Instead of dusting off the same old bulletin board decor, why not liven things up for you and your students by incorporating a few new ideas? Bulletin board or empty wall space can become teachable space. Students can be engaged and involved in new bulletin board creations, and a strong community spirit can be developed. Put your bulletin boards to work for you and your class with these ideas.
Tips for Maximizing Your Bulletin Board’s Value
1. Wall of Favorites. Designate wall space for favorites that change monthly. Start with students’ favorite books. Have students create their rendition of the book cover and write a short synopsis. Encourage students to share ideas for future Wall of Favorites display themes.
2. We’re All Part of the Puzzle. Pre-cut 5″ by 7″ puzzle pieces in different colors. Hand these out on the first day, and have students write their names and a sentence about themselves. Students can also add pictures cut from old magazines. Put the puzzle pieces together on a wall or bulletin board under a sign that says “We’re All Important Pieces of the Puzzle”.
3. Mystery-Centered Bulletin Board. Tie this idea into an upcoming theme or a specific subject matter. On the first day place a photo on the board. If you teach reading, the photo could relate to a specific book. For social studies, you might use a picture of a place or historical event. Each day add one clue or fact about the mystery picture. Provide a box where students can place their guests up until the day of reveal.
4. Student-Created Bulletin Boards. Give your students an opportunity to participate in bulletin board displays. Develop themed ideas as a whole class, discuss display components and then delegate different parts of the display to small groups. Students will feel proud of their contributions while strengthening group work skills.
5. Reward Student Effort. Choose a goal to be rewarded — number of books read, assignments turned in or whatever you want your class to focus on. Use this bulletin board to track effort and display progress toward the goal and its reward. As students work toward the goal, you can mark effort as steps toward the finish line, feathers on a turkey at Thanksgiving time or leaves on the “Tree of Success”. Once the end goal has been reached reward students appropriately with extra reading time, game time or something else.
6. Community-Focused. Begin the year with a bulletin board focused on your classroom community. Include rules, fun facts and student photos. Over the course of the year, continue with your town community, then state, country, continent and world to encourage students to see themselves as an important part of something greater.
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