing all year without developing a severe eye twitch. So I rotate my board once per month or every other month. My doors get done in September and come down in June.

The last school year my room had an 'identiy crisis' around Spring Break. I started the year with an ocean theme and by June I had decided on a simple, classic combination of Red, Black and White. I should preface with how sad my room looks without decorations. It's a small room with white cinderblock walls, no windows, and three doors.

First thing I did was my iPhone door. This was a GIGANTIC hit with the kids though they are constantly 'tapping' on the icons on my door.

Black Paper

Print, Cut and Laminated Icons

I then covered my bookcases with some fun wrapping paper. I got each roll from the

Dollar Tree. I later changed out the bright, fun patterns for classic black,whites and reds. Again, Dollar Tree :)

My September Bullet board to fit my ocean them was all about the home row. ( I later changed the C to a K....no one got my pun ...whomp whomp...) The Keys are glued onto syrofoam trays (Dollar Tree!) and I attached them to the board with one staple to the top edge of the tray. Yes that small shelf is my 'desk'. I also have blue, green and white laterns hanging from the ceiling and aquatic cut outs around the room. I even made some aquatic animal CDs which hung from the ceiling around the room.

Then for October I went to a Technology Graveyard featureing revolution that are now relics. I was very excited about it. Again I went to the Dollar Tree for inspiration and supplies. I was not disappointed. I was able to get ALL the items from the Dollar Store.

This took some time to put together

and a few tries to get the tombstones

to attach. The background was one large wall backdrop with trees and a fence with a graveyard behind it. (PERFECT). I stapled it up and trimmed the edges. I did not do a border with this, i felt it would have taken away from the whole graveyard concept. I printed out photos and the tombstone information and pasted it on with white glue. I cut out my letters and mounted them onto red construction paper. I cut the red part to look like it was bleeding. The tombstones I tries to attach with staples and tape but the tape wasn't strong enough to hold the weight and staples couldn't get though the thick foam. I finally used paper clips. I unbent the paper clip and slipped one side to the bulleting board where I wanted the tombstone to go and then pushed the tombstone onto the exposed paper clip point. I then added the white spider webbing which help to keep the tombstones onto the board. It was a big hit and the kids were excited to see these 'old' technologies.

Often times when I switch themes I like to use the bulletin board as a word wall. It features words that correspond to the letter of the week that are coming up within the next 6 weeks.

Here is a Space theme, a Spring Theme and a Summer Theme. (Please ignore the terrible buzz lightyear!)

I also use the bulletin board to display student work. Though it's hard to pick and choose items when often times the kids are making the same things! This is a variety of their excel projects from grade 2 and 3.

My school also has a yearly theme. This year theme was the Rainforest. For two weeks around February/March we turn our Gym into a huge interactive exhibit where the kids get to immerse themselves in the topic.

This isn't bulletin board but it's way to awesome not to share. This is our interactive exhibits. (Still in set up mode, but you'll get a idea of what it is) The first is for the Rainforest Theme and the second is for Its A Small World Theme.

For the Small World Theme I was an anchor teacher for our Kenya Exhbit. I led the students on a 3D Sarfari ride through the Serengeti. (Complete with Safari Guide Gear!)

Just as with the Rainforest Theme, I had a Multicultural/ Small World theme for my room as well.

For November I went to a fall classic, Apple Picking. Our tree has Apple Logos with different Apple products on them. (Oh the Puns!)

And then for December and January I went with a Holiday Gif (...get it :) ) board. The presents are from the dollar store. I used just the lids. I put push pins into the board in the top and bottom corner and slipped the box over them. They stead on REALLY well!

We just announced our new STEAM program for next year. ( I will be teaching STEM classes as well next year) so this was my last board of last year.

And then I decided that my pockets were hurting from the constant redecorating and it was hard to find items to match so I decided on a color pallette of red, black and white. Keep it classic. The decision was also sparked by my wanting a more sophisticated feel to my room.

I re-did the bookcases as I said earlier. Also done with wrapping paper from the dollar store.

I used a plastic table skirt for the 'curtain' look aross my shelving and cut it down so it wouldn't be in the kids way. The chairs have covers on them to hold materials and folders. I needed storage for all my STEM supplies I had been investing in and collecting so I bought the 9 square cube storage unit. I got a large treasure chest from Walmart for under $10.00 but it was bright neon green. So I broke out the red and black spray paint.

As you can see from the pictures the last part of my decor that I love just as much is my carpet. We use it for games and for designating a seating space for the students. I love the colors !

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