Classroom Tip #2

You have picked a theme. Now it’s time to think about how this theme can manifest itself in your classroom.

I will be providing color palettes, and/or suggestions for free items, to gather for decoration that apply to many of the themes mentioned in my original post.

Animal (pick one animal, animals from your region, etc.)
Amusement Park
- Ask families and co-workers to donate stuffed animals to display or use in the classroom (think carnival section of an amusement park)
Black & White
Comic books/Superheroes
- Red/White/Blue
- Go to the library and see if there are any leftover comic books to rip apart for accents on boards
- Go to the local comic book store and see if they have free comics (mine did!) or old advertisements for classroom decor
Desserts
- Pastels
- Ask people to donate old cookbooks, or get some from the library, and have those pictures be your accents
  - Turn some cookbooks into a creative play center or a writing center
Disney
Gardens
Harry Potter
- Must be house colors: blue (Ravenclaw), yellow (Hufflepuff), green (Slytherin), scarlet (Gryffindor)
- I would ask around to see what items people have in their closets, there are plenty of Potterheads that bought a bit too much
Museum(s)
- Contact a local museum and see if they have posters or brochures you can line your boards with
Ocean
Pixar
Social Media
Space
Sports
- Color palette of your college/university
- Color palette to match your favorite team
- Color palette of a local college/university or professional team
- Ask around for old jerseys to staple to the walls
Travel
- Go to AAA and take every free map possible
- Ask friends for maps when they travel: city maps, museum maps, national park maps, etc.
Zoo

Once a theme is picked, the fun begins. However, make sure that fun stays focused (keep to just a few colors) and make sure to spend carefully. A classroom can be beautiful without breaking the bank.

This added follow-up, as well as a few others, is meant to provide guidance and support so that all classrooms can be creative vibrant spaces for learning. Stay tuned for more!

Monthly Advice–September

Give yourself a goal.

What do you hope to accomplish this year? What do you want to learn this year?

We are wrapped up in student learning goals, their presence and the pressure around them, that sometimes we forget to think about our own learning. We forget to sit back and think deeply about our professional development. We also forget to take care of ourselves–personally and professionally.

I know we have observations, but they aren’t daily or weekly–usually.

So, I challenge you to give yourself a goal. Create a weekly or monthly goal for yourself. Create a singular goal for yourself. Do something that enhances your work. Do something that ensures you operate at an optimal level.

Say: This year I will . . .

make sure to complete all my lesson plans by Thursdays, so I can go home right away on Friday 😉
collaborate with another teacher on a reading unit
make sure that my student folders have two items per month
attend one professional development training, of my choosing, that is outside my comfort zone
schedule tests on different days, not just Fridays
park in the last spot to get more steps in
only allow one day a week to work and eat lunch, every other day I will just eat lunch
create a more diverse classroom library

The goal does not have to be lofty, or even completely teaching-centered.

What I desire is a goal that provides you the opportunity to enliven your personal and/or professional experience. Whatever that looks like for you, whatever you decide, I support you. So, go ahead, think of something–and go for it.

Classroom Tip #1

As we begin a brand new year, we need to consider a theme . . . for the classroom. Not in terms of a reading unit or any other learning unit, but a theme for decor.

I can write pages on how to decorate, how to decorate well, and how to decorate with meaning, but let’s first begin with a theme. The theme will drive everything else.

A classroom with a theme can provide a more thoughtful starting point to creating a space that is equal parts vibrancy, routine, familiarity, fun, and organization.

Before we can begin to discuss each of these elements, and those previously mentioned, first decide on a theme.

Suggestions/possibilities/ideas:

Animal (pick one animal, animals from your region, etc.)
Amusement Park
Black & White
Comic books/Superheroes
Desserts
Disney
Gardens
Harry Potter
Museum(s)
Ocean
Pixar
Social Media
Space
Sports
Travel
Zoo

These are just a few ideas–ideas I have in my mind for the future and ideas I have seen in other classrooms. I’m not leaving too much detail or direction now; rather, I want to spark interest and inspiration as classrooms begin to be decorated.

Decide on a theme. Think of its elements. Think of classroom-based translations for your theme. Write it all down, start designing and decorating, and then come back here–I have much more to say 😉

Teacher Tip #7

Purge.

You’re cleaning up your classroom. You’re taking down bulletin boards. You’re taking down anchor charts. You’re removing decorations. You’re packing away books. Right now, you have the momentum, time, and energy to purge.

You do not need everything in your classroom. Some of the things you own are destroyed, and cannot be repaired. Some of things you own will not suit your next assignment. Some of the things you own are already outdated. Some of the things, well, you just didn’t use and don’t see yourself using in the future.

Take a step back. Look carefully at what is in front of you. What do you really need?

Consider the following:

Making a box for new teachers next year.
Giving things to other teachers in your building.
Giving things to students.
Donating to a local library or summer program.
Throwing things away.

It is better to give things away than let them collect dust. If you haven’t used it in a couple of years, give it to someone that can use it.

It is better to give things away than throw them in the trash. Kids want those anchor charts they made with you. Those incomplete marker sets can mean the world to your students. It’s okay to give your students some things to take home.

It is better to make space in your room for new things than to find yourself cluttered, taking things home, or opening a storage unit.

Right now, as you wrap up the year, look closely and carefully, and purge.

Monthly Advice–May 2

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-10. It’s just one week, but in reality the whole month of May is a great time to snag some deals as an educator.

May is hectic. It’s the end of the race and the race was long. In between grading those final papers, finishing report cards, filling out all other forms of paperwork, cleaning and packing your classroom, I say: treat yourself!

Teacher Appreciation is only one week, and National Teacher Appreciation Day (May 7) is just a day, but that love and appreciation offered and demonstrated actually extends through the whole month of May.

Availability is not guaranteed everywhere but take a look at these deals — find something each week to help you finish strong, or simply pamper yourself. Go to your local district website too, they often post regional and local deals.

So, my added May advice: find a teacher appreciation deal, and treat yourself.