Well, it’s that time of year when teachers are starting to get back into their classrooms! I don’t know about you, but one thing that I do enjoy getting ready are my bulletin boards. I feel it’s an easy way to brighten up the classroom so that when the kids come in for the first time, they can look around and feel happy, welcomed, and excited to start the new year. This post is jam-packed with photographs and bulletin board assembly tips. Enjoy!
TIP #1: LAYER BORDERS
I love the look of layered borders. I think it makes bulletin boards unique and dresses them up!
TIP #2: CHOOSE A THEME
When I am planning out my bulletin boards for the year, I try to focus on a theme that is versatile and appropriate for the entire school year. Patterns bring a theme to life! My theme in the picture below is rainbow with chalkboard accents.
You can find themed borders at Creative Teaching Press.
TIP #3: FOCUS ON A SKILL
When I am assembling bulletin boards for the hallway, I try to incorporate a skill. Why? Bulletin boards tend to draw students’ eyes toward them. Often times you find students stopping to look at the projects/display. Why not throw in some educational content for them to read while they are there, like the fun adjective activity below?
You can also build a bulletin board around instructional anchor charts or posters. Check out our phonics posters for reference tools you’ll refer to all year long! You can convert your favorite PDFs and graphic organizers into posters that work great for bulletin boards too. Our Lucky Little Toolkit has all the tools you’ll need for this! Here are directions for printing poster-sized anchor charts.
TIP #4: GET CREATIVE
Try to be creative when working with your bulletin boards. This divider is made of two borders put together on the bottom layer. The chalkboard top layer is a border cut in half and stapled to hide the seam.
TIP #5: GET INTERACTIVE
The bulletin boards that I have in my classroom are boards that I leave up all year but change the information on them. My math/calendar board is interactive because my students help me go through our activities and the information is going to change daily. I used velcro to help with the interactive pieces. The laminated posters provide a great surface for dry-erase markers too!
TIP #6: DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF WITH THE TITLE
Gone are the days that we are limited to using letter templates and tracers to make our bulletin board titles. Go check out KG Fonts, DJB Fonts, and Cara Carroll Fonts! They are a few of my favorites! Here are directions on how to make large bulletin board letters.
TIP #7: THINK FUNCTIONAL
I change my math and reading focus wall bulletin boards weekly. Pocket charts and space for anchor charts are key! This set up allows for quick and easy updating when the skills change. Math vocabulary cards come in handy when it’s time to swap the math focus with new words. Vocabulary posters are just the ticket for a reading focus wall!
Your word wall is another essential in the classroom that you can jazz up in a themed bulletin board! Grab free word wall cards right here.
TIP #8: FABRIC IS YOUR FRIEND
Do you like the bright colors that never fade? I’m telling you, fabric is your friend! I love using fabric to cover my bulletin boards for so many reasons. First of all, the color stays vibrant. Second, you can incorporate pattern. Third, there’s no limit to color options. And last, fabric goes up easily!
TIP #9: THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
Did you know that marker boards can even make for a great space for a bulletin board display? Hey, it works!
TIP #10: HAVE FUN & KEEP DISPLAYS CURRENT
When you are thinking about a bulletin board display, think fun! The bulletin board display above is all about Snowman Riddles. My students were responsible for using adjectives to formulate a riddle. It turned into a great game for other students to play! Oh, and one of my biggest words of advice, keep your bulletin boards CURRENT. A winter display still up in April probably won’t spark engagement for most students.
MORE INFO ON CLASSROOM SET UP
BULLETIN BOARD RESOURCES
SHOP THIS POST
If you enjoyed this post and found it helpful, please feel free to use the image found below to pin to your Pinterest board for future reference!
Great tips!! Thanks for doing this! I am so excited to participate and learn from others!
Blessings,
Becky
CookingUpSuccess
Thanks Becky! I'm so glad that you could participate and link up with us too!
What super ideas! I really love the double borders. Thanks so much for sharing all your fantastic ideas and hosting this fun linky! You guys rock!
~Laura
Luv My Kinders
You are very welcome Laura! Thank you for taking the time to leave me such sweet words! Hope you can join us next month!
A winter display in April…Guilty!!! Love your tips and all your bulletin boards! The way you added color behind the fonts you cut out is genius!
Love all these tips! Matching bulletin boards make me so happy. My last year I had all of my boards covered with brown paper and did a double border with green/blue and a mixture of solid and polka dots. It was so calm and I just loved that it wasn't distracting at all!
Mrs. Plemons' Kindergarten
These are some great ideas! We use fabric, too! It's such a time saver. At the end of the school year I just take it down, wash it and hang it back up. Thanks for sharing so many great ideas. I clearly have work to do. 🙂
~A from the Brain Ninjas
Brain Ninja Notes
You should probably start a new blog called "The Bulletin Board Whisperer" BECAUSE YOU TOTALLY ARE!!! These are sooooo amazing, I think I pinned nearly every graphic. and UGH! Those snowmen are the cutest thing I've ever seen!!!! Thanks for sharing all your ideas with us. 🙂
The Whimsical Teacher
Great post! I love your ideas and tips. The background behind your alphabet is TOO cute!!! Is that fabric? It looks great with the border and the alphabet!
Bonnie
The Cutesy Teacher
Love this post! Just wish I could have participated in this one. Unfortunately I haven't even had a chance to start bulletin boards and apparently I have never taken pics of any of my boards before! Love the #2togetherwearebetter theme! <3
I LOVE all of your tips, thank you so very much for sharing them with us!! I think I might try having black backgrounds this year with bright, colorful borders! Thanks so much for hosting this totally awesome linky, I'm loving getting to learn so many tips and tricks from other teachers!
I hope you have an amazing beginning of the new school year!!
Erin
Kindergarten Dragons
Angie:
I have notice on my blog as well as others I visited that the blog links are not showing up. How can this be corrected? I love all your tips!
Angie, I especially love your Math Focus bulletin board. You make everything look so inviting. Thank you for sharing!
I love your interactive boards!! 🙂
I love the look of your layered borders! Thanks to you and Ashley for this opportunity! 🙂
~Erin
Mrs. Beattie's Classroom
I love your interactive math calendar board! I am wanting to revamp mine. Where did you get the items you put on your board? I looked through your posts and TPT items but could not find one on your calendar routine. Where can I get one like yours? Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jayne. Thank you so much for the compliment! I really liked my calendar board this past year too! I don't have it in my store but if you'd like me to make a custom order for you, I'd be willing to help you out with that. If you'd like to email me at angie@luckylittlelearners.com and we can chat about what you'd be looking for. Thanks!
I'm loving your interactive math board. I have something similar and my kids love getting to do their class "job" . Thanks for sharing! Your class looks so cheerful and inviting!
Victoria Moller
Teach With a Smile
I had not considered layering when doing the boards. I love the way it looks! Thanks for the inspiration!
-Kendwy
BuggyForFirst
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